Retro gamers are about to get a strikingly yellow blast from the past, as Atari and Bandai Namco have teamed up for the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition, a special re-release of the 2023 classic console refresh that celebrates the 45th anniversary of the iconic yellow puck.
Originally launched in 2023, the Atari 2600+ served as a modern-day recreation of the classic ’70s gaming console, retaining its retro feel while incorporating current-generation technologies like HDMI and USB-C ports, alongside the ability to run both 2600 and 7800 cartridges. The new Pac-Man Edition offers the same experience, this time decked out in the character’s signature yellow hue, which engulfs almost its entire chassis, even featuring an appearance by the friendly puck alongside the four ghosts.
“The Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition is more than just a console,” manufacturer Plaion wrote in the console’s announcement, “it’s a tribute to the moment home gaming truly began. By reimagining the iconic hardware in Pac-Man’s unmistakable style, we’re celebrating the legacy of two cultural giants who helped define a generation of play.”
The Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition will also come with a matching yellow CX-40 wireless joystick, although different colour variations will also be sold separately, each themed after the four ghosts, including Red (Blinky), Cyan (Inky), Orange (Clyde) and Pink (Pinky). The console will also come with a Pac-Man Double Feature cartridge, which comprises the very first home console release of the original 1980s game, Pac-Man 2600, alongside a new arcade-style version of the classic Pac-Man 7800.
Pre-orders for the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition will open on 23 July 2025, with the console releasing on 31 October 2025 priced at US$169.99. Individual wireless joysticks will cost US$39.99 each, alongside classic Bandai Namco games like Dig Dug 7800 or Galaga 7800, each priced at US$34.99, with additional game and joystick console bundles also available.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Si Jia
