Atari today announced THE 800XL - a faithful recreation of its best-selling 8-bit computer, bringing the iconic machine and its extensive collection of games and software to a new generation. Designed by Retro Games Ltd., renowned for authentic recreations of 1980s hardware, THE 800XL retains the look and feel of the original, including a full-sized mechanical keyboard, baked-in Atari BASIC, and a working cartridge slot, while adding features for modern displays and gaming setups. The hardware, manufactured and distributed by PLAION REPLAI, is available for pre-order now for USD $219.99, GBP £199.99, EUR €219.99 and AUD $349.99, with shipping beginning on 23 April 2027.
Matt Burnett, VP of Strategic Operations at Atari said: "The 800XL represents an important moment in Atari's history, when home computers were becoming a gateway to gaming, programming and creativity. It gave an entire generation the opportunity to discover what they could do with a computer, while offering an incredible catalog of games and software. That combination is what makes the 800XL such an important part of Atari's legacy, and working with Retro Games Ltd. and Plaion we are excited to bring back this modernized version."
Stuart Chiplin, COO at Retro Games Ltd added: "The 800XL was one of those rare machines that really showed what an 8-bit home computer could be capable of. When recreating it, we wanted to capture not just how the original looked, but what made it such a compelling computer - the freedom it gave people to play, program and create. A lot of work has gone into making THE 800XL feel authentic while bringing the experience up to date for today's players."
With support for Atari 8-bit home computer software, THE 800XL gives players access to decades of classics. Players can instantly enjoy 25 built-in titles or load their own games and software from USB flash drives with cartridge, disk and cassette image support.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing