The next Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration DLC takes us to The First Console War

Still haven’t had enough of Atari and Digital Eclipse’s unique Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration collection (see our review here)? Well fear not, the next DLC titled The First Console War is expanding the collection into the Intellivision age and the rivalry that ensued.

The content will include 19 additional playable games, an updated timeline, several new video interviews with game developers involved in the industry at that time, vintage ads and more historical artifacts.  The included titles cover some rare and unreleased games and prototypes such as Swordfight for the 2600 M Network and Final Legacy for the 5200.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration – The First Console War launches on November 8th, 2024 alongside the physical release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition which contains the original game and the additional content.

Check out a handful of screens of the new games along with the new content and features that will be a part of the DLC.

Atari 50 – The First Console War screens:

Today, publisher Atari and developer Digital Eclipse are delighted to announce the second DLC for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Titled The First Console War, this new expansion showcases the saga of Atari’s first major competitor in the video game console space–Mattel’s Intellivision.

This second DLC is another major expansion to Atari 50’s catalog of content and includes 19 additional playable games and eight video segments that tell the story of Atari’s first major rivalry in the console market. Told through video interviews with M Network programmer Jane Terjung, video game historians Leonard Hermand and Mike Mika, and more, The First Console War delves deep into the video game console market’s landscape of the era and ultimately explains how and why Mattel made the decision to create games for its biggest competitor.

The DLC will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series X|S, and PlayStation 4 and 5. Owners of the original game on the Atari VCS will receive the DLC content for free in an update to the game in early 2025.

The First Console War games list includes:

• Air Raiders – 2600 M Network
• Antbear – 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

Here’s what to expect in the second DLC expansion:

• Video interviews with M Network programmer Jane Terjung, Activision’s David Crane & Garry Kitchen (worked on/published for both platforms), homebrew programmer Dennis Debro, and historians Leonard Herman & Mike Mika
• A brand new timeline explaining the challenge to Atari’s VCS by Mattel’s Intellivision–the first major rivalry in console games
• 19 more Atari arcade classics, including rescued prototypes like Tower of Mystery and rare, unreleased M-Network titles like Swordfight, Antbear, and more.

The First Console War DLC features additional interviews, more vintage ads, and even more never-before-seen historical artifacts, all interwoven to reveal the previously untold story of Atari and Mattel’s intense rivalry. Highlights from the timeline include unique and often overlooked innovations and hidden gems from the late 1980s, video interviews with industry professionals like Activison’s David Crane and Garry Kitchen, and much more!

The First Console War launches globally on November 8, in concert with the physical release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 for $39.99. The physical release contains the original game and both DLCs.

A Steelbook version for Nintendo Switch, which will include Atari 2600 art cards, miniature arcade marquee signs, and an Al Alcorn Replica Syzygy Co. business card, will retail for $49.99 USD.