Atari and developer Digital Eclipse have announced the second DLC for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. The First Console War new DLC tells the story of Mattel’s Intellivision, Atari’s first major rival in the video game console market.
With 8 film segments and 19 more playable games, this second DLC is yet another significant addition to Atari 50’s content library. It chronicles Atari’s first significant competition in the console industry. The First Console War, which explores the history of the video game console market at the time and ultimately explains how and why Mattel decided to make games for its largest rival, is told through video interviews with M Network programmer Jane Terjung, video game historians Leonard Hermand and Mike Mika, and others.
The DLC will be accessible via PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. In an early 2025 update, owners of the original Atari VCS game will get the DLC content for free.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration The First Console War games list features:
Anteater – 2600 M Network (unreleased, based on Stern IP)
Armor Ambush – 2600 M Network
Astroblast – 2600 M Network
Frogs & Flies – 2600 M Network
International Soccer – 2600 M Network
Dark Cavern – 2600 M Network
Star Strike – 2600 M Network
Super Challenge Baseball – 2600 M Network
Super Challenge Football – 2600 M Network
Swordfight – 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)
Sea Battle – 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)
Tower of Mystery (unreleased prototype, recently rescued)
Video Pinball – 2600
Basketball – 2600
Hardball – Atari 8-bit (XE)
Final Legacy (prototype) – 5200
Xari Arena – Atari 8-bit
Desert Falcon – 7800
The 2nd DLC Expansion Features:
- Video interviews with historians Leonard Herman and Mike Mika, homebrew programmer Dennis Debro, Activision’s David Crane and Garry Kitchen (who worked on/published for both platforms), and M Network programmer Jane Terjung
- A brand-new timeline detailing the first significant console gaming rivalry between Mattel’s Intellivision and Atari’s VCS
- 19 additional Atari arcade classics, including rare, unreleased M-Network games like Swordfight and Anteater as well as salvaged prototypes like Tower of Mystery
More interviews, vintage ads, and even more never-before-seen historical artifacts are all stitched together in the First Console War DLC to tell the hitherto unknown tale of Atari and Mattel’s fierce competition. The timeline’s highlights include unusual and frequently disregarded inventions and undiscovered treasures from the late 1980s, as well as video interviews with business leaders like Garry Kitchen and David Crane of Activison and many more!
In conjunction with the physical release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 for $39.99, The First Console War will arrive worldwide on November 8. Both DLCs and the main game are included in the physical release.
For $49.99 USD, the Nintendo Switch Steelbook version will come with miniature arcade marquee signs, Atari 2600 art cards, and a business card from Al Alcorn Replica Syzygy Co.
For more information, follow Atari on Facebook X-Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Discord.
Related: Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration New DLC Features 19 Playable Games and 8 Video Segments
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