Technology · Consumer gadgets · published 2026-10-08 · via Tom's Hardware

Atari 800XL remake opens pre-orders with HDMI, mechanical keys, and 25 games

Retro Games Ltd has opened pre-orders for an Atari-licensed modern version of the 800XL 8-bit home computer. The $219 device includes a mechanical keyboard, HDMI, USB ports, 25 built-in games, save states, and a working cartridge slot. Shipping is scheduled for April 23, 2027, and it includes the controversial CX40-style joystick.

Expanded Detail

Pre-orders are open for Retro Games Ltd’s Atari-licensed 800XL remake, priced at $219 and scheduled to ship April 23, 2027. It combines a mechanical keyboard, HDMI, four USB ports, save states, Atari BASIC, and a cartridge slot compatible with many Atari 400, 800, XL, and XE cartridges. Twenty-five games are built in; two more need an analog controller sold separately. A CX40-style joystick is included.

The original 800XL ran a MOS 6502B processor with Atari’s ANTIC, GTIA, and POKEY chips and had 64KB RAM. The remake’s internal hardware and software details remain undisclosed. Its built-in selection includes Asteroids, Centipede, Battlezone, Missile Command, M.U.L.E., Miner 2049er, and Star Raiders II.

Context

This release may appeal to nostalgic users, retro collectors, and newcomers curious about 1980s computing. A plug-and-play design with HDMI and USB could lower barriers to revisiting classic software, while the cartridge slot may support existing collections

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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