System Name: Atari 2600 (originally called the Atari VCS, or Video Computer System)
Manufacturer: Atari, Inc.
Released in 1977 in North America.
The Atari 2600 is often credited with launching the home video game industry. It introduced the concept of swappable game cartridges and brought arcade classics like Space Invaders and Asteroids into people’s living rooms. Its simple joystick controller and wide library of games made it wildly popular throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s. However, the system was also at the center of the 1983 video game crash, partly due to an oversaturated market and poor-quality games like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Despite this, the Atari 2600 remains a nostalgic symbol of gaming’s earliest days.
Approximately
The Atari 2600 was by far Atari’s most successful console, responsible for roughly 70% of Atari’s total video game income during the company’s golden era.
The price of a used Atari 2600 today can vary based on condition, whether it’s a complete in-box (CIB) unit, and the inclusion of games or accessories. On average:
Loose (just the console): Around $50 – $120, depending on condition and included accessories.
Complete in Box (CIB): Around $150 – $300, with some rare variants fetching more.