Following last year’s well-received revival of the Atari 7800 and 2023’s Atari 2600 hardware reboot, the former king of video games is continuing its streak of reviving classic retro consoles with modern hardware.
Atari is bringing back the Intellivision Sprint, a system that originally competed with the Atari 2600 in the late 1970s and early ’80s, in what was later dubbed the first “console war.” Though it never eclipsed the Atari 2600 in popularity, it was thought to have sold over 3 million units and was the second most popular console of its generation, with a focus on more technically demanding sports and strategy games. It was originally owned by Mattel Electronics, before Atari bought the Intellivision brand rights in 2024.
Atari says the new Intellivision Sprint will retain the look and feel of the original console, but will add modern features like HDMI support, USB charging, and wireless controllers. If you still have your original Intellivision controllers, you can even use them via an adapter using its USB-A port.
The console will include 45 built-in games, including Boulder Dash, Snafu, Astrosmash, and Shark! Shark!, along with other classic Intellivision sports and strategy titles. You can view a complete list of titles on Atari’s website.
The Sprint will also include 48 double-sided controller overlays, with updated artwork, which make each of the game’s controls easier to understand as you play. The new Intellivision Sprint will retail for $149.99, with preorders opening on Oct. 17 at Atari.com. Orders will begin shipping Dec. 5, just in time for the holiday season.
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Unfortunately, according to users on social media, it won’t be compatible with game cartridges from the time, though you will be able to supplement the console’s game library via the console’s USB-A port.
If Intellivision wasn’t your favorite console from the dark ages of gaming, this is likely not Atari’s final attempt at reviving prehistoric consoles. In an interview with retro gaming website Time Extension, the company’s CEO Wade Rosen said there will “certainly be more projects in that vein.”
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