Atari Intellivision Returns (Sort Of)

17 Oct at 19:16

Atari launches the Intellivision Sprint

Atari has revealed the Intellivision Sprint, a modern homage to the original Intellivision console released to mark the platform’s 45th anniversary. The company describes the Sprint as a contemporary revival of the classic system and is positioning it for fans of retro gaming.

The console ships with 45 built-in titles. Highlights include timeless arcade favorites such as Astrosmash, Shark! Shark!, Star Strike, Thin Ice, and Boulder Dash. The collection also features a range of sports simulations—Baseball, Chip Shot Super Pro Golf, Soccer, Super Pro Skiing, Tennis, and Super Pro Football—alongside strategic and combat-oriented games like B-17 Bomber, Sea Battle, Space Battle, and Utopia.

The Intellivision Sprint is priced at $149.99 and will be available for pre-order through Atari.com beginning Oct. 17. Orders are scheduled to ship on Dec. 5, making the Sprint a timely holiday option for nostalgic players or anyone seeking a lower-cost alternative to current flagship systems. The unit retains the visual character of the original Intellivision while adding modern conveniences such as wireless controllers, HDMI output, and a USB-A port.

Official video: Intellivision Sprint.

Originally developed by Mattel Electronics and rolled out broadly in 1980, the Intellivision was designed to compete with the Atari 2600 (released in 1977). That rivalry is often credited with igniting the first home-console wars: the Intellivision offered technically superior hardware and sharper visuals, while the 2600 dominated on price and an extensive software library.

At one point the competition spilled into advertising, with Mattel employing writer George Plimpton in commercials that directly challenged the capabilities of the Atari 2600.

In May 2024, Atari acquired the Intellivision brand from Mattel and suggested the possibility of new Intellivision-era releases. The Sprint announcement focuses on classic titles, however, so any new games from Atari have not yet been detailed. For more on the acquisition, see Atari’s news release on their site.

Source: Polygon