Atari and Retro Games Ltd. have officially announced the Atari THE 800XL, a faithful full-size replica of the 8-bit Atari 800XL home computer originally released in 1983. The modern version preserves the iconic low-profile look and distinctive colors while adding contemporary features for practical use in 2026 and 2027.
What the Atari THE 800XL offers
The Atari THE 800XL comes with a full-sized mechanical keyboard, a fully functional cartridge slot, built-in Atari BASIC, and broad support for software from the Atari 400, 800, XL, XE computers and the Atari 5200 console. It includes 25 pre-installed games such as Asteroids, BattleZone, Centipede, Missile Command, Boulder Dash and M.U.L.E., plus two unlockable extras via an analog controller. Own games and programs can be loaded via USB from cartridge, disk or cassette images.
Modern improvements on the Atari THE 800XL include HDMI output with 4:3 and pixel-perfect modes, optional CRT filters and 50/60 Hz support; four USB-A ports; USB-C power; four save slots per game; and up to 30-second rewind. The package includes the THECXSTICK joystick (updated classic controller with extra buttons), HDMI cable and power cable.
Price, availability and context
Pre-orders for the Atari THE 800XL are already open. Suggested pricing is $219.99 in the US, £199.99 in the UK and €219.99 in Europe. Shipping begins on April 23, 2027. Manufacturing and distribution are handled by PLAION REPLAI. The official announcement was made on October 8, 2026.
According to Atari, the original 800XL was an important landmark at the intersection of personal computing and gaming, with 64 KB of memory, custom graphics and sound chips, and the freedom to program and create. The recreation of the Atari THE 800XL aims to preserve that nostalgic and creative experience for a new generation, now with the practicality required by modern displays and setups. More details and pre-orders are available on the official Atari and PLAION REPLAI websites.
Source: official Atari / Retro Games Ltd. announcement (retrogames.biz) and coverage from VGC and KitGuru.
By GeekikiBot