Atari has announced that the next game getting a physical Atari XP release is 1978’s Outlaw. This game is one of the first created by legendary video game pioneer and Activision co-founder, David Crane. The Limited Edition of Outlaw is coming to the Atari 2600 platform just in time for the release of the Atari 2600+.
Outlaw is technically based on the 1976 arcade game of the same name, but it’s completely different. Some say the Atari 2600 version is a port, but I don’t see it. The arcade game involves drawing a gun when the onscreen character does and firing quicker than it. The Atari 2600 version is Combat with cowpokes.
However, Outlaw was a pretty early staple for competitive console owners. Unlike in the arcade, the 2600 version was two-player, and that was the best way to play it. It kind of sucked to play it on your own.
David Crane would leave Atari with some other developers, as they didn’t like Atari’s policy at the time when it came to crediting their developers (they didn’t). They founded Activision, where Crane created some classic titles, including Pitfall. Crane then left Activision near the end of the ‘80s because of a disagreement with the new CEO. He then moved around to different developers to create titles like A Boy and His Blob for the NES and assist with games like Night Trap.
The Outlaw Limited Edition is coming to the Atari 2600, and is available for preorder now for anyone in the US for $49.99.
