Atari’s original PONG has been reimagined as an interactive coffee table once again. Alan-1, the company behind the Atari Recharged arcade series, is working with Atari to bring the electromechanical home version back to market.
From Calinfer to Atari PONG Knockout
The concept began in 2017, when French company Calinfer built a coffee table that recreated the 1972 video game using electromechanical components. The design attracted considerable attention and reportedly sold strongly.
UNIS later took up the idea, first producing a home version before developing several commercial models. That progression eventually led to the four-player Atari PONG Knockout machine, released in 2021. The game was also demonstrated at industry events including IAAPA.
Atari PONG Returns for Home Players
After being unavailable for several years, the PONG coffee table is returning in a smaller, non-coin-operated consumer format. One example is scheduled to appear at Alan-1’s IAAPA 2025 booth, while pre-orders for them are open now.
Matching padded stools can be ordered separately. Production is limited to fewer than 300 units, and the companies state that orders placed during the month of the announcement are expected to ship in time for Christmas.
For anyone comparing this table with other arcade machines, the play experience remains close to the earlier version. It includes RGB LED lighting around the playfield, an LED clock and scoreboard, a large spinner controller, fold-down covers for the controls and the original sound effects.
The control-panel artwork has received only minor changes. The hardware and gameplay are otherwise functionally the same, but this home model cannot be upgraded with a coin or card-payment system.
A Premium PONG Centrepiece
Alan-1 has also indicated that commercial versions could return in the future. It is not yet clear whether those machines would match this design or use a different format.
At $2,999, the revived coffee table sits firmly in the luxury end of the home arcade market. Its appeal comes from combining a playable PONG table with illuminated features and furniture-like presentation. Buyers considering a home setup can also compare it with virtual pinball machines, upright arcades and other options in the arcade machine buying guide.
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