Atari Is Bringing Back the Intellivision Console After 45 Years
Atari’s latest move feels like it came straight out of a time machine. The company is bringing back its 1980s rival Intellivision with a brand-new console that looks retro but plays nice with modern TVs.
What Is the Intellivision Sprint
The Intellivision Sprint is a modern recreation of Mattel’s 1979 console, now owned and re-released by Atari. It launches December 5, 2025, in the US and Australia, with Europe following later in the month. The retail price is set at $149.99.
It includes 45 built-in Intellivision classics, updated controllers, and HDMI support for modern displays. It also adds USB ports for possible library expansion, letting fans plug in new content without needing the original cartridges.
Classic Design, Modern Features
Atari kept the vintage look but made smart tweaks for 2025. The console uses wireless controllers modeled after the original disc-and-keypad setup, and it even comes with new overlay cards for each game. Those transparent inserts were essential to the original system, showing each button’s function during gameplay.
The Sprint also includes a power-saving standby mode, faster loading times, and smoother sound emulation than past mini consoles.
Games Confirmed So Far
Atari has confirmed a handful of recognizable names from the Intellivision library. The full list is still under wraps, but several classics are already shown in marketing material:
Astrosmash
Sea Battle
Space Battle
Boulder Dash
Baseball
Star Strike
These titles will all feature updated display scaling for widescreen support and optional CRT filters for players chasing that original TV look.
Why Atari Bought Intellivision
Atari’s 2024 acquisition of the Intellivision brand ended one of the earliest rivalries in gaming history. Instead of competing consoles, the two names now sit under one company. The deal gave Atari ownership of over 200 Intellivision titles and trademarks, opening the door for re-releases, new collections, and even original games under the revived label.
Industry watchers expect Atari to use the Sprint as a test run for future hardware collaborations or digital bundles, possibly expanding into new retro-inspired systems.
Possible Next Steps
Atari hasn’t ruled out adding new games to the Sprint through USB or software updates. Given the hardware’s open setup and the company’s recent partnerships with studios like Digital Eclipse, more content seems likely.
Collectors also suspect special edition color variants could drop next year if the initial batch sells out.
Final Blurb
Atari turning its oldest rival into its newest console feels poetic, in a nerdy kind of way. The Intellivision Sprint isn’t just nostalgia bait, it’s a full-circle moment for gaming history. Old-school players get their fix, new players get a taste of the roots, and everyone else gets to laugh at how two 1970s systems finally made peace… forty-five years later.
© 2025 GamerBlurb. Linking is welcome with credit to GamerBlurb.com. Copying or reproduction without permission is prohibited.
More News Articles
