THE400 Mini Is an Atari 400 in 50% Scale [UPDATED]

Last Updated on March 6, 2024

Get ready to relive the golden age of gaming with THE400 Mini, a modern recreation of the iconic Atari 400 home computer.

Launching worldwide on March 28th, 2024, THE400 Mini is now available for pre-order for £99.99 (€119.99 / $119.99). It comes pre-installed with some of the most iconic and important video games of the era, and 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, THE400 Mini includes the THECXSTICK, an enhanced, updated recreation of the iconic CX40 Atari joystick. This new controller comes with an additional seven seamlessly integrated function buttons and USB, making it compatible with a wide range of platforms.

Key features of THE400 Mini:

A half-sized version of the Atari 400, emulating the whole 8-bit Atari range from the 400 to the 800XL, and the Atari 5200 home console.
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.
25 games pre-installed, including Berzerk, Lee, Millipede, Miner 2049er, M.U.L.E. and Star Raiders II.
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.

On March 4th, 2024, technical details of the device were released:

These were stated as:

50% of the original size
Four USB joystick ports
Compatible with most third party controllers including analog controllers
Accessory USB port
HDMI 1.4 video out
USB-C power
Multi-button USB evolution of the Atari CX40 joystick
Support for playing own games from USB stick
Compatible with 99% of Atari 400/800/XL/XE/5200 games

The release date of March 28th, 2024 was also confirmed.

THE400 Mini games confirmed

On February 8th, 2024, Retro Games Ltd and Plaion confirmed the 25 titles that would come pre-installed on THE400 Mini. These are as follows:

Airball: Navigate through a 150-room mansion, avoiding hazards while solving puzzles.
Asteroids: Your ship is trapped in an asteroid belt, blast boulders and enemies to survive.
Basketball: Dribble, shoot and pass your way to sporting success.
BattleZone: Save the world in this shoot ’em up by outmanoeuvring rebel Supertanks and UFOs.
Berzerk: Blast robots, escape Evil Otto and dodge laser fire in this frantic shoot-em-up arcade game.
Boulder Dash: Dodge boulders, collect jewels, escape caves and complete puzzles solo or with a friend.
Bristles: Help Peter the Painter paint walls while escaping enemies in this colourful platformer.
Capture the Flag: Capture the flag in this action 3D maze game.
Centipede: Wield a bug blaster to clear the enchanted mushroom patch in this coin-op classic.
Crystal Castles: Guide Bentley Bear through Bethilda’s maze, avoiding enemies while utilizing power-ups.
Elektraglide: Race futuristic motorbikes and avoid obstacles across the UK, USA and Australia.
Encounter!: Command a starship in this space shooter while surviving fast battles with strategic agility.
Flip and Flop: Control Flip the Kangaroo and Mitch the Monkey in a daring Zoo escape platformer.
Henry’s House: Navigate as tiny Henry in this platformer, collecting items, finding keys and escaping traps.
Hover Bovver: Play as Gordon Bennet in this quirky maze game.
Lee: Master martial arts in this classic platformer.
M.U.L.E.: Turn-based strategy in which you colonize a planet and outwit settlers. Play solo or with friends.
Millipede: Play as the Archer in this Centipede sequel and prevent the bugs from taking over.
Miner 2049er: Control Bounty Bob in this action platformer while destroying mutants and collecting items.
Missile Command: Defend cities with your missiles in this classic shoot ’em up.
O’Riley’s Mine: Play as miner Tim O’Riley and collect treasure, avoid hazards and work your way back to the top.
The Seven Cities of Gold: Explore, negotiate, and establish colonies in this ground-breaking action strategy game.
Star Raiders II: Pilot the Liberty Star and destroy Zylon bases in this renowned space shoot ’em up.
Wavy Navy: Command a ship, avoid missiles and planes, and become the strategic leader of the navy.
Yoomp!: Guide a rhythmic bouncing ball through suspended levels in this unique platformer.

A new video trailer announced the games:

Meanwhile, support is provided for sideloading via USB stick, with cartridge, disk, and cassette ROMs all compatible.

PLAION and Retro Games Ltd. also announced the availability of a standalone joystick named THECXSTICK, which will retail for £24.99 (€29.99 / $29.99). THE400 Mini will be available at Atari.com for North American customers and worldwide major retailers for £99.99 (€119.99 / $119.99) from ~~March 15th, 2024~~. March 28th, 2024. In the UK, you can also buy THE400 Mini from Amazon.

Learn more at retrogames.biz/products/the400-mini.