Breakout Beyond Puts a New Angle on Atari's Classic Brick-Breaker

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 familiar paddle-and-ball mechanics, the game introduces a unique sideways progression, moving players from left to right across the screen.

The core objective remains the same: break bricks! As players build combos, the visual spectacle intensifies with vibrant lights and dazzling effects. Special bricks unlock exciting power-ups, from explosive blasts to a powerful laser cannon. Breakout Beyond will feature 72 levels, plus an unlockable endless mode with an online global leaderboard for competitive play. For those who prefer a collaborative experience, local two-player co-op is also included.

Initially slated as an Intellivision Amico exclusive in 2020, Breakout Beyond's development was taken over by Atari after acquiring the rights.

"We're thrilled to bring this gem to our players," stated Atari's senior director of games publishing, Ethan Stearns. "The team saw a brilliant concept in preserving the core Breakout gameplay while completely reinventing the formula. Breakout Beyond is a worthy addition to the Breakout legacy, and we eagerly anticipate the incredible combos players will create."

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

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