Atari CX40 joystick

Overview

The Atari CX40 joystick is the first widely used cross-platform game controller. The original CX10 was released with the Atari 2600 (originally the Atari Video Computer System) in 1977 and became the primary input device for most games on the platform. The CX10 was replaced after a year by the simpler and less expensive CX40. The addition of the Atari joystick port to other platforms cemented its popularity. It was the standard for the Atari 8-bit computers and was compatible with the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, MSX, and later the Atari ST and Amiga. Third-party adapters allowed it to be used on other systems, such as the Apple II, Commodore 16, TI-99/4A, and the ZX Spectrum.

The CX40 was so popular during its initial run that it became as iconic to Atari as the company's "Fuji" logo; it remains a common staple in video game iconography to this day, and is commonly referred to as the symbol of 1980s video game system design. The CX40 has been called "the pinnacle of home entertainment controllers in its day", and remains a staple of industrial design discussions. The CX40 had several well-known problems and was subject to eventual mechanical breakdown. A number of more robust third-party alternatives were available in a thriving market, but generally at much higher prices.

The Atari-style joystick declined in popularity as games relied on multiple buttons for gameplay. Systems from the third generation of video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Master System included two action buttons on their controllers (with the NES controller also including two menu buttons). Atari's own Atari 7800 shipped with two-button controllers as well.

Details

Manufacturer

Atari

Works with

Atari 2600

Type

Joystick

Works with

• Atari 2600

Sources

• Wikipedia overview and specifications
• Atari-2600-Joystick.jpg
• Atari CX40 Joystick.jpg Rama CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
• Atari and Commodore joysticks (2203293750).jpg Marcin Wichary from San Francisco, Calif. CC BY 2.0

The overview is adapted from Wikipedia and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence.

Checked October 2026.