Atari Celebrates 50 Years Of The 2600

This sounds great.

Atari will kick off the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Atari 2600 during Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2026 this weekend in Portland, Oregon. Atari’s booth at the three-day retro gaming event will feature playable games from the recently announced Activision x Atari Collection, Atari 2600+ and Intellivision consoles, 10 new Homebrew games, exclusive apparel and a number of special guest appearances. 

Atari will also host two special panels celebrating the history and legacy of the Atari 2600, featuring the pioneering creators who helped bring the iconic console and its games to life. See below for more details.

Creating the Atari 2600: Nolan Bushnell and Joe Decuir

Saturday, October 10 at 1:00pm PT

In 1977, Atari launched the first successful console, bringing games into home TVs and forever changing the industry. As Atari kicks off the 50th anniversary of the Atari 2600, the two men at the very heart of that effort, Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and pioneering engineer Joe Decuir, will discuss the console’s origins, launch and enduring legacy.

Developing for the Atari 2600: David Crane, Dan Kitchen and Garry Kitchen

Sunday, October 11 at 12:00pm PT

In the 70s and 80s, David Crane, Dan Kitchen and Garry Kitchen designed memorable games that pushed what the original Atari 2600 console could do. In 2021, they co-founded Audacity Games and returned to developing games for the iconic platform. Ahead of the console’s 50th anniversary, the three video game pioneers will discuss their work, then and now.

After both discussions, Atgari will host a signing with the panelists at the Atari booth open to all attendees.

AtariAge will debut 10 new cartridge games that will be available for attendees to play and purchase at the show this weekend. With options for the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Jaguar and the ColecoVision, these new titles bring exciting new content to owners of classic Atari consoles and Atari’s new 2600+ and 7800+ consoles. The titles will also go on sale on the AtariAge Store Friday evening to coincide with the opening of the show. 

You can find more information on the games and their respective platforms below:

• Asteroid Miner (Atari 2600): Can you mine enough of the rare element Nihonium in a dangerous asteroid field to become rich beyond your wildest dreams?

• Cosmic Custodian (Atari 2600): As the Last Guardian, you find yourself in the furthest reaches of space, where you must protect the galaxy from an unrelenting alien armada!

• Cosmic Custodian 2 (Atari 2600): The alien threat has returned, more aggressive and relentless than ever before! Can you clear the cosmos once and for all?

• Crossbeam (Atari 2600): Take command of two laser cannons firing from different directions to battle through 99 increasingly challenging waves of alien invaders!

• Oh No! More Peril (Atari 2600): Pilot your helicopter to help rescue workers trapped in a malfunctioning, automated facility full of perilous installations!

• Tony Montezuma’s Gold (Atari 2600): Can you solve the mysteries of Montezuma’s Castle, survive the terrifying catacombs and enemies of the dangerous pyramid and find Montezuma’s Gold?

• Ninjish Guy Perilous Island (Atari 7800): Our ninjish hero has crash-landed on a remote island inhabited by aggressive flora and fauna — can you survive the dangers, defeat the final boss, and escape?

• Rogue (Atari 7800): The classic computer game Rogue makes its debut on the Atari 7800 – can you reach deep into the dungeon to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, or will you succumb to the dungeon’s perils?

• Dragon’s Descent (ColecoVision): Explore an endless labyrinth created by an ancient dragon, filled with the promise of wealth, power and danger — can you survive and escape with its riches?

• Yo-Yo Shuriken (Atari Jaguar): With your secret ninja weapon, the mighty “Yo-Yo Shuriken”, you and up to three friends can work together to defeat the robot hordes and their deadly bosses!

Atari and AtariAge will be exhibiting all three days at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, October 9-11 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR. The booth will feature games from the Activision x Atari Collection, Atari 2600+ and Intellivision consoles, new and classic retro games, exclusive T-shirts and Atari apparel and plenty of other goodies!

These titles are now available at AtariAge.com. You can download assets here.