Update: The LEGO Atari is now available to purchase, available directly from LEGO's website. It may not be Nintendo hardware, but we have to say they've done a beautiful job or replicating Atari's woody classic. Here are the links you need:
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Original Article (Tue 19th Jul, 2022 17:30 BST): LEGO are on a roll with its video game tie-ins at the moment! We've got the Mighty Bowser roaring us down in October, and a new Princess Peach set coming next month. But we're going to take a step away from Nintendo for just a second to bring you something that might just be the perfect companion for your LEGO NES.
Today, LEGO officially announced its version of the infamous Atari 2600 (thanks VGC!) just in time for the company's 50th anniversary. The Atari 2600 is remembered for several reasons — some less good than others — but no one can deny that it's an influential system that has now been immortalised as a LEGO set! LEGO shared a rather lovely clip to promote the buildable console, where the company delivered a set to someone who once got very excited about getting an Atari back in 1982.
Just like the NES that came before it, the Atari 2600 is pretty dinky and very elaborate. The console will be 8x33x22cm when fully built. But it doesn't just come with the console! The 2,532-piece set makes up the console, controller, small builds of three iconic games — Asteroids, Centipede, and Adventure — and you can even build cartridges to go inside the console!
Our favourite thing about the build has to be the vignette you can build, which recreates a 1980s-style room complete with posters, a cat, and a can of soda!
Not convinced? Here are some rather dashing photos of the build from LEGO itself:
The set launches on 1st August and will retail at £209.99 (or equivalent), but it's getting our retro fuzzies all warm. Our NES needs a friend, and we know just the candidate to sit on the shelf next to it. You can check out everything you need to know about the console over on LEGO's store page.
Will you be picking up the LEGO Atari 2600? Let us know your thoughts on the buildable console in the comments!
Further reading
- Here’s Your First Look At Nintendo’s 14-Feet Tall LEGO Bowser For Comic-Con
- LEGO Confirms Rumours With New 18+ Bowser Set, Which You Can Actually Fight
- Video: Nintendo Gives Super Mario Fans A First Look At LEGO Princess Peach
- LEGO Reveals Super Mario Character Packs - Series 5, Arriving This August
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 31
LEGO Genesis next please! 🥺
Then N64 snes GameCube Gameboy!
Modern Atari will put their label on everything nowadays.
(pretty awesome though)
I still don’t have the NES one. I want them both!
I have the NES so I'll probably grab one of these.
240$ though is steep imo.
So first we got bunch of mini consoles, now we're on to LEGO?
Cool commercial. I’d prefer more Nintendo systems and maybe a Sega Game Gear & DreamCast Legos.
… Wun can only hope.
This is really, extra cool. They should have included Combat though since it was the main pack-in. Genius move to do the mini-display of each game. Very, very cool. Just wish these things were cheaper.
Really cool set but what got my attention the most is the Johnny Thunder poster in the little 80s room scene; I remember those sets from when I was a little kid and it hits me in the nostalgia more than the set itself.
LEGO's designers might have outdone themselves on this one! The little room that pops up, a shelf to hold the games, and little dioramas for each!? Too cool.
Not as cool as the NES. And yet... I never owned an NES but I owned one of these, so it's like 200% cooler. Crap now I want them both.
The Atari 2600 was my first console. Many days of playing Berzerk, Ms. Pac-Man, River Raid, Demon Attack, Cosmic Ark, and so many others with my mother. Good times, good times.
I love the little dioramas that come with the "games".
These Lego video game systems are really cool but not a few hundred cool.
Looks really good but the asking price puts me off. Over £200 is just way to steep to justify
Just give us more Classic Space Lego instead of all this licensed garbage.
You gotta love how they always goes above and beyond with these things, they’re never just a simple LEGO-ized replica. Would love to make more of a hobby out of the 18+ sets if they weren’t all so dang expensive!
210? Yeah good luck with that one lol
@Orokosaki I have good news for you, on August 1 they are releasing a remake of the famed Galaxy Explorer set. Classic Space has not been forgotten.
You could buy a few working 2600s or brand new Hyperkin RetroN 77s for less than this.
I think this is extremely cool. But, for that amount I think it's a bit ridiculous they couldn't make it actually play atari games. I know there is a chip shortage, but still.
Looks interesting, but wildly overpriced
Love the 2600, love Lego, but the asking price is too much of an ask unfortunately. A couple of the upcoming Icon sets I want way more than this and it’s too much for a spur of the moment purchase.
@sword_9mm It’s Lego of course it’s steep Lmao.
Again, it's 2532 pieces. With the price of €240,00 that's around €0,11 per piece. Which is similar to most licensed Lego sets.
So NO, it's not overpriced. Just expensive.
@Orokosaki Well there is a new Galaxy Explorer (LEGO Icons) that's around €0,12 per piece
When a Lego C64 comes out I will probably cave.
But 8p a brick? Wow they must be making a fortune
I might get this if it's ever on sale. I'm a couple of bags away from finishing the NES build and its awesome. I love the castle that is coming out but that's like £350, too much and i dont have space for it. At least with the Atari I could sit it with the NES.
Can I buy just the little '80s room for a fraction of the price? =)
The Dragon needs to be more pixelated. Then Strong Bad can say "SOMEBODY GET THIS FREAKING DUCK AWAY FROM ME!"
Oh sweet! Many formative gaming memories with the Atari - this set is triggering even stronger nostalgia than the Lego NES.
Must… resist…!
I might be tempted for a Lego Wii...
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