Exclusive: Atari Unveils Breakout Beyond

Atari is back with something exciting for gamers everywhere—a revamped version of their legendary arcade game, Breakout. The new title, Breakout Beyond, promises fresh gameplay mechanics, visuals, and effects to delight both long-time fans and newcomers. This revived classic will feature 72 levels of fun, allowing players to team up in a two-player co-op mode and unlock endless game modes. Scheduled for a March 2025 release, it’ll be available on various platforms, including PC, Atari VCS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Breakout Beyond is being developed by Choice Provisions, the brains behind the Bit.Trip series. This new project comes hot on the heels of 2022’s Breakout: Recharged, positioning itself as the latest addition to Atari’s storied catalog. It’s amazing to see how a game that first wowed audiences in 1976, both in the U.S. and Japan, is getting a modern makeover. Breakout’s initial release saw it quickly becoming a pop culture sensation, prompting its move from arcades to the Atari 2600 and even leading to a sequel, Super Breakout, in 1978. Remarkably, before they became tech moguls, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs worked on the logic chips for the original arcade cabinets. Fast-forward nearly half a century, and Atari is ready to flip the script once more, offering gamers an innovative twist on the arcade phenomenon.

This reboot boasts a vibrant neon aesthetic and introduces novel gameplay elements aimed at more than just breaking all the bricks. Players are tasked with creating strong combos, which, in turn, produce stunning visual effects, thanks to the game’s dynamic audio and graphics. Special blocks will trigger additional in-game effects, such as barriers or lasers, adding a layer of strategy and excitement. A new directional twist also lets players progress sideways instead of the traditional up-and-down movement. Another intriguing feature is the global leaderboard and a slow-motion focus mode, which lets players carefully plan their shots.

Originally intended as an Amico Intellivision exclusive, Breakout Beyond found a new home with Atari. Ethan Stearns, Atari’s Senior Director of Games Publishing, expressed the team’s enthusiasm about bringing this unique concept to life, combining the essence of Breakout with an innovative twist. Atari has also managed to breathe fresh energy into several other classic titles recently, like Centipede: Recharged in 2021 and Yars Rising set to launch in September 2024.

Atari’s been busy with strategic moves in the gaming industry, including a significant acquisition of Intellivision in May 2024. This move was celebrated for advancing video game preservation. Earlier that year, Atari announced its intention to return to arcade gaming, a space it hadn’t explored in 25 years, through a partnership with Alan-1, a coin-op manufacturer.

Founded in 1972, Atari made waves in the 70s and 80s with hits like Pong and the Atari 2600 console. Despite facing challenges in the 1983 video game crash and going through several ownership changes, Atari has continually sought ways to carve out its place in the gaming world. Their recent strategy includes introducing new products and even dabbling in ventures outside traditional gaming, like hotel development.

Now, with classics like Breakout Beyond, Atari continues to blend their nostalgic legacy with contemporary innovation, aiming to engage both seasoned and new players.