THE400 Mini launches with iconic pre-installed 8-bit games and an updated CX40 Joystick
Sydney, Australia, 12th January 2024: PLAION, a global leading publisher and developer of video games, and Retro Games Ltd., one of the world’s leading producers of re-imagined home computers, are proud to announce today that THE400 Mini – a modern day mini recreation of the pioneering home computer that first appeared in 1979 – will be launching worldwide on 28th March 2024 and is now available to pre-order for $189.99.
Launching with some of the most iconic and important video games of the era pre-installed, THE400 Mini has been created using modern technology to authentically replicate the Atari 400 at 50% scale of the original home computer.
For those looking to relive the gameplay experiences of the 1970s and 1980s, included with THE400 Mini is the THECXSTICK, an enhanced, updated recreation of the iconic CX40 Atari joystick for that added touch of nostalgia. This new controller comes with an additional seven seamlessly integrated function buttons and USB, making it compatible with a wide range of platforms.
Watch the announcement trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xPBObs_Rxo
“We have a rich history in creating re-imagined, iconic home computers, and we very much hope that THE400 Mini will become an important part of that legacy. The original home computer was a gaming hero to many, and it’s important to us to re-create the machines that helped define the video games industry and are thus worthy of preservation. We believe that serious collectors and retro gaming fans will love what we’ve done, and should take the time to discover the odd Easter Egg or two as they embark upon a journey into 1970s and 1980s gaming”, said Paul Andrews, Managing Director at Retro Games Ltd.
“We’re excited to be working with Retro Games Ltd. to bring back an iconic machine that meant so much to so many. Cherished memories from the past must be treated with respect, care and attention – THE400 Mini has been designed to retain the look and feel of the original home computer, while benefitting from robust design and manufacturing and an obsession with attention to detail”, said Stuart Chiplin, Head of Commercial Evaluations at PLAION.
Key features include:
- A half-sized version of the distinctively styled Atari 400, emulating the whole 8-bit Atari range from the 400 to the 800XL, and the Atari 5200 home console.
- Also included is a recreation of the classic Atari CX40 joystick, with an additional seven seamlessly integrated function buttons.
- The ability for players to side-load their own games via a USB stick, with support for cartridge, disk and cassette ROMs.
- Players can rewind time and save their games.
- HD TV output via HDMI, with 50/60Hz compatibility.
- 5 USB ports which allow for the addition of a modern keyboard, extra joysticks and more.
- Look and feel of 1979: THE400 Mini has been lovingly crafted using modern technology, from the hard-to-match colours of the original machine to the authentic textures of the plastic casing and membrane keyboard, no compromise was made relative to the iconic 1970s look and feel of the original Atari 400.
PLAION and Retro Games Ltd. also announce the availability of a standalone joystick named THECXSTICK, which will retail for $49.99. THE400 Mini will be available locally at The Gamesmen from 28th March 2024.
For more information on THE400 Mini visit: http:/retrogames.biz/THE400Mini from announce.
# # #
About PLAION
PLAION is a leading independent developer and producer of games and entertainment products, with nine development studios and five publishing units based all over the world. Founded in 1994 as Koch Media, PLAION offers a unique breadth of services and solutions, dynamically growing its business to push ourselves and our partners to the forefront in all the segments we operate in.
PLAION runs a multi-label strategy, with fully owned publishing units, such as Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.
Additionally – as a global publishing partner – PLAION has formed long-term multinational publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Focus Multimedia, Giants Software, Koei Tecmo, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, THQ Nordic, Tripwire, Warner Bros and many others.
With its parent company in Höfen, Austria – and the HQ in Munich, Germany – PLAION owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.
PLAION owns eight game development studios: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham, UK), Fishlabs (Hamburg, DE), Warhorse Studios (Prague, CZ), Milestone (Milan, IT), Voxler (Paris, FR) , DigixArt (Montpellier, FR), Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów, PL), and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, NL). Additionally, PLAION collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.
Part of PLAION is also PLAION PICTURES, a leading independent film distributor in Europe with a library of more than 1.400 titles. Further business operations include Sola Media, a sales agency and production company for family entertainment, Spotfilm Networx, a multi-channel streaming network, and a sub-label dedicated to Japanese animation.
PLAION also owns the leading video game merchandise company DPI Merchandising (Denver, Roseburg, USA and Munich, DE) and a Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, CZ.
PLAION is an Embracer Group company.
About RETRO GAMES LIMITED
RETRO GAMES are the market leader in recreating classic gaming hardware. The founders of RETRO GAMES have a passion for all things retro, having previously created the C64 DTV which was one of the fastest selling toy products in QVC’s history upon its release.
The founders have also developed dozens of games across a variety of platforms and genres, written and published books on gaming hardware and architecture and even created the C64 for Nintendo’s Wii platform.
More recently RETRO GAMES have successfully created and launched THEC64 Mini, THEC64, THEVIC20 and THEA500 Mini to great global acclaim.
About ATARI
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at: www.Atari.com.
Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
©2024 Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari wordmark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.
