It looks like the Total Annihilation franchise is back in the hands of its creator, Chris Taylor.

The real-time strategy franchise was snapped up by Taylor's employer Wargaming, at an auction Atari is holding in the hopes of selling all of its IP.

Wargaming was also the top bidder for Masters of Orion, a strategy franchise published by Microprose in the early to mid-nineties.

Earlier this year Wargaming acquired Taylor’s Gas Powered Games when the latter was having serious financial problems.

Elsewhere, Sins of a Solar Empire publisher Stardock nabbed the Star Control franchise, Epic Gear was top bidder for the Backyard Sports, and Sniper Elite developer Rebellion picked up the Battlezone and Moonbase Commander franchises.

Tommo, Inc won the auction for Fatty Bear’s Birthday Surprise, Math Gran Prix, and the Humongous franchise.

Each sale must be approved by the courts before it can be finalised – a process that will get underway this Thursday.

In May, Atari announced its intention to auction its IP piece-by-piece after it failed to find a buyer for its entire catalogue.

The licenses for the Desperados and Silver franchises have already been sold to Nordic Games, which also purchased the Darksiders, Red Faction, and MX vs. ATV franchises from THQ earlier in the year.