The Atari 2600 smartwatch lets you play classic games on your wrist

The newly announced Atari 2600 My Play Smartwatch is basically a tribute to the golden age of gaming, something for those nostalgic about the 1970s.

You may not be old enough to remember those early consoles, unfortunately some of us are. And it was a great and exciting time. Computers were something new back then. The games were simple – and they were very addictive. You needed a dial-up connection to connect to the internet, and it was painfully slow.

This watch brings those classic arcade vibes to the wrist, complete with pixelated watch faces, iconic sound effects, and even built-in Atari games. But does it actually work as a smartwatch, or is this just a nostalgia-driven novelty?

What the Atari 2600 My Play Smartwatch offers

It should go without saying that this watch isn’t trying to replace an Apple Watch or a Garmin. It’s all about celebrating Atari’s history.

The device has a 2-inch TFT colour display housed in metal for durability, giving it a solid build. It’s IP68-rated, so it can handle dust and survive being submerged in water up to one meter. Atari has gone old-school with a physical crown and button controls, designed to mimic the classic feel of its original gaming consoles.

One of the biggest selling points is the ability to actually play games on the watch. The Atari 2600 My Play Smartwatch comes preloaded with four classic titles: Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Super Breakout. Users can choose a game from the menu and dive right into some nostalgic arcade action, right on their wrist. It’s not going to replace a full console experience, but for quick bursts of gaming, it’s a fun addition.

The customization options lean heavily into nostalgia. The smartwatch comes with Atari 2600-themed watch faces featuring pixelated artwork and iconic game visuals. Even the sound effects stay true to the era, with original Atari beeps and chimes integrated into alarms, timers, and general interactions. To complete the retro look, the watch ships with matching straps designed to reinforce the vintage gaming aesthetic.

Running on MyPlayWatch OS, Atari’s custom software, the watch is built around an Atari-themed experience rather than a traditional smartwatch interface. It’s unclear how much flexibility the OS offers, but it’s safe to say that this won’t be a feature-packed smartwatch like those from Apple or Garmin.

Why it’s called the Atari 2600

If you’re wondering why Atari keeps slapping “2600” on everything, it goes back to the original console’s product number. When the Atari Video Computer System (VCS) launched in 1977, it was internally labeled as CX2600. That number stuck, and when Atari started releasing newer systems, they rebranded the VCS as the Atari 2600 to set it apart. The name became iconic, so now whenever Atari wants to cash in on nostalgia, they bring it back.

Now it compares to real smartwatches

The Atari 2600 smartwatch is fun, but let’s be real—it’s not going to replace an Apple Watch or a Garmin Forerunner. Unlike those brands, which focus on health, fitness, and deep app ecosystems, Atari seems to be aiming at collectors and retro gaming fans. Mind you, you do get some activity and health insights that come in the form of step and calorie counts, and heart rate tracking. But it’s all pretty basic stuff.

That being said, gaming on a smartwatch isn’t a totally new idea. Apple has flirted with it through Apple Arcade, and some Garmin watches have gamified fitness through challenges and achievement badges.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

And lets not forget the Atari Gamed – a Kickstarter-backed project for a basic smartwatch that lets you play classic Atari games from your wrist. The campaign raised over $300,000 back in 2017. Unfortunately, they never delivered at the backers were left out of pocked. However, despite the name – the company behind that project has nothing to do with Atari.

Will anyone actually buy this?

For hardcore smartwatch users, this won’t replace their current wearable. But for people who grew up playing Atari, it could be a fun way to bring a piece of gaming history into everyday life. Atari isn’t trying to revolutionize the smartwatch industry here—it’s just tapping into nostalgia and seeing if it sticks.

Pre-orders are open now, and the $79 watch is expected to ship on June 10, 2025.

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