As one of the most recognizable toys in the world, LEGO has often found itself intrinsically tied with the gaming industry through a variety of collaborations. The popular toy brand has released multiple wildly creative sets based on games as well as featuring in high-profile video games like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. With iconic franchises like Harry Potter, Super Mario, and Transformers appearing in kits from the massive toy line, The LEGO Group recently announced Atari will be the newest brand to receive its own set.
Atari will not be the first time LEGO has partnered with a console developer as the toy company previously worked with Nintendo on a similar project. LEGO and Nintendo's LEGO NES was a smash hit for the toy brand as the building-brick recreation of the classic console quickly sold out across multiple retailers. The massive success of the LEGO NES would eventually prompt many fans to question what other consoles would receive the LEGO treatment. Now, LEGO has officially revealed the LEGO Atari 2600 as its next miniature console.
LEGO officially unveiled the LEGO Atari 2600 on Tuesday morning with a video promoting the console to coincide with Atari's 50th anniversary this year. The commemorative LEGO set comes with the pieces for the LEGO console as well as one classic Atari 2600 controller. The set also includes three LEGO game cartridges based on a collection of classic Atari titles in Asteroids, Adventure, and Centipede. The console itself features a pull-out diorama with a scene featuring a LEGO person playing an Atari 2600 in an early 1980s-inspired room.
LEGO's product listing for the LEGO Atari 2600 reveals several details about the toy console including both its release date and price. The LEGO Atari 2600 is set to release on August 1st at a retail price of $239.99, only running $10 more than the current price for LEGO's previous NES set. The kit also contains a collection of three separate 3D vignettes with small scenes based on the three games included in the set.
LEGO's Atari 2600 is just the most recent in a string of unique and innovative sets from the 70-year-old toy juggernaut. Another recent creation from LEGO released earlier this year features a fully transformable version of Transformers leader Optimus Prime. LEGO has also released multiple Super Mario-themed sets and even launched its first Sonic the Hedgehog set in January. The LEGO Atari 2600 looks to be another stunning homage from LEGO to one of gaming's most iconic brands when it releases next month.