PLAION and Atari have announced that the Atari 2600+ will be launching worldwide on November 17, 2023, and is available to pre-order now for $129.99 (€119.99 / £99.99). This is a modern-day, faithful recreation of the 1980 console that includes a number of classic games (e.g., Missile Command) and a joystick controller based on the original.
“Preserving classic games is a priority for Atari, and the release of the Atari 2600+ will make the hundreds of Atari 2600 and 7800 games that have been released over the last 50 years universally accessible,” said Atari Chairman and CEO, Wade Rosen. “PLAION’s approach to a quality recreation of iconic Atari hardware made them the perfect partner to bring the Atari 2600+ to market.”
“We’re excited to be working with Atari to bring back the Atari 2600 and help meet the growing consumer demand for retro hardware,” said Commercial Director of Retro at PLAION, Ben Jones. “For gamers who remember the thrill of playing arcade games at home for the very first time, the Atari 2600+ will take you right back. For everyone else, the offer is one of timeless fun and the chance to experience a golden age of video games in a way that could only come from Atari.”
Atari 2600+ Features
- BUILDING ON THE LEGACY: The new Atari 2600+ builds on the original machine with modern quality of life features such as HDMI output, USB power and multiple screen resolutions and includes a faithful replica of the original CX40+ Joystick.
- GO BACK IN TIME: The cartridge slot is backwards compatible with hundreds of original Atari 2600 and 7800 games. The Atari 2600+ launches with a 10 Games in 1 Cartridge which includes iconic games such as Adventure, Combat, Dodge ‘Em, Haunted House, Maze Craze, Missile Command, Realsports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball, Yars’ Revenge
- LOOK AND FEEL OF THE 1980’s: The Atari 2600+ has been lovingly crafted using modern technology from the movement of the joystick to the feel of the metal switches to the authentic woodgrain front panel.
Launching with ten of the most recognized video games in Atari’s history, including Adventure and Missile Command, the Atari 2600+ has been created using modern technology to authentically replicate the original 4-switch Atari 2600 Video Game System.
For those looking to relive the gameplay experiences of the ‘70s and ’80s, included with the Atari 2600+ is the CX40+ Joystick Controller, recreated with the same size and layout as the original 2600 Joystick Controller for that added touch of nostalgia.
PLAION and Atari also announce the availability of The CX-30 Paddle Controller with 4-in-1 multi game cartridge that will retail for $39.99 (€34.99 / £29.99). A standalone CX-40 Joystick will retail for $24.99 (€22.99 / £19.99). Additional launch titles, including cartridges for Berzerk Enhanced Edition and Mr. Run and Jump, will also be available for The Atari 2600+ for $29.99 (€29.99 / £24.99). The Atari 2600+ will be available at Atari.com for North American customers and worldwide at major retailers for $129.99 (€119.99 / £99.99) from 17th November 2023.
Discussion (3 replies)
Join Discussion →I have to admit I kinda want this. Pitfall, Jungle Hunt, SeaQuest, Yar's Revenge, Cosmic Ark, Dragonfire, Star Voyager.....man the memories playing those would bring back.
Only if they bring back E.T. as an actual game you can play and complete.
So I'm wondering how this system works. Original Atari 2600 chips on a custom PCB (like Analogue's original Nt, which used NES chips on a custom PCB)? FPGA machine like Analogue's awesome Nt Mini (NES), Super Nt (SNES), and Mega Sg (Mega Drive/Genesis)? Emulation (emulation consoles suck @ss)? I'm hoping FPGA, but I doubt it. If it is, then I'd be down for a purchase.
Atari 2600 was my family's very first console. I think my mom had it before I was even born. It's also the only console we do not still have. When we moved to a different state in 1989, the Atari 2600 was "lost" (I think the movers stole it). My mom got me started on my lifelong path of exploring the 3 corners of the video game universe (arcade, PC, home/handheld console) with her 2600 and by taking me to arcades in my baby/toddler/little kid years. She eventually grabbed an NES as her 2nd (and last) home console, which she eventually gave to me (although she continued to game on SNES, GBC, DS and 3DS, though she doesn't play much these days cuz arthritis and all that). I always meant to grab another 2600 (a 6-switch version like my mom had). I have a friend who has a 6-switch 2600 and a huge library of games, and I've spent a lot of time with it. Aside from that, the only other console I still want to get is a PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 with CD add-on (so it makes the most sense to get a Turbo Duo which has the CD drive built in). But yeah, Atari 2600 is effectively where I got my start with video games, and it always bothered me that I don't still have one around.