Atari and developer Choice Provisions (the studio behind Bit.Trip) announced Breakout Beyond, a reimagining of the classic game series.
The game is coming to PC and console later this year. It’s been saved from the dead pile of Intellivision, which originally aimed to launch it on a revived Intellivision platform.
Breakout Beyond turns the legendary Breakout series on its head— or more accurately, its side, Atari said. This new entry into Breakout lore will challenge players not just to break every brick, but to creatively breach the wall with score-building combos. Breakout Beyond features a whole new sideways perspective. It has 72 levels for players to blast through, and two-player co-op, designed to share the high-octane brick-breaking with a friend.
In this neon-infused twist on the classic 1976 arcade game, players smash through each puzzle by clearing bricks to reach the final goal. However, the script has been flipped—literally.
Players now progress sideways, breaking through barriers and building up combos that ramp up the intensity of the effects, rewarding the most skilled players with a dazzling light show. Breaking special blocks offers powerful advantages, like massive brick-clearing blasts, a protective barrier to shield the ball, and a laser cannon to carve a path forward. Each one unleashes stunning dynamic effects, delivering dazzling visuals never seen before in Breakout.
Players’ brick-blasting skills will be pushed to the brink—but they won’t need to face the challenge alone. Block-breakers can forgo going solo and team up with a friend for local two-player co-op and tackle the mayhem together. Alternatively, a new focus mode slows down time, sacrificing a higher score for greater control.
Key Features for Breakout Beyond include:
- Unlockable endless mode with an online global leaderboard
- 72 challenging levels that will put players’ brick-breaking skills to the test
- Two-player co-op to manage (or ramp up) the chaos with a friend
- Procedural audio and visual effects that increase in intensity with each combo
Originally slated as an Amico Intellivision exclusive back in 2020, Atari agreed to acquire and complete the development of the title.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring this gem to our players,” said Ethan Stearns, senior director of games publishing at Atari, in a statement. “The team thought it was a brilliant concept, preserving the heart of Breakout’s gameplay while also giving the formula a completely new spin. Breakout Beyond is a worthy new entry into the Breakout pantheon, and we can’t wait to see the insane combos brick-breakers will make.”
Breakout Beyond launches later this year on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series X|S, PlayStation 4|5, and Atari VCS.