Atari 2600

Atari 2600

Four-switch VCS model (1980–1982)
Manufacturer	Atari, Inc.
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Second
Release date	NA: c. September 1977 EU: 1978 FRA: 1982 BR: September 1983 JP: October 1983 (Atari 2800)
Discontinued	1992
Predecessor	Atari Home Pong Atari Video Pinball
Successor	Atari 5200
Emulated	✓

The Atari 2600 (also known as Video Computer System or simply VCS) is a second-generation console released by Atari on September 11, 1977. It had a 6507 CPU at 1.19 MHz with 128 bytes of RAM. It had a 160x192 16-color, out of 128, display.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the console and its games, emulation of the 2600 is surprisingly difficult relative to other early consoles due to its unusual primitive hardware designed as a cost-saving measure, including the complete lack of a framebuffer and resulting need to "race the beam" to display graphics. Despite this, at least two emulators have offered highly accurate 2600 emulation for years.

Emulators

Before editing, review the getting involved and recommended pages. See system requirements page for performance demand of the emulators.
See tables for enhancements, hardware features & peripherals, and hardware variants.
For more details such as licensing, programming language, emulation method, visit each emulator’s dedicated page.

Name	Platform(s)	Active?	Latest version	License	Compatibility	Accuracy	libretro core	Recommended? (overall)
PC
Stella stella_libretro stella2014_libretro		✓	7.0 libretro core FreeBSD port web	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Cycle	✓	✓
MAME		✓	0.289 libretro core	GPLv2 BSD-3-Clause		Cycle	✓	✓
Z64K		✓	3.0.0	Proprietary		Cycle	✗	✓
Stella - Pyra		✗	0.1	?		?	✗	✓
2600.emu		✓	1.5.46.02 Pyra	Proprietary		?	✗	✓
ares		✓	git Artifacts v148	ISC (Permissive	46.43% 26 out of 56 reported titles	?	✗	~
BizHawk (Original, Stella)		✓	Dev builds 2.11.1	MIT (Permissive) GPL		? (Core-dependent)	✗	~
javatari javatari.js (old)		✗	5.0.3	AGPLv3 (Copyleft)		?	✗	~
Pantheon		✓	16.458	Proprietary		High	✗	~
PCAE		✗	2.6 2.7	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		High	✗	~
z26		✗	4.07	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		High	✗	~
CLK		✓	2026-07-23	MIT (Permissive)		Mid	✗	✗
Gopher2600		✓	0.56.1	GPLv3 (Copyleft)		High	✗	✗
EMU7800		✓	5.7.0.0	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Mid	✗	✗
Stellarator		✓	git	BSD-3-Clause (Permissive)		?	✗	✗
Mobile
stella_libretro stella2014_libretro		✓	libretro core	GPLv3 (Copyleft)		?	✓	✓
2600.emu		✓	1.5.85	Proprietary		?	✗	✓
Ataroid		✗	1.0.4	Proprietary		?	✗	✗
g2600		✗	7.2.0	Proprietary		?	✗	✗
Manic EMU		✓	2.0.0 git	AGPLv3 (Copyleft)		?	✗	?
Provenance		✓	3.3.0 git	?		?	✗	?
Console
stella_libretro stella2014_libretro		✓	libretro core	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Mid	✓	✓
StellaDS		✓ (Phoenix Edition)	git 1.2 Phoenix Edition	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		?	✗	✓
Wii2600		~	git	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Mid	✗	✓
PSP2600		✗	1.2.0 Source (1.2.0)	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Mid	✗	✓
Stella GC		✗	18-12-2007	?		Mid	✗	✓
PVCS Reloaded		✗	0.3	GPLv2 (Copyleft)		Mid	✗	✓
Stella DC		✗	0.2F	Proprietary		?	✗	✓
stella_libretro stella2014_libretro		✓	libretro core	GPLv3 (Copyleft)		?	✓	?
Other
1FPS Atari 2600 Emulator	Minecraft	✓	0.2	?		?	✗	✗

Comparisons

• Stella has been the go-to emulator for this system for many years. While the user interface is dated, its feature set is extensive, including support for multiple peripherals and debugging capabilities. It is one of the oldest console emulators still in active development.

• MAME is a respectable alternative to Stella. It is also cycle-accurate, and accuracy is likely comparable between both emulators in most cases.

Enhancements

Name		Stella	MAME
Misc.	RetroAchievements	✓ Exclusive to libretro core.	✗

Hardware features and peripherals

Name			Stella	MAME
Hardware features	Atari 2800's 4 controller ports		✗	?
Peripherals	AtariVox		✓	?
	Booster Grip		✓	?
	Cassette/tape player	Kid Vid Voice Module	✓	?
		Starpath Supercharger	?	?
	Driving controller		✓	?
	Joy2B+		✓	?
	Keypad		✓	?
	MindLink		✓	?
	Mouse	Amiga mouse	✓	?
		Atari mouse	✓	?
	Paddles		✓	?
	QuadTari		✓	?
	SaveKey		✓	?
	Sega Genesis Controller		✓	?
	Trak-Ball		✓	?
	XG-1 light gun		✓	?
	Vortex 3D glasses		✗	✗
Misc.	Androman robot		✗	✗
	Atari 7800 Development Card		?	?
	Atari 7800 pause button		✓	?
	Display Processor Chip		✓	?
	Frying		✓	?
	MovieCart		✓	✗

External links

• Atari 2600 VCS ROM Collection by Rom Hunter

Internet Archive

• Console Library: Atari 2600
• Console Manuals: Atari 2600

Atari(edit)

• Consoles: Atari 2600 • Atari 5200 • Atari 7800 • Atari XEGS • Atari Jaguar • Atari VCS
• Handhelds: Atari Lynx
• Arcade: CoJag
• Home computers: Atari 8-bit • Atari ST