After the brilliantly executed 71374 Super Nintendo Entertainment System, LEGO have officially announced the next gaming console set – 10306 Atari 2600! 2022 is the 50th Anniversary of arguably the first mainstream gaming console, so what better way to celebrate it!
The set has 2,532 pieces, releasing 1st August for general sale. The set will cost US $239.99 / DE €239.99 / UK £209.99 / AU $369.99.
Edit: Note that for Australians, the set will be releasing 1st September.
Including three game cartridges – Asteroids, Adventure and Centipede, the cartridges can also be stored in a case, plus there are three mini builds of the games as well. I’ve never played an Atari (I’m not of that vintage), but it’s an absolute classic console.
The set looks excellent! I wonder if it can fit into the NES’s TV? The joystick also moves to mimic the original one, plus there’s a pop up scene of a young kid playing on his Atari. It’s brilliant! Slide open the cover and pop! The minifigure also has a printed Atari tee.
More images are below, including the press release.
BUILD UP THE FUN WITH THE NEW ICONIC LEGO ATARI 2600 SET
19th July 2022: Today, the LEGO Group reveals the new LEGO® Atari® 2600 set, a nostalgic recreation of one of the most famous video game consoles of all time. The iconic Atari VCS/2600 was an instant hit when introduced in 1977 and the new LEGO set is based on the four-switch revision which debuted in 1980. The release of the new LEGO set also comes in celebration of Atari’s 50th anniversary.
From the unboxing experience through to adding the final brick, building this intricate set is an evocative journey within itself. Activate challenge mode as you build your own console in brick form and take a nostalgic journey uncovering features such as the controller with a joystick that moves to feel just like the original. Brick builders and gamers alike will enjoy sliding open the front and unveiling a pop-up scene from an 80’s gaming room, reviving memories of hours spent trying to get a new high score.
The set also includes three video game cartridges of iconic Atari games in brick format: Asteroids™, Adventure and Centipede™. The cartridges can be stored in a case and built into mini versions of the games. In addition, the console includes a switch to select whether you have a colour or black and white television.
When it came to choosing a LEGO Designer for the set, there was only one person for the job. Lifelong Atari fan Chris McVeigh, who said about the design; “The Atari 2600 was one of the most memorable gifts I got as a kid. I recall spending hours and hours in front of the TV, absolutely amazed that I could play arcade games in my own home. There were so many legendary titles, too, including Asteroids, Adventure, and Centipede. This is why it has been such an incredible experience to bring two icons together, Atari and LEGO, in this awesome set. We hope that building this classic console takes you back to those halcyon days when a handful of pixels meant a world of adventure.”
The LEGO Atari 2600 set is available from the 1st August 2022 via LEGO Stores and www.LEGO.com/Atari at the recommended retail price of $/€239.99.
