The Atari 2600+ is a modern version of Atari’s classic console which plays original cartridges
The system will have HDMI support and will play most 2600 and 7800 carts
Atari and Plaion have announced the Atari 2600+, a new version of the original Atari 2600 / VCS hardware that plays original cartridges.
Launching on November 17 at a price of $129.99 / €119.99 / £99.99, the Atari 2600+ “has been created using modern technology to authentically replicate the original 4-switch Atari 2600 Video Game System”, according to Plaion.
The console will come with a classic Atari-style joystick and will be able to play the vast majority of original Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 cartridges, with a provided compatibility chart showing which games will work.
According to the chart, of all the Atari 2600 games tested so far, only three don’t work – RealSports Boxing, Super Cobra and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
For those who don’t have any original Atari 2600 games to hand, the console will also come with a compilation cartridge containing the following 10 popular Atari 2600 games:
- Adventure
- Combat
- Dodge ‘Em
- Haunted House
- Maze Craze
- Missile Command
- RealSports Volleyball
- Surround
- Video Pinball
- Yars’ Revenge
Atari will also sell a separate Paddle Controller for the console for $39.99 / €34.99 / £29.99 which will come with its own 4-in-1 game cartridge, including Breakout, Canyon Bomber, Night Driver and Video Olympics.
Additional standalone cartridge games, including Berzerk Enhanced Edition and Mr Run and Jump, will be available for $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99.
In February, Atari started selling a limited edition 50th anniversary box set of physical Atari 2600 games for $999.99. The collection, released as part of the ongoing Atari 50 celebrations, contains 10 physical Atari 2600 games, each in new packaging.
While the box set has yet to sell out, and while its cartridges would theoretically work on the Atari 2600+, four of them are included in the 10-in-1 cart and most players will likely prefer to hunt down preowned copies of the remaining cartridges for a much lower price.
Earlier this year, Atari entered into an agreement to acquire retro remaster specialist Nightdive Studios.
