If I told you there’s a retro smartwatch, you’d probably think it’s a regular smartwatch dressed up in a retro outfit. Well, the Atari 2600 My Play Watch is kind of that—and then some. It’s a literal wearable console, complete with a crown and button that look like the controls from a classic Atari joystick. The rotating crown even works like a paddle controller.
Presented as a smartwatch inspired by the Atari 2600, this console-on-your-wrist lets you play four classic games right on your arm: Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Super Breakout. It’s not quite a smartwatch in the usual sense, though. There’s no Bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, and so absolutely no annoying notifications to interrupt your high-stakes Pong matches.
Still, it’s not a total brick either. It doubles as a fitness tracker, letting you chase fitness goals with a retro-styled Fitness Arcade interface, also nodding to the Atari 2600. The built-in tracker monitors heart rate, steps, and calories burned—perfect for justifying all those intense wrist workouts.
It also boasts a large 2.01-inch (51 mm) TFT touchscreen, a metal bezel face, and runs on MyPlayWatch OS. Designed with Selective Tech, it’s IP68-rated, meaning it can survive rogue dust storms and even some unexpected dips beyond 1 meter (3.3 feet).
Oh, and did we mention it has original Atari 2600 sound effects for alarms, timers, and general audio feedback? It’s about as authentic a tribute to the 2600 as you can wear without actually strapping a console to your arm.
The Atari 2600 My Play Watch is expected to start shipping on June 10 for US$79.99. You can pre-order it now from GameStop, Amazon.com, or Walmart. Bonus: If you pre-order through Atari.com, you’ll score an exclusive third watch band inspired by Missile Command. Each watch already comes with two interchangeable bands featuring graphics on both sides, so you’re basically dressing your wrist in pure nostalgia.
Images: Atari.
