The Atari 7800+ retro console, flanked by a brand-new game and a wireless controller

Atari 7800+ Retro Console Faithfully Recreates a Classic This Winter

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Published: August 20, 2024 9:00 AM

Atari and Plaion have announced the Atari 7800+, a faithful recreation of the classic 1986 Atari 7800. It's set to launch around the world this winter and will be compatible with original 7800 cartridges as well.

Per a press release, the 7800+ is a "scaled-down, compact edition" of the original 7800, so it won't take up quite as much room in your setup. It's also got HDMI compatibility, so you can hook it up to modern displays with no problem.

The console will be compatible with both original 7800 cartridges and original 2600 carts, echoing the backwards compatibility of the original 7800. Just like its predecessor, it also won't be able to run 5200 cartridges, so you're out of luck if you've got a large 5200 library for some reason.

A shot of the box art and cartridge art for Bentley Bear's Crystal Quest, a brand new Atari 7800+ game
A brand new game has been created specially for the Atari 7800+.

Atari and Plaion say they guarantee "near-perfect compatibility with original and third-party Atari games", though, so your 2600 and 7800 libraries should be safe on the new 7800+.

Each 7800+ will come pre-packaged with a wireless CX78+ controller, which recreates the two-button setup of the original 7800's peripheral. You'll also get a copy of Bentley Bear's Crystal Quest, a brand new sequel to the Atari classic Crystal Castles.

A number of other new games, some of them based on IPs acquired by Atari last year, will also be available for the system, and the lineup will include "Atari releases for popular homebrew games", along with three "multi-game 2600+ cartridges" (which will, as a reminder, be compatible with the 7800+).

The CX78+ two-button controller, which ships with the Atari 7800+
Each Atari 7800+ will come with a CX78+ controller.

The Atari 7800+ will set you back $129.99, while an extra CX78+ controller will cost you $34.99. If you want to buy a CX40+ wireless joystick for glorious single-button gaming, you'll have to hand over a further $34.99.

Atari and Plaion are set to launch the Atari 7800+ sometime this winter. Stay tuned for more news on a specific release date, and while you wait, you can pre-order the console here if you like.

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Joe has been writing for TechRaptor for several years, and in those years has learned a lot about the gaming industry and its foibles. He’s originally an… More about Joseph