Is Video Chess on Steam?

No. Video Chess 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 Video Chess on?

Video Chess is available on Atari 2600.

When did Video Chess release?

Video Chess was first released on December 31, 1979.

Video Chess

Dec 31, 1979StrategyCard & Board GameAtari 2600

Video Chess — frequently asked questions

Is Video Chess on Steam?: No. Video Chess 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 Video Chess on?: Video Chess is available on Atari 2600.
When did Video Chess release?: Video Chess was first released on December 31, 1979.

About Video Chess

Video Chess is a video game released by Atari in 1979 for the Atari 2600, based on the rules of chess.

Summary via IGDB.

Video Chess on Wikipedia

Video Chess is a 1979 strategy video game developed and published by Atari Inc. for the Atari 2600. It is a simulation of the board game chess, in which the goal is to lead an opponent into "checkmate" by moving pieces of differing movement ability. The player competes against a computer opponent of eight selectable skill levels and can choose whether to play a standard regulation game or to freely set the starting position of the pieces.

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

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Themes: Non-fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

43/100

from 5 ratings

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

Complete

$19

Sealed

$75

Label variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
Tele-Games	$10	$65	—
Text Label	$5	$19	—

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Atari	Picture	CX2645	Scarce
North America Atari	Text	CX2645	Scarce
North America Sears	Text	99817	Scarce

Also released in South America by Polygram.

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

Region: NA
Released: 1979
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

Atari's 1979 chess cartridge by two programmers who later moved to Activision, a cheap piece of early 2600 history.

Video Chess is a chess game for the Atari VCS programmed by Larry Wagner and Bob Whitehead, with help from Julio Kaplan, and released by Atari in November 1979. Both programmers later made games for Activision.

It is more interesting as a piece of early 2600 history than as a chess opponent today, and loose copies cost very little.

How it was made

Programmed by Larry Wagner and Bob Whitehead with additional help from Julio Kaplan. Released by Atari in November 1979 and also sold by Sears.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

"The cartridge cheats!". A reader showed that, left overnight at level 6 or 7 with the TV off, the cartridge "moved not only a few of its pieces, but a few of your own too". The Atari Age editor confirmed: "we found out that you're absolutely right — the cartridge cheats!"
1981 dealer price. Atari's confidential retailer price list for January 1 to June 1, 1981 lists Video Chess (CX2645) in its top tier: dealers paid $26.50 against a suggested retail price of $39.95.

Before you buy

Low risk; this is a common Atari cart. Three labels are priced: the standard Atari cart, a "Text Label" cart and the Sears Tele-Games cart. All are inexpensive loose, but boxed Tele-Games copies cost several times as much as boxed standard ones. Check which label and box a listing shows before paying for a complete copy.