Is Threshold on Steam?

No. Threshold 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 Threshold on?

Threshold is available on Commodore VIC-20, ColecoVision, Thomson MO5, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Thomson.

When did Threshold release?

Threshold was first released on December 31, 1981.

Threshold

Dec 31, 1981ShooterArcadeCommodore VIC-20ColecoVisionThomson MO5Atari 2600Atari 8-bit

Threshold — frequently asked questions

Is Threshold on Steam?: No. Threshold 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 Threshold on?: Threshold is available on Commodore VIC-20, ColecoVision, Thomson MO5, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Thomson.
When did Threshold release?: Threshold was first released on December 31, 1981.

About Threshold

Threshold is a typical shoot 'em up that places the player's spaceship at the bottom of the screen where he has to fend of the enemy. If the player misses an enemy and he reaches the opposite side of the screen he will reappear on the other side of the screen again. This goes on as long as the player has destroyed all enemy ships and the game progresses into the next stage with enemies approaching in a different attack pattern. Needless to say that contact with an enemy projectile or an enemy itself results in losing a life.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Commodore VIC-20, ColecoVision, Thomson MO5, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Thomson
Developer: On-Line Systems
Publisher: On-Line Systems
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

54/100

from 5 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Built by
Atari 2600	1982	$38	$93	—	★★★★	On-Line Systems

Also released on: Commodore VIC-20 · ColecoVision · Thomson MO5 · Atari 8-bit · Commodore C64/128/MAX · Apple II · VIC-20 · Commodore 64 · Thomson. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$38

Complete

$93

Sealed

—

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Tigervision	Standard	7-003	Rare+

Also released in South America by Polygram.

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

Region: NA
Released: 1982
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1 - 2
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

Tigervision's 2600 adaptation of an On-Line Systems Apple II shooter.

Threshold began in 1981 as an Apple II fixed shooter by Warren Schwader and Ken Williams, published by On-Line Systems and based on Sega's Astro Blaster arcade game. Tigervision published the 2600 adaptation in 1982. Little is documented specifically about the 2600 version.

What the press said at the time

JoyStik January 1983

January 1983

★★★★

“The VCS version can't dim the luster of On-Line's magnificent disk, but it is a very creditable and entertaining piece of VCS software.”
— Electronic Games, February 1983

“It's not an original idea, but the rela- tive freedom of movement and firing, combined with brilliant graphics make this game special.”
— JoyStik, January 1983

“Tigervision is producing 2600 versions of the On-Line computer classics Jawbreaker and Threshold. Both adaptations are brilliant.”
— Electronic Games, October 1982

JoyStik’s capsule ratings run from one star to five.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

How the Atari 2600 version differs

The 2600 version is the only one that lets the ship move vertically. It moves freely in eight directions in the lower part of the screen but loses the warp-drive ability.

JoyStik gave the 2600 version four out of five stars and singled out the vertical movement.

Also on other platforms

Apple II · Atari 8-bit · VIC-20 · Commodore 64 · ColecoVision · Thomson

Atari 2600	On-Line Systems
Apple II	Warren Schwader and Ken Williams; published by On-Line Systems

Apple II. The original. Creative Computing praised its animation and the number of enemy types and waves.
Atari 8-bit. Electronic Games praised the graphics but disliked the loading between levels and found the game too difficult.
VIC-20. Creative Computing called it one of the best Galaxian derivatives available for the VIC.

Worth knowing

1983 Arkie Award. Electronic Games gave Threshold a Certificate of Merit for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Videogame in its 1983 Arkie Awards.

Before you buy

Low risk. No fakes are documented. Check the Tigervision label and shell against known scans and ask for a working test. The box and manual add meaningfully to a complete copy's value.