Atari Recreates 1983 800XL Retro Computer with 25 Built-In Games

Atari is re-releasing its 1983 home computer as a $220 retro machine called The 800XL, featuring a full-size mechanical keyboard, HDMI output, and a working cartridge slot. The French holding company behind the brand announced the new hardware as part of its ongoing strategy to recreate historical consoles and computers with modern technology, vowing full support for both classic and modern 8-bit gaming experiences.

The Tech TL;DR:

• The 800XL costs $220, is currently available for pre-order, and is scheduled to ship in late April next year.
• Modern enhancements include HDMI output for PAL (50Hz) or NTSC (60Hz) modes, four USB-A ports, a rewind feature covering up to 40 seconds of gameplay, and four save slots per game.
• The hardware features a full-size mechanical keyboard, a working cartridge slot compatible with original releases, and built-in Atari BASIC alongside 25 pre-installed games.

Pre-Order Pricing and Release Schedule for The 800XL

Available now for pre-order, The 800XL is priced at $220 with shipments expected to begin in late April next year. The system bridges a gap between historical hardware and current display standards by integrating an HDMI output supporting both PAL at 50Hz and NTSC at 60Hz. Alongside the physical machine, Atari includes an updated “THECXSTICK” joystick, which serves as a modern recreation of the iconic CX40 handle.

Atari 800XL Recreation Supports Original Cartridges and USB Software

The original Atari 800XL debuted over 40 years ago as a transitional platform bridging the Atari 2600 and the 16-bit Atari ST line based on the Motorola 68000 family, utilizing 64KB of system memory alongside custom graphics and sound chips. The newly announced recreation incorporates a working cartridge slot engineered to run original game releases from the 1980s across Atari 400, 800, XL, and XE machines. Beyond physical media, users can load custom games and software in ROM format using standard USB flash drives via the device’s four USB-A ports.

Pre-Installed Classics and Modern Quality-of-Life Additions

The system ships with 25 built-in games, featuring titles such as Centipede, Asteroids, The Seven Cities of Gold, and M.U.L.E.. A built-in Atari BASIC interpreter allows for direct programming access. To mitigate the high difficulty curve of vintage software, Atari added modern quality-of-life features including four dedicated save slots per game and a rewind function capable of reversing up to 40 seconds of active gameplay.