Tech Nostalgia: Atari Announces 800XL Retro Computer

Atari announced the 800XL, a recreation of the classic 8-bit home computer that comes with 25 built-in games and costs $220. It’s available for preorder now and will ship in April 2027.

“The 800XL represents an important moment in Atari’s history, when home computers were becoming a gateway to gaming, programming, and creativity,” Atari vice president Matt Burnett says. “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.”

The Atari 800 XL debuted in 1983 alongside the 600 XL in 1983 as replacements for the original Atari 8-bit computers, the Atari 400 and 800. The most significant change was the industrial design, which was modern-looking for that era, though it lacked the second cartridge slot provided by the original Atari 800. The Atari 800 XL cost $299 at launch, more than the cost of the 800XL today.

The 800XL is compatible with most original Atari 8-bit (400/800, XL, and XE) cartridge games and apps and with Atari 5200 side-loaded games, and it comes with the same built-in BASIC. But it has various improvements, of course, including a full-sized mechanical keyboard, HDMI video-out for modern displays, and four USB ports for loading additional games and apps and adding peripherals. And it includes a new version of the classic Atari joystick, the THECXSTICK.

The 25 bundled games include Airball, Asteroids, Basketball, BattleZone, Berzerk, Boulder Dash, Bristles, Capture the Flag, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Elektraglide, Encounter, Flip and Flop, Henry’s House, Hover Bovver, Lee, M.U.L.E., Millipede, Miner 2049er, Missile Command, O’Riley’s Mine, The Seven Cities of Gold, Star Raiders II, Wavy Navy, and Yoomp!. 8 of those are licensed first-party titles and the others are licensed third-party games.

Atari notes that two more games, Castle Crisis and Super Breakout, are hidden in the game carousel and can be unlocked by connecting an analog controller. A Save and Rewind Gameplay feature lets you save your progress at any time with four save slots per game, and you can rewind gameplay by up to 30 seconds, whether playing built-in games, side-loaded software or cartridges, Atari says.

You can learn more and preorder The 800XL on the Atari website.