Is Grand Prix on Steam?

No. Grand Prix is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.

What platforms is Grand Prix on?

Grand Prix is available on Atari 2600.

When did Grand Prix release?

Grand Prix was first released on December 31, 1982.

Grand Prix

Dec 31, 1982RacingArcadeAtari 2600

Grand Prix — frequently asked questions

Is Grand Prix on Steam?: No. Grand Prix is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
What platforms is Grand Prix on?: Grand Prix is available on Atari 2600.
When did Grand Prix release?: Grand Prix was first released on December 31, 1982.

About Grand Prix

The player drives a Formula One car in a time trial on one of four race tracks, each of which has a different difficulty level. Difficulty is gauged by the length of the course, the number of cars and oil slicks on the track, and the number of bridges to cross. The player views the race from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls from right to left. The player's car maneuvers only on a vertical axis, and loses a little speed when it does so. The joystick's button is the throttle: Depressing it accelerates, and releasing it decelerates. Pressing the joystick leftward applies the brake. The transmission audibly shifts as the player's car accelerates and decelerates. Grand Prix is a time trial, and the competing cars are obstacles rather than competition for the finish line. The player's car can easily outpace the other cars, but if it collides with one, its speed drops lower than that of the impacted car. Driving over an oil slick causes the player's car to skid slightly sideways, but does not slow it down. Once every scale mile, the player crosses a narrow bridge over blue water. Colliding with any wall of the bridge stops the car, and the player must slowly gain speed to continue.

Summary via IGDB.

Grand Prix on Wikipedia

Grand Prix is a racing video game designed and programmed by David Crane for the Atari 2600 and published by Activision in 1982. The player races along a horizontally scrolling track, viewed from a top down perspective, while avoiding other cars. The goal is to get the fastest possible time. There are four tracks which are completely straight and only differ in length and the number of narrow bridges.

Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Activision
Publisher: Activision
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

59/100

from 11 ratings

Collector value & authenticity

Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06

Loose

Complete

$17

Sealed

$66

Label variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
Blue Label	$10	$31	—

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Activision	Standard	AX-014	Common+
North America Activision	Blue	AX-014	Scarce
Europe Activision	White	EAX-014-04I	—
Australia HES	—	—	—

Also released in South America by CCE.

Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1982
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1
Authenticity: Low

Not in Atari 50 — other compilations and plug-and-plays are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Atari 2600 prices, all games & how to spot a fake

David Crane's straight-track racer for Activision, a minor title but very cheap.

Grand Prix is a 2600-only racing game designed and programmed by David Crane and published by Activision in 1982. You race along a horizontally scrolling track, seen from above, avoiding other cars and chasing the fastest time. Its four tracks are entirely straight and differ only in length and in the number of narrow bridges.

It is a modest game by Activision's standards, and it costs very little.

How it was made

Designed and programmed by David Crane and released by Activision in March 1982, with a PAL release in the second quarter of that year.

What the press said at the time

“has finally given VCS owners an auto race game they can love. Grand Prix blends the most sophisticated graphics ever seen in a VCS program with superior action, sound and playability. … Grand Prix is delightful to look at and a blast to play, and should bring VCS race fans running.”
— Electronic Games, June 1982

“We advise video race drivers to pass up Activi- sion's Grand Prix. We like the graphics, but that won't offset this game's tedious game play and sim- ple course.”
— JoyStik, December 1982

“There is no real competition here — all you can beat is your best time or an opponent's. It may appeal to youngsters, but not to serious players.”
— JoyStik, January 1983

“the best auto race game available for the VCS, with spinning wheels, vivid colors and lots of delightful touches like oil slicks along the way.”
— Electronic Games, May 1982

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

Sold as "rare" in 1986. By spring 1986 the 2600 market had moved on far enough that Computer Entertainer's mail-order list sold brand-new copies under the heading "RARE GAMES — THESE ARE YOUR SPECIAL PRICES", at $18.00 (good through 10 May 1986).

Before you buy

Low risk; Activision carts of this period are not reproduction targets. Two labels are priced: the standard cart and a Blue Label cart. Activision's blue labels are later re-releases of the same game. Both are inexpensive loose, while boxed Blue Label copies cost a bit more than boxed standard ones. Check which label a listing shows if you collect label variants.