Atari Archives

AppWizard

May 26, 2026

‘I do think Blow misunderstood what the game is about’: Derelict Star made Jonathan Blow rage quit, but it’s the most fascinating indie platformer I’ve played for years

Derelict Star is an indie action-platformer released in early April, where players control an unnamed astronaut scavenging for power cells from a derelict freighter across approximately 500 screens. The game features pixel art reminiscent of the Pico-8 console, blending aesthetics from the Atari 2600 and 8-bit eras. It emphasizes meticulous movement mechanics, relying on players' mastery of speed and momentum, with a jetpack that becomes more effective after sprinting. The gameplay includes a P-Meter mechanic similar to that in Super Mario Bros. 3, which tracks speed and serves as a core puzzle element. Developer John Williams cites influences from classic platformers and emphasizes the importance of momentum, addressing criticisms from Jonathan Blow by clarifying that the game focuses on movement rather than layered puzzles.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Rosemont’s New Minecraft Experience Is Built For Kids

A new attraction called "Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue" has opened in Rosemont’s Pearl District, allowing visitors to engage in an immersive adventure based on the popular video game. Guests receive an “Orb of Interaction” to unlock challenges, collect resources, and rescue villagers from zombies while exploring seven themed environments inspired by Minecraft. The experience includes interactive elements such as hurling snowballs at Creepers and crafting potions. Developed by Supply + Demand in partnership with Mojang Studios, the attraction is accessible to both seasoned players and newcomers. It is available for a limited time at EXP Rosemont, with tickets starting at a specified price. Minecraft has sold over 300 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling video game of all time.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

The new Bubsy is better than I expected, but its hackneyed ’90s nostalgia is exhausting

Atari announced Bubsy 4D, which has generated skepticism and amusement in the gaming community. The first trailer did not impress, and Bubsy games are known for their poor reception, particularly Bubsy 3D, which is considered one of the worst games ever. The revival of the Bubsy franchise is driven by nostalgia, despite its notorious reputation. The game is being developed by Fabraz, a studio recognized for successful platformers like Demon Tides and Slime-san. The 3D platformer genre is evolving with innovative titles, and there is uncertainty about the necessity of another Bubsy game.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Atari just bought the rights to the big daddy of PC RPGs, and a reissue campaign is afoot

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, released in 1981, is recognized as the first grid-based, first-person RPG. The game featured simple monochrome graphics but provided a complex gaming experience, particularly popular in Japan. Different platform versions showed variations, with Nintendo ports offering enhanced visuals. The first five Wizardry games are becoming less available, except for a remake of Proving Grounds set for release in 2024. Recent Wizardry titles have adopted an anime aesthetic in character design. Atari's CEO Wade Rosen announced plans to revive and remaster the early games, which have been unavailable for over two decades. The revival comes as blobbers are gaining popularity, with recent titles indicating renewed interest in the genre.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

GOG Giving Away 3 Classic 1990s Games for Free

GOG is offering three classic PC games from the 1990s for free until May 8. These titles, exclusive to GOG, are not available on platforms like Steam or the Epic Games Store. The games include: 1. The Adventures of Robbo - A puzzle game that debuted in Poland in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1993, where players guide a robot through levels collecting bolts. 2. Heartlight - A puzzle game released in Poland in 1990 and in the U.S. in 1994, where players help an elf named Percival collect hearts while navigating levels. 3. Electro Man - An MS-DOS exclusive platformer recognized as the first professional-level PC game developed in Poland, featuring a cyborg named Jacek seeking vengeance after an alien attack.

AppWizard

April 20, 2026

Polymega Remix lets you play original SNES, N64, and PlayStation games on a Windows 11 PC

The Polymega Remix is a 9 USB device from Playmaji that allows users to play retro games on a Windows 11 PC. It connects to laptops, PCs, or gaming handhelds and features a built-in CD/DVD optical drive that also acts as a cartridge reader. The device supports CD-based consoles such as the Original PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Neo Geo CD, TurboGrafx-CD, and Sega CD add-on for the Sega Genesis. Cartridge support is available through separate modules for consoles including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, and Atari 2600. The Polymega Remix has completed mass production and is set to begin shipping in May 2026.

BetaBeacon

March 22, 2026

I turned my old Pixel 7 Pro into a portable emulation handheld, and it actually works

- RetroArch is a popular software for hosting games on various consoles under one roof. - Daijisho's UI paired with RetroArch's power is a match made in emulation heaven. - Older phones, like the Pixel 7 Pro, can still perform well with 2D titles and games up to the GameCube era. - The Pixel 7 Pro may not be as powerful as modern flagship phones for emulation, but it can still breathe new life into older handsets.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

OpenTTD asks people to please stop being mad at Atari for forcing the game off Steam: ‘OpenTTD as a project retains its full independence,’ and you can still get it for free

The OpenTTD team issued a cautionary note about changes to their open-source remake of Transport Tycoon Deluxe due to the revival of the original game by Atari as a commercial offering. As a result, OpenTTD was removed from Steam and GOG, leading to dissatisfaction within the gaming community. The new Transport Tycoon Deluxe currently has a "mostly negative" rating on Steam. A compromise was reached allowing OpenTTD to remain free on its official website while limiting its availability on storefronts to those who purchase the new game. Atari has agreed to contribute to the maintenance of OpenTTD’s server infrastructure. Community reactions are mixed, with some players expressing gratitude for the update and others criticizing the move as greedy. The original Transport Tycoon Deluxe is available for purchase on Steam or GOG, while OpenTTD can still be accessed for free at openttd.org.

Winsage

February 21, 2026

Creator of Window’s Task Manager shows off ‘probably what Task Manager would look like if I were still around’ — Tempest AI’s retro-futuristic dashboard code shared to Github

Dave Plummer is developing a dashboard for an AI to play the Atari game Tempest and has shared it on X and GitHub. The reimagined Task Manager features a retro-futuristic design with RGB accents and speedometer-style dials, differing from the minimalist Windows 11 Task Manager. Users have reported issues with recent Windows updates, including problems with the Windows Recovery Environment and BitLocker. The dashboard is not meant for regular use and consumes about 75% of the GPU at 30 frames per second on Plummer's M2 Mac Pro. Plummer's work on the Task Manager began in his leisure time and led to its integration into Windows NT, with significant features introduced in Windows 2000. Microsoft updated the Task Manager in May 2024 to change RAM speed measurements and redesigned it for Windows 11 in 2022.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 23 to 27

- Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Edition - Developer: CAPCOM CO., LTD. - Price: .99 - Release Date: February 26 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S - Towerborne - Developer: Xbox Game Studios - Price: Included with Game Pass - Release Date: February 26 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere - Tales of Berseria Remastered Deluxe Edition Pre-Order - Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. - Price: .99 - Release Date: February 26 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S - Bread & Fred - Developer: Atari, Infogrames - Price: TBD - Release Date: February 24 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery - Capy Spa - Developer: Afil Games - Price: TBD - Release Date: February 24 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S - Dark Farts: Parody Smell Edition - Developer: GamePoc LTD - Price: TBD - Release Date: February 25 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere - Deep Space Shooter - Developer: Valkyrie Initiative LLP - Price: TBD - Release Date: February 25 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S - Journey of Johann: Castle Crusade - Developer: Xitilon - Price: TBD - Release Date: February 25 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S - WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom - Developer: althi Inc. - Price: .99 - Release Date: February 26 - Optimized for: Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere