There was a time when video games were on the brink of collapse. Atari pushed the patience of gamers and it led to something nearly catastrophic for the industry. Fast forward forty years, give or take, and with countless games that rejuvenated the medium, we have Virtual Reality (VR) that allows the player to be in the game as opposed to sitting in front of a TV or monitor. How did Atari change after all these years and how do they see this change in the industry? They responded in the only way possible, by making a video game.

Atari and award-winning VR developer ARVORE have come together to bring a new experience to players that touch on Atari’s history through the golden age of gaming. This title is Pixel Ripped 1978. Unreleased games, easter eggs, and callbacks are littered throughout the game. Players will be able to move through a first-person environment that acts as a love letter to the arcade era of graphics but in modern VR technology. The game tells a story by utilizing both its subject and medium. With modern tech and a retro aesthetic, Pixel Ripped 1978 showcases the changes through time that have shaped the gaming landscape and Atari’s journey through the industry.

Howard Scott Warshaw, a well-known Atari designer and programmer, dating back to the company’s peak with titles like Yar’s Revenge and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, sat down and discussed his stint at Atari and Pixel Ripped 1978. Details on the protagonist, Bug, and other mysteries can be heard in the trailer video below.

Pixel Ripped 1978 will launch this summer and is exclusive to VR via SteamVR, PSVR2, and Meta Quest 2.