Alan-1 is bringing the first Atari Recharged title to the coin-op market, with Asteroids Recharged Arcade scheduled to appear at Amusement Expo 2024. The Utah-based developer has partnered with Atari SA to adapt all ten Recharged games for modern arcades.
With the Amusement Expo 2024 trade show opening on Wednesday, the first cabinet in the programme has been confirmed: Asteroids Recharged.
For readers researching a home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the practical considerations involved in choosing a cabinet.
Why Asteroids Is the Right Starting Point
Atari’s original Asteroids arrived in arcades in November 1979. It became one of the highest-earning games of 1980 and 1981, as well as Atari’s best-selling arcade title.
The series later received several coin-op follow-ups, including Asteroids Deluxe, Space Duel and Blasteroids, alongside multiple console versions. However, the name has been largely absent from arcades for many years. A modern eight-player version from Play Mechanix and ICE was tested in 2022 but did not progress beyond testing.
That makes Asteroids a logical first release for Alan-1. Along with Centipede, it is one of the clearest symbols of Atari’s arcade heritage, offering a stronger introduction than lesser-known properties such as Quantum or Caverns of Mars.
Asteroids Recharged Arcade Cabinets
All ten of the Atari Recharged games are intended for modern arcade conversion, but Asteroids Recharged is the first to be shown publicly. Atari released a render of the cabs on their social media, allowing the cabinet designs to be discussed before the trade-show appearance.
Here is a video of the game in action, including footage that highlights how the arcade version is shaping up.
An early render showed a four-player cabinet, although the artwork may change before production later in 2024. The configurations planned for the show are two-player and three-player models.
Early gameplay footage already shows differences from the console release, including the number of shots that can be fired. The arcade edition is being adjusted to sit closer to the feel of the original while still adding something new.
Inside Alan-1’s Area 52 Development Facility
A visit to Alan-1’s development facility, known as Area 52, provided an early look at two cabinets. Both machines were still being assembled: neither had its control panel fitted and the speakers were not yet installed, although they were close to being ready for the show.
The control-panel button colours were selected to communicate their functions: red for fire, green for thrust and yellow for hyperspace. The latter reflects the risk associated with using hyperspace.
At that stage, hands-on testing was not possible. James Anderson, Alan-1’s CEO, said the arcade version already differed from the console edition, despite the team having received the code only a few weeks earlier. He also wanted to alter elements of the console game to better reflect the original Asteroids while retaining new content.
Cabinet Construction and Artwork
The cabinet construction made a strong impression. Alan-1 uses a CNC router to cut the cabinet sides and a high-end Epson printer to apply artwork directly to the surface. The system produces high-definition, textured graphics, with a raised Alan-1 logo visible and tactile on the side of an Avian Knights cabinet.
Two Avian Knights machines are also planned for Amusement Expo: one two-player cabinet and one four-player cabinet. Since the previous year’s presentation, the design has changed from its Crystal Castles-inspired sub-marquee to a revised fan and wind-feedback system. The control-panel grilles have been removed, and Asteroids Recharged uses the same general approach.
Asteroids Recharged Release Window
Asteroids Recharged Arcade is targeted for release in Q3 2024. Pricing had not been confirmed at this stage. It was expected to be near the cost of Avian Knights, whose two-player model was under $8,000, although final figures were still to be verified at the show.
Alan-1 also planned to test both Avian Knights and Asteroids Recharged at an external facility. The timing had not yet been arranged, but a venue with both casual and experienced players was expected to provide useful feedback.
For Australian operators and collectors comparing cabinet formats, RETROCADE’s range of arcade machines and dedicated upright arcades offers useful context for assessing the new release.
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