Atari Classics Reincarnated: 39 Beloved

Atari's 50th Anniversary Celebration Expands with 39 More Classic Games

Atari, a pioneering force in the early days of home video game consoles, is revisiting its rich history with an expanded edition of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. This updated collection, launching October 25th, 2024, will add a whopping 39 classic Atari titles to its already impressive roster of over 90 retro games.

The original Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, released in 2022, featured games spanning from the Atari 2600 to the Atari Jaguar, including remastered versions of beloved titles like Yar's Revenge, Quadratank, and Haunted House. The collection also included a five-part interactive timeline documenting Atari's legacy.

The upcoming Extended Edition significantly enhances this experience. It introduces two new timelines: "The Wider World of Atari" and "The First Console War." "The Wider World of Atari" will showcase 19 playable games and eight video segments, highlighting Atari's enduring influence on gaming through interviews, vintage advertisements, and historical artifacts, all meticulously researched and compiled by Digital Eclipse.

"The First Console War" timeline delves into the iconic rivalry between the Atari 2600 and Mattel's Intellivision in the early 1980s, featuring 20 playable games and six video segments. This section recounts the Atari 2600's eventual triumph, albeit a short-lived one before the 1983 video game crash.

While the full list of new games remains undisclosed, the expansion promises a deep dive into the classic 1980 shooter Berzerk, along with lesser-known titles from the late 80s and fan favorites from Mattel's M Network division.

Physical editions for Nintendo Switch and PS5 will also be available. The Switch version boasts a Steelbook case with bonus items like Atari 2600 art cards, miniature arcade marquee signs, and a replica Al Alcorn business card. This special edition will retail for $49.99, while the standard edition will be priced at $39.99. The Extended Edition will be available on all major consoles and the Atari VCS.