From Sega Saturn to a Cyberpunk Masterpiece: Atari CEO’s Dream Remasters

In the world of video game preservation, a great remaster is more than just a fresh coat of paint. It’s a chance to bring a forgotten classic to a new generation, giving it a second life and a new audience. Atari, which has made a name for itself in the retro gaming space, has been at the forefront of this movement with its acquisitions of respected preservation studios like Digital Eclipse and Nightdive. Now, the company’s CEO, Wade Rosen, has revealed his three personal “dream remasters,” and the list is a testament to his passion for gaming history. The selection includes a beloved Sega Saturn RPG, a tactical legend, and a cult-classic Hideo Kojima game.

Speaking in an interview with gaming publication VGC, Rosen explained that his personal choices are a balance between commercial viability and “passion projects.” While a company needs to make money, he says that “life’s too short” to not pursue the games you genuinely love. His three dream remasters are a perfect example of this philosophy, as they are all highly-praised but incredibly niche titles that would require a significant amount of work to bring to modern consoles.

The Dream List

Rosen’s dream list is a deep cut into gaming history and a testament to his knowledge of the medium. The three games he would love to see remastered are:

• Panzer Dragoon Saga: Released in 1998 for the Sega Saturn, this game is a legendary RPG that has a loyal cult following. It is the third and most ambitious game in the series, replacing the on-rails shooter gameplay with a massive, open-world RPG. The game is notoriously difficult to play on modern hardware due to the extreme rarity of the Saturn and its high price. A remaster or a remake would be a monumental achievement, especially since the original source code is believed to be lost.
• Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen: This 1993 SNES classic is a tactical RPG that is considered a foundational text of the genre. It’s a highly complex game with a deep, branching narrative and a unique battle system that blends real-time strategy with tactical RPG elements. The game has been a major influence on many modern games, and a remaster would be a dream come true for fans of the genre. The IP is currently owned by Square Enix, which makes this a long shot, but Rosen’s passion for the title is clear.
• Snatcher: The Hideo Kojima classic from 1988 is a visual novel that is a love letter to the cyberpunk genre, drawing heavy inspiration from films like Blade Runner. The game, which was originally released on the MSX2, is a brilliant, dark, and stylish mystery that has a devoted cult following. A proper remaster or a remake would be a monumental task, but it would also be a major win for fans of Kojima’s early work, who have long clamored for an official way to play the game on a modern console.

The Challenge of Preservation

The act of remastering these games is a monumental task. The original code for many of these titles is either lost or incredibly difficult to work with. But with the help of his new studios, Rosen and his team are in a unique position to take on these challenges. They have already had success with other cult classics, and the company’s new focus on “passion projects” suggests that they are willing to take on the risks associated with remastering a niche title. While the future of these three games is far from certain, Rosen’s dream list is a clear sign that Atari is a company that truly cares about the history of the medium, and that, in and of itself, is a reason for fans to get excited.