'THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA - out now.

Features Brand New 'Dark Athena' Campaign, Thrilling Online Multiplayer and High-Definition Remake of Classic 'Escape from Butcher Bay'

Xbox LIVE and PLAYSTATION®3 Demos Available Now

LYON, FRANCE – 24 April 2009 – Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, announced today that the latest chapter in the Riddick franchise, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, is available now at retailers across Europe and the PAL regions.

In conjunction with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group, Tigon Studios and acclaimed developer Starbreeze Studios, Atari is bringing the franchise – featuring Vin Diesel reprising his role as anti-hero Riddick – to the new generation of consoles for the first time.Featuring the series’ signature blend of stealth, action and gripping narrative, all presented in glorious high- definition, the highly anticipated new chapter in the Riddick saga is available at retail in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena contains a brand new full-length Riddick campaign in addition to a high-definition pixel-by-pixel remake of the universally acclaimed title Escape from Butcher Bay. In addition to the thrilling, visceral single player action, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena brings Riddick into the multiplayer arena for the first time, with six intense online multiplayer combat modes including the unique Pitch Black mode.

Reprising his role as Riddick, Vin Diesel brings his unique vocal talent to The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, creating a powerful anti-hero with a talent for chilling one-liners. Diesel is joined by a high calibre cast of actors including Lance Henriksen, Wade Williams, William Morgan Sheppard, and Michelle Forbes who brings depth and weary malevolence to Riddick’s chief adversary on the Dark Athena, Captain Revas. Starbreeze Studios’ proprietary ‘vo-cap’ technology ensures that every nuance of the actors’ vocal and physical performance ends up in the game, creating a uniquely absorbing experience.

In The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror.

The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero.

Playable demos of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®3 system are currently available for download, showcasing the game’s evocative art style, exceptional production values, and the breadth and ferocity of gameplay.

For more information on The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, please visit the official website at http://atari.com/riddick/.

About The Chronicles of Riddick

The Chronicles of Riddick was released in 2004 by Universal Pictures, in association with Radar Pictures and One Race Films, Vin Diesel reprised his star-making Pitch Black role of enigmatic anti-hero Richard B. Riddick in this science fiction action-adventure epic,. The Chronicles of Riddick also starred Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Thandie Newton and Dame Judi Dench.

In the film’s storyline, Riddick has spent the last five years on the move among the forgotten worlds on the outskirts of the galaxy, eluding mercenaries bent on collecting the price on his head. Now, the fugitive finds himself on planet Helion, home to a progressive multicultural society that has been invaded by the Lord Marshal, a despot who targets humans for subjugation with his army of warriors known as Necromongers.

Exiled to a subterranean prison where extremes of temperature range from arctic nights to volcanic days, Riddick encounters Kyra, the lone survivor from an earlier chapter in his life. His efforts to free himself and Kyra lead him to the Necromonger command ship, where he is pitted against the Lord Marshal in an apocalyptic battle with possibly the fate of all beings-both living and dead-hanging in the balance.

Written and directed by David Twohy, The Chronicles of Riddick was produced by Scott Kroopf and Vin Diesel. Ted Field, George Zakk and David Womark served as executive producers.

Source: Atari Press release