One of the most iconic video games consoles, the Atari 2600 is returning as a handheld console and innovative plug and play TV joystick in time for Christmas 2017.

The 'Atari "Retro" Handheld' features the immortalised "wood" effect and includes 50 classic games built-in, including: Asteroids, Pong, Centipede, Missile Command, Breakout, Millipede and more.

In addition to featuring a 2.4" screen, it also includes A/V output (with HDMI adapter available) and super responsive buttons with a stylish analogue control stick.

The 'Atari "Retro" Plug and Play TV Joystick' features a progressive design, with the inclusion of an arcade style button on top of the controller and will connect to your TV with the included A/V cable (or HDMI with an available adapter). It will feature the same 50 built-in games as the handheld.

The range is officially licensed by Atari and is being developed by PQube, the leading distributor of retro gaming hardware in Europe.

CEO of PQube, David Pain quoted:
"We are delighted to be working with Atari on this amazing project. Having sold over a million retro gaming consoles, we have taken the extensive feedback from press, retail and the consumer to develop new range of hardware that is faithful to the Atari brand"

CEO of Atari, Frederik Chesnais quoted:
“We are thrilled to partner with PQube on the compact handheld and Plug and Play TV Joystick,” said Fred Chresnais, Chief Executive Officer, Atari. “Both products are packed with nostalgic and fun-filled games that will give our fans the opportunity to relive the golden age of videogames wherever they go.”

The "Atari 'Retro' Handheld console" will retail for just £34.99 and the "Atari 'Retro' TV Plug and Play Joystick" at just £24.99. It is available to pre-order now at Europe's Number One Retro Gaming Destination, FunstockRetro.co.uk

Full list of included games below:

1.3D Tic-Tac-Toe (31 in 1)
2.Adventure
3.Air-Sea Battle
4.Asteroids ®
5.Black Jack
6.Bowling
7.Breakout ®
8.Canyon Bomber ®
9.Casino
10.Centipede ®
11.Circus Atari ®
12.Crystal Castles ®
13.Demons to Diamonds ™
14.Desert Falcon ®
15.Dodge 'em
16.Double Dunk
17.Fun With Numbers
18.Golf
19.Gravitar ®
20.Haunted House ®
21.Home Run
22.Human Cannonball ™
23.Maze Craze
24.Millipede ®
25.Miniature Golf ®
26.Missile Command ®
27.Night Driver ™
28.Off the Wall
29.Pong - Video Olympics
30.Quadrun ™
31.Radar Lock ™
32.Realsports Football ®
33.Realsports Tennis ®
34.Realsports Volleyball ®
35.Sprintmaster
36.Star Raiders ®
37.Steeplechase
38.Stellar Track ™
39.Street Racer
40.Submarine Commander
41.Super Baseball
42.Super Breakout ®
43.Swordquest: Earthworld ™
44.Swordquest: Fireworld ™
45.Swordquest: Waterworld ™
46.Tempest ®
47.Video Checkers
48.Video Chess
49.Video Pinball
50.Yar's Revenge ®

Official Site

 

[Pleng]

I mean, who in this day and age is not aware that you can download hundreds of emulators for free and grab the entire library
of whatever system you're interested in?

The majority of the population I would guess. And of the small percentage that do know that it can be done, most of them don't know how to do it and have either no time, or no inclination, to research to research for themselves.

 

[SuzieJoeBob]

Game Boy Micro clone? It's ok because it's a retroconsole.

Fixed that for you. Aside from missing the trigger buttons on either top corner, this illooks exactly like a GB Micro.

 

[Redhorse]

I have to admit, I do love me some Tempest

 

[air2004]

Why isn't kaboom on here ?

 

[TVL]

Well until they wise up and put actual REAL analog controls on it, all the paddle games are pointless.
REAL analog control = Potentiometer type rotating circular controller, like the original PADDELS & DRIVING controllers.
Using a lame analog joystick to play paddle games does NOT count!
You know what would be cool? If they made the joystick's stick rotate, like Ikari Warriors arcade, but was analog
instead of just a few digital clicks. Include that and have real paddle control, then it would be kinda cool.
I really do not understand the popularity of these lame, inferior "mini retro" consoles that have become all the rage lately.
"Oh hey look! We stuck another ancient emulator that's probably existed for decades on some crap hardware with crap controls,
stuck it in a pretty case and yet.... People still flock to it!"

I don't understand how any of the "Classic collection" game collection packs sell either.
I mean, who in this day and age is not aware that you can download hundreds of emulators for free and grab the entire library
of whatever system you're interested in? Plus multiple emulators exist for every popular system so you have tons of choices
that no commercial collection or retro mini consoles have. There's just zero reason to pay for this crap, yet every year they
do it and every year it's profitable.

Subtle Demise: Yeah, the 7800's audio sucks. Initially, Atari wanted devs to include POKEY chips in their carts, like how
PITFALL II did on the 2600, for enhanced audio. But no one did of course. Man they made some dumb moves!
They ruled the video game world but then, just like Commodore, dwindled it away by making stupid decision after stupid decision.

Absolutely, agree so much it feels like I could have written that post if I was just a little more passionate about the subject. I would like to see paddle controllers make a return, really fun way to play games. Games like Arkanoid, Breakout etc. are semi-broken without them.

The thing about putting something in a nice package and sell it plays so well to the hunter gatherer brain, I don't know how alone I am in thinking it is a hollow and short lasting pleasure to buy stuff that you when you think about it have no need for and if you purchase it enjoy for a week tops (at which point you are on the lookout for something new and shiny).

 

[Gizametalman]

No Battle Zone?
No Solar Fox?
No Seaquest?
No Space Invaders?