Atari's Brick Breaker Gets a Fresh Twist

Breakout, the 1976 arcade classic, is getting a modern makeover nearly 50 years later. Breakout Beyond, developed by Choice Provisions (creators of the BIT.TRIP series), puts a fresh spin on the iconic brick-breaker formula. While retaining the core paddle-and-ball mechanics, the game introduces a unique sideways scrolling perspective, taking players on a left-to-right journey through increasingly challenging levels.

The objective remains the same: break bricks. However, Breakout Beyond ramps up the excitement with escalating combo multipliers that trigger dazzling light and effects. Special bricks unlock spectacular visual and gameplay enhancements, from explosive chain reactions to a powerful laser cannon. Prepare for 72 meticulously designed levels, plus an unlockable endless mode featuring a global online leaderboard to test your skills against players worldwide. Prefer some cooperative brick-busting? Breakout Beyond also offers local two-player co-op.

"We're thrilled to bring this gem to our players," stated Ethan Stearns, Atari's senior director of games publishing. "The team saw a brilliant concept—preserving the core gameplay of Breakout while completely reinventing its presentation. Breakout Beyond is a worthy addition to the Breakout legacy, and we can't wait to see the incredible combos players will create."

The Intellivision Amico, announced in 2018 with a planned 2020 release, remains unreleased after facing numerous setbacks and delays. Atari acquired the Intellivision brand and intellectual property rights last year, but not the Amico console itself.

Breakout Beyond launches later this year on PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Atari VCS.