Atari is bringing one of its most recognizable home computers back from the 1980s, with a modern recreation of the Atari 800XL set to give retro enthusiasts another way to revisit the company’s early computing and gaming history. Developed by Retro Games Ltd. and manufactured and distributed by PLAION REPLAI, THE 800XL combines the original machine’s distinctive design with features intended for modern displays and setups.
Originally introduced in 1983, the Atari 800XL was designed to sit somewhere between a home computer and a gaming machine, featuring a full-sized keyboard, built-in Atari BASIC, 64KB of memory and a cartridge slot. The new recreation aims to preserve that identity rather than simply turning the 800XL into another plug-and-play retro console, including a working cartridge slot and support for software from Atari’s 400, 800, XL and XE computer families, as well as games developed for the Atari 5200.
For those who want to jump straight into some classic Atari software, THE 800XL comes with 25 built-in games. The lineup includes 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!.
Eight of those games are licensed Atari first-party titles, while the remaining 17 come from third-party developers. There are also two hidden games, Castle Crisis and Super Breakout, which can be unlocked by connecting an analog controller.
The new 800XL also retains the programming side of the original computer through built-in Atari BASIC. Users can write, save and load their own programs, giving the machine a purpose beyond playing pre-installed games and making it possible to explore the home-computer experience that helped define the original hardware.
Software can also be loaded through USB, with support for cartridge, disk and cassette images. Four USB-A ports are included for controllers and storage devices, while HDMI provides support for modern displays with PAL and NTSC output, 4:3 and pixel-perfect display modes, and optional CRT filters.
Retro Games Ltd. has also added several modern conveniences without completely moving away from the original experience. Players can use four save slots per game and rewind gameplay by up to 30 seconds, including when playing built-in games, side-loaded software or cartridges.
The package is rounded out by THECXSTICK, a modern recreation of Atari’s classic joystick featuring its traditional fire button alongside seven additional action and function buttons. An HDMI cable, USB-A to USB-C power cable and Quick Guide are also included.
THE 800XL is available to pre-order now for $219.99 USD, £199.99, €219.99 and $349.99 AUD, with shipping scheduled to begin on April 23, 2027. Rather than simply recreating the appearance of an Atari classic, the new system looks to preserve the 800XL as an actual home computer, complete with its games, cartridges and BASIC programming, while making the experience easier to use with modern hardware.
Pre-order THE 800XL today on atari.com, plaionreplai.com and a wide range of retailers worldwide; shipping begins on April 23, 2027.