Back in 2021, Qomp was released. It’s a spiritual successor and creative sequel to the classic video game Pong. Today, Atari has announced Qomp2 in partnership with developer Graphite Lab. The game is set for release in 2024 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Atari VCS.
Qomp2 builds on the foundations of the first game by capturing the simplicity of Pong with only two buttons for players to use. The game consists of 30 challenging levels across four distinct worlds where players will ping-pong their way through the dangerous, minimalistic world with a variety of enemies and bosses. The game will also introduce new game mechanics and a story of identity and self-acceptance. According to Atari, Qomp2 “is an enigmatic story of doubt, fear, and self-acceptance, told wordlessly with simple animations, effects, and the game mechanics themselves — a surprising twist based on the classic Pong.”
New types of puzzles and enemies will be added along with the new, innovative game mechanic – a second button. In addition to the original button that shifts your direction 45 degrees, this additional button propels you forward with a dash.
Qomp2 is being developed by a four-person team led by the experimental game designer Stuffed Wombat. Atari is also partnering with one of its favorite studios, St. Louis-based Graphite Lab, which also produced notable Atari titles Kombinera, Mr. Run and Jump, and the upcoming Rollercoaster Tycoon Adventures Deluxe.
“It’s been over 50 years and the simple, joyful gameplay of Pong still captivates players and game developers,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari. “With qomp2, I am glad we’re able to continue the creative and thoughtful storytelling that qomp introduced.”