Highlights
- The Atari 2600 console, known for its iconic status, is making a comeback with the release of the Atari 2600+. It features the classic wood-grain finish and includes a joystick and cartridge with 10 games.
- The console will be compatible with all Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges, offering a nostalgic experience for older gamers and a valuable purchase for both newbies and veterans.
- Atari fans expressed excitement, although some raised concerns about the lack of compatibility with Atari 5200 cartridges. The release date for international territories is also unclear, but Atari assured availability through international purchase.
The iconic Atari 2600 console is back, but this time with an added twist. Atari's 50th anniversary was kicked off earlier this year with the release of several "new" 2600 games.
Atari first dropped the 2600 in 1977, where it became the second ever home console to include cartridge-based video games, following the Fairchild Channel F. While the Atari 2600 was popular in its heyday, an influx of shovelware, including an inferior port of the original Pac-Man and the notorious E.T. the Extra Terrestrial tie-in game, led to its loss of relevance, and is often cited as the reason behind the 1983 video game industry crash. Despite this, and its discontinuation in 1992, the console has had a surprisingly long lifespan, with succeeding Atari consoles having backwards compatibility with its games, and modern studios still developing software for it. The console itself has also been looked upon fondly by many older gamers, with much of its library seeing rereleases on modern hardware.
The official Atari Twitter page shared a short teaser for a new product titled the Atari 2600+, with the caption beginning with, "An Icon Returns." This new product, set to release on November 17, is based off the original console, complete with the classic wood-grain finish, and is bundled in with a single CX40+ joystick (two-player mode is compatible, but other controllers must be purchased separately) and a cartridge that contains 10 non-licensed 2600 games. The console will be compatible with every Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridge in existence, thanks to its built-in slot. Another new feature is the inclusion of HDMI output.
Fans in the comments appeared elated by the news, although some expressed concern at the lack of compatibility with Atari 5200 cartridges, although Atari explained that this was due to their different shape. Several also noted that no release date was listed for non-US territories, but Atari clarified that the 2600+ would be available through international purchase. Another fan inquired as to whether unofficial Atari demakes would be compatible, but there was no official response.
Such a release should be a very valuable purchase for newbies and veteran gamers alike, especially in the latter's case, seeing how some of their Atari collections might be showing their age or even attracting vermin. Classic game preservation has been a long-criticized aspect of the gaming industry, so it's nice to see Atari taking a stab at making things right.
The Atari 2600+ is set to release on November 17.