Minecraft has to be one of the most widely available games on the market, which is remarkable considering the sprawling sandbox is well known among players for its advanced building mechanics combined with a massive open world that is filled with an almost countless amount of NPCs and meticulous structures. Despite this, Minecraft has still managed to be ported to all kinds of low-end hardware such as mobile devices, the PS Vita, the Wii U, and more. Now, one talented Minecraft artist has decided to visualize a reality where the game is even made available on the retro Atari 2600 console.
Recently, it has been fairly common to see some visionary fans conceive modern video game releases but as retro titles. From across all corners of the gaming sphere, gamers have had the delight to see what games such as The Last of Us 2 would look like on the PS1 or how a Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of the popular mobile-RPG Genshin Impact would play. In short, these extraordinary tributes are another creative outlet for artists and designers to celebrate a beloved game in a way that is wholly unique when compared to other forms of fan art.
Now, here to deliver a tribute to Minecraft in a similar vein, artist Ultimate Ink Trash has shared their incredible "devolution" of the now-iconic sandbox survival game. Transforming the blocky aesthetic of Minecraft into a faithful reproduction of a classic Atari 2600 game cover, this visual craftwork harkens back to the roots of the second generation of gaming. A console infamous among gamers and fans alike for its almost eerie video game box covers, Ultimate Ink Trash makes sure to pay homage specifically to this uncanny tradition.
On the cover, viewers will find a realistic interpretation of Minecraft's very own Steve in what appears to be a make-shift oak wood dwelling. However, while Steve seems to be preparing for a digging excavation, complete with pick-axe and mining helmet, the walls of his quarters have suddenly been breached by a spooky, nightmarish Creeper. Examining outside the borders of the image, one will find that even Minecraft's developer credits are reproduced in a way to mimic that found on Atari 2600 covers, including the detail that the game will now take the physical form of a video game cartridge rather than a disk.
In summary, the clear attention to detail in this re-imagining makes this not only one of the most impressive tributes to Minecraft, but also the Atari 2600. With this, it may not come as a surprise that the Minecraft Reddit community showered Ultimate Ink Trash with praise and respect, as the post currently sits at over a staggering 22,000 upvotes.
Minecraft is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.