Significant Update Coming to Atari 50

Video game collectors and preservationists have long remembered the heyday of Atari’s 2600 platform. And now, almost a year after its release, the PS5 and Xbox One compilation that we called one of 2022’s Best Retro Collections is getting a big update.

The update will launch on December 5th, adding 12 new (old) Atari 2600 games to last year’s impressive selection of games and supplementary material. It’s the first of many planned updates from Atari and developer Digital Eclipse, who seem to be a studio that understands how to deliver a complete player experience.

Unlike many modern collections, which are essentially a list of emulated games with some digitized extras (scans of box art or historical trivia), Atari 50 combines history, design documents, and playable games into an interactive timeline. It also has a few key improvements that make exploring the 103 games in the collection more accessible. Save states and controls can be changed, a good CRT-like filter is available, and original instruction booklets can be pulled up with a button.

This is all wrapped into an intuitive interface like playing an old-school console or PC. It also includes a wealth of behind-the-scenes interviews with some of the biggest names in Atari’s early days and a documentary that explores Atari’s rise and fall. And, of course, there are plenty of nifty extras to uncover as you play, including prototypes and homebrews that aren’t included in the official lineup.

One of the most exciting things about Atari 50 is that it includes some of the most important games ever created, even if Atari itself didn’t make them. For example, you can play a reimagined version of Donkey Kong or an Atari-made version of Pac-Man that was credited with contributing to the company’s collapse. The only major Atari-made games that aren’t included in the collection are Pitfall, Frogger, and ET the Extra-Terrestrial.

It’s not surprising that Atari would want to keep expanding its library of archival material, especially given how much interest there is in seeing the history of video gaming unearthed by Digital Eclipse. The studio has built its reputation on creating remasters of old-school titles with meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful presentation. Its previous work, from the Mega Man Legacy Collection to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Collection, is a testament to that.

It must be clarified if the upcoming Atari update includes any new interview content or documentary footage. Still, this is just the start of many more additions to a fantastic package. We’ll keep you posted about future announcements from Atari or Digital Eclipse.

Chelsea Bonner

Hello, my name is Chelsea Bonner, With a body of work that encompasses everything from heart-wrenching dramas to epic adventures, I have proven time to time again that I am a true literary chameleon, able to adapt any style and tone to suit any genre or subject matter. Beyond my impressive literary achievements, I am also a respected figure in the writing community, serving as a mentor and role model to aspiring writers around the world. My commitment to fostering the next generation of talent is truly inspirational, and their impact on the literary world will be felt for years to come.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Latest from Featured Posts