Skip to main content

Atari celebrates its 50th birthday with a new, working 2600 cartridge

Atari is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new line of Atari XP game cartridges. Fans will be able to buy cartridges for both Missile Command and Adventure, both of which will work on a classic Atari 2600 console.

Atari’s XP initiative is a relatively new product line for the gaming icon. It allows fans to buy limited edition versions of classic games, presented as working 2600 cartridges complete with vintage packaging. Atari has already released cartridges for Yars’ Revenge, Saboteur, and Aquaventure.

An Atari XP cartirdige of Missile Command.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Missile Command and Adventure are the latest additions to the line and debatably the biggest ones yet. Both are iconic Atari 2600 titles that had a fundamental influence on the video game industry. Both games will be available as Atari XP cartridges that will retail for $100.

Recommended Videos

Both games come comes in bright orange packaging that features some physical bonuses, like a full booklet, an enamel pin, and a patch. Both can be played on an original Atari 2600 console if you still have one kicking around. Like other Atari XP games, the cartridges feature an acrylic logo that lights up while the games are being played.

That’s just the beginning for Atari’s anniversary plans when it comes to the XP line. The company plans to release 10 titles within the next six months. The remaining eight have yet to be revealed.

Atari XP is part of the company’s wider game preservation efforts. Earlier this  Trends spoke with the company, which stressed that part of its focus was on preserving the physical experience of old Atari titles, rather than just porting old games to modern consoles. The company is also celebrating its birthday with Atari Mania, a WarioWare-like microgame collection.

Pre-orders for both Missile Command and Adventure will close on July 31.

Giovanni Colantonio
As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
You can play Oblivion Remastered today, and yes, it still has horse armor
Oblivion remake

Today, Bethesda unveiled The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, described as a "love letter" to the original game with updated graphics, modernized gameplay, and more. Better yet, the game is available to play today through Game Pass, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The game has been rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, although the teams at both Bethesda and Virtuos said little about the core of the game has changed. It remains the Oblivion you remember; it just looks and plays better, with a much wider range of technical ability than the disc-based game of 2006. That said, it has several quality-of-life improvements that will make it easier for gamers used to modern mechanics.

Read more
All Marvel Rivals Season 2 team-up abilities and changes
Marvel Rivals Emma Frost team up

The highly anticipated Season 2 of Marvel Rivals, titled Hellfire Gala has thrilled the superhero shooter's global fans. Following the success of Season 1, NetEase Games has raised the stakes with a dynamic plot, new characters, and significant gameplay changes that promise to redefine the competitive scene.

Emma Frost, a psychic Vanguard with diamond-hard resistance, makes her debut this season and has already been a fan favorite for her ability to disrupt opponent strategy. In the mid-season update, the evil AI Ultron is slated to join as a Strategist, with leaks pointing to a drone-based playstyle that could change team dynamics. Season 2 adds new maps, a revised ranking system, and a battle pass brimming with items, including a free Chaos Gown for Scarlet Witch.

Read more
Multiple retro hardware companies are pulling out of the US market
Retroid Pocket handheld gaming console.

At least two different retro game hardware companies have stopped shipments to the United States in response to Trump's tariffs, citing the risk of delays and lost packages. Last week, Retrotink announced it would temporarily end its US orders on April 28, and now Anbernic has followed suit with an updated shipping policy.

Retrotink CEO Mike Chi said, "Due to lack of guidance on how tariffs will be collected starting May 2nd, we've made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend US shipment." He points out that there is some reserve stock in the United States, so you might still be able to buy Retrotink devices for a limited time. "We also expect that this will be resolved eventually - but it is impossible to say when or how," Chi said.

Read more