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Exclusive: Atari announces new Mini Pong Jr. gaming device

Atari is teaming up with UNIS and Arcade1Up for a retro-arcade Pong device.

October 20, 2020 6:00 AM

Atari is one of the founding fathers of gaming. Several of the company’s products defined the early days of gaming and hold special places in the hearts of many. Even if Atari’s earlier work predates you, you’ve most likely played a game inspired by them. We’ve seen the company make efforts to solidify its spot in the gaming space once again in recent years. Now Atari is bringing back the most iconic title in its catalogue with Atari Mini Pong Jr.

Atari gave Shacknews an exclusive heads up about the announcement of its new retro gaming device. Made in collaboration with UNIS and Arcade1Up, Mini Pong Jr. is a portable version of the king of retro games. The classic arcade game will be playable on the device’s LCD screen, and can be set up on practically any table service. Players can battle against the AI, or go head to head with a friend via local multiplayer capabilities. Atari has released a new trailer to prompt the Mini Pong Jr., which can be seen below.

“Available soon online, the Atari Mini PONG Jr. is the perfect gift for Atari fans and collectors interested in experiencing the simple-yet-challenging gameplay of PONG in a tangible, more immersive way.” said Fred Chesnais, CEO of Atari. Chesnais also spoke to how delighted the team was to collaborate with UNIS and Arcade1UP on the device.

The Atari Mini Pong Jr. is set to get a full reveal tomorrow at the virtual UNIS Showcase 2020 event at 11:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. ET. The device is set to launch this Holiday season, but it’s likely we’ll get more information at tomorrow’s event.

With nostalgia being so ingrained in today’s popular culture, it’s been fascinating to watch Atari look to shape a modern identity. For more on Atari and retro arcade games, stick with us here on Shacknews.

Donovan Erskine

News Editor

Donovan is a journalist from Maryland. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge film fanatic and will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_

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