Atari 800XL Hybrid Console Returns With HDMI and 25 Built-In Games
After decades out of the spotlight, the Atari 800XL is back as a device that combines a game console with a computer. It costs $220, and shipments begin on April 23, 2027.
The Atari 800XL, one of the company's successful home computers, is going back on sale in a refreshed form. The 800 line was discontinued in the early 1990s, but the new version keeps the original's capabilities and adds modern conveniences.
Modern connections
The console hooks up to a television via HDMI and has several USB ports for accessories. It comes with 25 games preinstalled, including Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede and Missile Command. It is an 8-bit machine, so its graphics are roughly comparable to the original NES.
A cartridge slot accepts any title originally released for the system. Through USB, players can also load games from other Atari systems, such as the 400 and the 5200 console. The package includes a period-accurate joystick that charges over USB.
Also a computer
Like the original, the new 800XL doubles as a computer. It has a full-sized mechanical keyboard and access to the Atari Basic programming platform, so users can build their own games if they have the patience. It can also run homebrew software made in the 1980s, offering a look at what hobbyists were creating back then.
Price and maker
The hardware was designed by Plaion Replai, the company behind the remade Commodore 64 and the upcoming Neo Geo. The Atari 800XL costs $220. Preorders are open now, but shipments do not start until April 23, 2027.
