In brief: Few things show a person's age quite like an admission that the Atari 2600 was their first gaming machine. For those of us who remember playing Pitfall on those rubbery, single-button joysticks, here's some nostalgia-fueled news: the first official cartridge for the retro console since 1990 is on the way.
Mr. Run and Jump is a 2D platformer that Atari says offers precise level design, free-flowing gameplay, and a formidable challenge. It will be available on the PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, the Xbox Series S/X, and the Atari VCS.
The game looks colorful and fast, bringing to mind platformers like Super Meat Boy. It also offers over 30 hours of gameplay and a time-trial feature. But all that is for the version available on modern consoles and the PC.
If you happen to still own an Atari 2600, you might want to buy a limited-edition version of Mr. Run and Jump that is being launched for the 8-bit machine. It comes with six worlds, 80 levels, five enemy types, and a scoring system: players start with 25,000 points, with one point removed for every second that passes and 100 removed when colliding with enemies.
Note that there is no download code for the modern version of the game included in the box – this is the Atari 2600 version only.
The Atari 2600 game will be available to pre-order on July 31 for $59.99. Atari says that the cartridges have been assembled in the US from high-quality materials and come with gold-plated connectors and beveled edges to prevent pin damage. You also get a sealed box and a game manual.
Back in 2021, Atari launched the AtariXP program in which the company sells unreleased 2600 games like Aquaventure, Saboteur and Yars' Return in cartridge format. There are also games avialable that were launched in limited quantities and collectors editions, which can sell for high prices. The Atari XP 50th Anniversary: Limited Edition Set Of 10, for example, goes for $999.99.