Another piece of 1980s home computing is coming back. THE 800XL, a full-size recreation of Atari’s best-selling 8-bit computer, was announced on Thursday, October 8, by Plaion and Retro Games Ltd, the team behind THE400 Mini and other retro remakes. It costs $219.99 (£199.99 in the UK) and is up for pre-order now, with shipping set to start on April 23, 2027, according to the official store listing.
Unlike THE400 Mini, this one is not shrunk down. THE 800XL has a full-size mechanical keyboard, and you can write and save your own programs in Atari BASIC, just like in 1983. It also has a working cartridge slot that supports most original Atari 400, 800, XL, and XE cartridges, so anyone with a box of old carts in the closet can plug them in.
It comes with 25 built-in games, including Centipede, Missile Command, M.U.L.E., and Battlezone. It also supports software made for Atari’s 8-bit computers and the Atari 5200 console, and you can load games you own from a USB flash drive, with support for cartridge, disk, and cassette images. Modern touches include HDMI output with 50Hz and 60Hz support, 4:3 and pixel-perfect display modes, optional CRT filters, four save slots per game, and a 30-second rewind.
The bundled controller is THECXSTICK, a recreation of Atari’s classic joystick that adds eight action and function buttons built into the original design. The machine has four USB-A ports for extra controllers and storage and runs on USB-C power.
The price is a step up from Retro Games’ earlier remakes, as GamesRadar pointed out. But it is aimed squarely at collectors who want something that looks and feels like the real thing on a modern TV. The Verge reports it is a collaboration with Atari, which has spent the last few years reviving its old hardware.
Retro fans have plenty to look forward to next year. RCG also reported on Edia dating Psikyo Memories for February 18, 2027.
