It seems wildly improbable, but 50-year-old videogame pioneer Atari has not only survived, but are re-releasing the Atari 2600 as the 2600+.
The original 2600, released in 1977, cost $190 (about $920 today); the new 2600+ runs $130. And it's not only backwards-compatible with original 2600 and 7800 game cartridges, but comes with a 10-in-1 game cartridge featuring the classics.
The cartridge slot is just a smidgen wider, which Atari says will reduce sticking. And the video connector has been upgraded to HDMI, and it features a widescreen mode for modern TVs.
The overall design of the console hasn't changed, nor has the joystick. Sadly, it only comes with one joystick—perhaps that says something about the target buyer?
The Atari 2600+ is up for pre-order now and will ship in November.
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Ten games for ten minutes to realize you aren't ten years old anymore, and flickering 4 colored squares and rectangles aren't as enthralling as you remember compared to even the simplest F2P mobile game. Then it goes on a shelf to collect dust. The price is ridiculous as well, if bargain basement knockoff emulators can be produced and sold for <$50, there's no excuse for the original license holders to expect the public to pay upwards of three times that.
Maybe it isn't for you, but playing the original games is every bit as enthralling as I remember. You can even play the games in your web browser for free. The 2600+ is a turnkey product for those that value the original without the time and expertise to build one. A RPi replica in a small white box with USB controllers would cost probably half that without the nostalgia.