The Atari 2600, also known as the Atari Video Computer System (VCSS), was a home video game console produced and sold by Atari, Inc. from 1977 to 1992. During this time, the Atari 2600 became one of the most popular and influential home video game consoles, and it played a key role in the development of the home video game industry. However, production of new Atari 2600 games and hardware eventually came to an end in the early 1990s.
Atari 2600 games were produced and released for more than a decade, with new titles being released up until the early 1990s. However, the popularity of the Atari 2600 and the home video game industry as a whole began to decline in the mid-1980s due to the emergence of newer and more advanced home video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Sega Master System.
By the late 1980s, the market for Atari 2600 games had significantly dwindled, and many game developers and publishers had shifted their focus to producing games for newer consoles. As a result, fewer and fewer new Atari 2600 games were being produced and released.
In 1992, Atari, Inc. officially discontinued the Atari 2600 and stopped production of new hardware and software for the console. Despite this, the Atari 2600 and its games have remained popular with collectors and retro gamers, and many of the classic Atari 2600 games have been re-released on modern platforms, such as the Atari 2600 emulator for the PC, Mac, and various mobile devices.
In conclusion, production of new Atari 2600 games and hardware came to an end in the early 1990s, as the home video game industry moved on to newer and more advanced consoles. However, the Atari 2600 and its games have continued to be enjoyed by collectors and retro gamers, and many of the classic Atari 2600 games have been re-released on modern platforms.
Next up in the Atari rolodex: Are old Atari games worth money?
