Atari just dropped a bombload of early-nostalgia on gamers by announcing a Pac-Man edition of their 2600+ console for the big 45th anniversary celebration of the yellow chomper. You guessed it: bright yellow, and unapologetically retro-an embarrassment of thumb-clicking just at the thought.
The gaming community had a proper earthquake hit right in the midst of them, with reactions from extreme hype to wait, Atari still exists?. This limited console runs with a wireless joystick (cords so passé in 2025) and the Pac-Man Double Feature cartridge. The pre-orders opened today, July 23, at 9 AM EST, for a shipment date slated at Halloween something that works well with the spookiness.
The bigger question remains: Is this a-downer-for-the-original-gamers or merely another scheme to squeeze nostalgia bucks? The jury is still out. Some such as @Kim_xtreme are screaming must grab one today! while the likes of @playonshaga call it a very expensive Funko Pop that will just sit on a shelf doing nothing. Honestly, both views are fair.
And we have some serious generation-jumping coming down in retorts. @mrshelby101: Pac-Man been chomping dots longer than most of y’all been alive versus @Soulbound_TV along the same lines: Pac-Man been running from problems longer than I have. Anymore @aimi_xyz brilliantly laid down the Atari experience: let’s ruin your thumbs for old time’s sake.
Those from not quite the Atari generation might as well see it as relics. But for an OG, it is time travel. @EarnByPobitra reminisced about marathon Pac-Man sessions with my siblings, while @mood_crumbs can remember with pinpoint trauma one joystick, no saves, and pure rage quitting.
At a price of $169.99-the very high for a trip down memory lane, but hey, collectors gotta collect. And if you’re wondering, can it play other Atari games?-the 2600+ is backward compatible, so dust off those old cartridges and bring them to light.
So next question: Would it be worth it? Depends. If you are in for the vibes, the history, or just to flex on Gen Z, hell yes. Next-gen gameplay?…Maybe keep it with the modern Pac-Man remakes. Anyhow, happy 45th, Pac-Man! Eat dot, avoid commitment.
Side note: Pre-order deets via @grok and @justlucash reminded us that Pac-Man paved the way for every game with a map and no purpose. Word.
Now I need to go pre-order and pretend I actually have room for it in my apartment.
