Atari to Publish The Witcher in Europe and Asia

Atari Europe and CD Projekt issued a press release earlier this morning announcing that they have entered into a publishing agreement to distribute The Witcher in Europe and Asia.

ATARI EUROPE AND CD PROJEKT SIGN PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
– Highly Anticipated PC Role Playing Game Confirmed for Spring 2007 European Release –
WARSAW, POLAND 31 August 2006 Atari Europe and CD Projekt Sp. z.o.o. today announced that the companies have entered into a publishing agreement for The Witcher, whereby Atari will market and distribute CD Projekt’s upcoming fantasy role-playing game throughout Europe and Asia in Spring 2007.
The Witcher transcends traditional fantasy role-playing by throwing players into a unique world rife with political intrigue, in which the lines between good and evil are blurred, with players taking the role of Geralt, a legendary monster slayer and master swordfighter with supernatural abilities and reflexes. The Witcher presents a fresh approach to traditional role-playing, blending an expansive, twisting plotline in which the impact of individual decisions can drastically alter the outcome of the game and fast-paced combat against a wide variety of foes.
(The talented and passionate development team at CD Projekt has invested an enormous amount of time and love into The Witcher, resulting in a tremendous game that blends stunning graphics and engaging combat with an extraordinary traditional role-playing experience,) said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. (We are excited to reinforce our commitment to delivering the best role-playing games in the world by bringing this highly impressive title to gamers in Europe and Asia and we’re working towards The Witcher becoming the RPG of 2007.)
(We are delighted to begin a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Atari, a publishing partner that shares our commitment to delivering a top-quality role-playing game,) said Michal Kicinski, Joint CEO of CD Projekt. (We are very much looking forward to working with Atari to bring this distinctive fantasy world that we love to a broad audience.)
Photography of Christian Gloe (Atari) and Marcin Iwiński (CD Projekt).
For more information about The Witcher visit www.thewitcher.com and for more details about Atari’s entire product line up visit www.atari.com.
About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari:
Infogrames Entertainment (IESA), the parent company of the Atari Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (ISIN code: FR-0000052573) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe, a privately-held company, and Atari, Inc., a United States corporation listed on NASDAQ (ATAR).
The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and in all existing game formats (Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony) and on CD-ROM for PC. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries.
The Atari Group’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, Test Drive, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc.) and international licenses (Matrix, Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, etc.).
For more information: www.atari.com.
About CD Projekt:
Founded in 1994, CD Projekt is one of Eastern Europe’s largest game distributors, with offices in Warsaw and Prague. The company specializes in localization and publishing role-playing games, having brought such hits as Baldur’s Gate, Diablo, Neverwinter Nights and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind to the Polish market. In September 2003, the company’s development branch, CD Projekt RED, announced its first internally developed game, The WitcherÂ®. More information about CD Projekt can be found online at www.cdprojekt.com.

I believe this is the first time we’ve seen a release date for The Witcher. Mark your calendars for Spring 2007!