Atari Revives Its ’80s Nemesis with the Intellivision Sprint

By Danial Martinus • 28 Oct 2025 in Retro

Thirsty for JUICE content? Quench your cravings on our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp

If you’re old enough to remember what gaming was like back in the ’80s, then you’ll probably remember the First Console War. Sounds kinda goofy today, but that’s legitmately what it’s called. At the time, household names that you’re probably familiar with, like Sonic and Mario, didn’t even exist yet.

Instead, it was Mattel’s Intellivision going neck and neck with the Atari 2600. At first glance, they both look like a bunch of plastic boxes, but they dominated living rooms for children of the ’80s (at least, for households that could afford them).

It was hard having to choose between the two. They were to each other what the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are today. Both consoles eventually faded into obscurity, becoming mere relics of the past. But more than 40 years later, the story has taken an unexpected twist: Atari is bringing back the Intellivision.

A retro revival from the opposite side

Set to launch on 5 December 2025 for a cool RM639.67 (US$150), the upcoming Intellivision Sprint is the weird result of Atari buying the rights to the entire Intellivision brand. But it’s nice to see the company elevating the beloved console instead of leaving it to collect dust.

The underdog has basically become the caretaker of its former rival’s legacy. It’s ironic, but also really wholesome.

If you, like this writer, didn’t grow up during the First Console War, the original Intellivision was seen as the newer, better version of the Atari 2600 in every way. It had crisper graphics, deeper gameplay, and a set of awkward controllers that featured numbered keypads and game-specific overlays.

While it wasn’t nearly as accessible as the Atari 2600, it had its own charm that definitely nurtured a sizeable community of die-hard gamers. It was also considered the “smarter” console choice.

And the new Intellivision Sprint seeks to honour that legacy instead of rewrite it, thankfully. Sticking close to the original design, the Intellivision Sprint features a gold-and-black design with faux-wood panelling, just like the OG. It looks like a console from 1982, designed for the future.

Making things a little more convenient for the 21st Century, the controllers are now wireless, and the console features HDMI support for modern TVs. There’s even a USB port for future game expansions, which suggests that Atari isn’t just making this console for nostalgia’s sake.

The Intellivision Sprint comes packed with 45 built-in games spanning the arcade, sports, and strategy genres. You can check out the full list here.

If you’re an ’80s kid, this release will feel like a reunion with an old friend you never thought you’d see again. If you’re not, it’s a great (and maybe romanticised) look into the past, when people didn’t have to worry about social media or the cost of a cup of coffee.

It’s a piece of living history that’s been given a new life, and a whole lot of charm. Or if you choose to see it in a competitive way: it’s a lesson on how revenge can sometimes come in the form of a reboot.

To learn more about the Intellivision Sprint (and to get your hands on one), click here.