Before PlayStation and Nintendo, There Was Intellivision

Before PlayStation and Nintendo, There Was Intellivision

Antstream Arcade brings one of gaming’s most influential early consoles back to life, making iconic Intellivision classics instantly playable on modern devices for the first time.

London, May 2026 -  Before PlayStation, before Nintendo, before modern gaming became a global industry, there was Intellivision.

Now, more than 45 years after the console first helped shape home gaming, Antstream Arcade is bringing a collection of Intellivision classics back to modern audiences - instantly playable across console, PC, mobile and smart TV.

The launch includes iconic titles such as Astrosmash, B-17 Bomber, Utopia, Thunder Castle, Shark! Shark! and World Championship Baseball, alongside new ways to compete through Antstream’s online challenge and tournament system.

To celebrate the launch, Antstream is introducing:

  • Three brand-new platform challenges at release

  • A dedicated Shark! Shark! tournament available from launch day

  • A second competitive tournament for Astrosmash launching later this month

The additions transform some of gaming’s earliest competitive experiences into modern global events, allowing players worldwide to battle for leaderboard positions and high scores in real time.

Originally released in 1979, Intellivision was considered one of the most advanced home consoles of its era, helping pioneer deeper gameplay experiences beyond simple arcade ports. The platform introduced early strategy and simulation concepts, experimented with voice technology, and brought competitive multiplayer experiences into the living room years before online gaming existed.

Steve Cottam, CEO and Founder of Antstream Arcade, said:
“The Intellivision was ahead of its time. These games introduced ideas and genres we still see in gaming today, but many of them have become difficult to access over the years. Bringing them back instantly, on modern devices, is exactly what Antstream was built to do.”

The collection highlights the range and ambition of early console gaming:

  • Astrosmash and Shark! Shark! delivered fast-paced arcade score-chasing that still feels instantly playable today

  • Utopia is widely recognised as one of the earliest strategy and simulation games ever released on console

  • B-17 Bomber became known for its use of the Intellivoice speech module, an early example of voice technology in gaming

  • Thunder Castle, Tower of Doom and Treasure of Tarmin explored fantasy adventure and dungeon-crawling mechanics years before RPGs became mainstream

As retro gaming continues to grow in popularity, Antstream is positioning classic games not simply as nostalgia, but as timeless experiences built around simple, accessible and replayable design.

About Antstream Arcade

Antstream Arcade is the world’s largest retro game streaming platform, offering instant access to a growing catalogue of over 1,300 classic titles. With no downloads, updates or specialist hardware required, Antstream brings the golden age of gaming to modern audiences across devices globally. Antstream partners with operators, publishers and connected platforms to deliver frictionless access to gaming history across the globe.

Press contact: Emma Hearn | emma.hearn@antstream.com