Toy Story's classic games are coming to modern consoles

Atari and Digital Eclipse are bringing decades of Pixar history to modern hardware with two new releases: Toy Story: Retro Roundup and Toy Story 3: Complete Edition. Both packages launch on October 15 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Switch 2.

The original 16-bit Toy Story game is notoriously difficult. Now players can experience that exact same frustration in high definition, complete with save states and a rewind button. The Retro Roundup package bundles several versions of five classic games. The Complete Edition resurrects 2010's Toy Story 3 and its surprisingly robust open-world sandbox.

The museum treatment

The Retro Roundup collection spans the 16-bit and 32-bit eras. It includes the original Toy Story (which originally launched on the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and Game Boy), Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Toy Story Racer, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. For reasons that probably make sense to someone at Atari, the collection also throws in A Bug's Life as a bonus game.

Digital Eclipse is handling the emulation and archival work. The studio is treating these licensed platformers with the same historical reverence it applied to the Atari 50 collection. The package uses an interactive timeline format packed with high-quality scans of original design documents, concept art, and new video interviews with the original creators.

The developers at Traveller's Tales viewed these licensed projects as a testing ground. Founder Jon Burton noted that the team focused on pushing technical boundaries regardless of the genre they were working in.

"We'd always try new things, right? If we're making any kind of game, it's like, 'Well, what can we try that's new?'"

Pixar story supervisor Jason Katz echoed this sentiment. The collaboration between the animation studio and the game developers was aimed at creating an interactive experience that lived up to the film's reputation.

"We were trying to just make the best Toy Story game that was ever made."

They wanted to move past standard licensed fare and build something that could stand on its own merits.

The sandbox returns

The second half of the announcement is Toy Story 3: Complete Edition. Originally released in 2010, the game earned a reputation that far exceeded the usual movie tie-in standards. This was largely due to its Toybox Mode, an open-world sandbox that let players customize a western town, complete non-linear missions, and unlock toys from other Pixar films.

The Complete Edition brings the game to modern consoles with all previously released downloadable content. It also includes platform-exclusive extras from the original PlayStation 3 release, like the ability to play as Emperor Zurg. The port bumps the performance up to 60 frames per second and supports 4K resolution on compatible hardware. It is a massive visual upgrade for a game that has been stuck at 720p for the last sixteen years.

A plastic box for your plastic toys

For collectors who prefer physical media, Atari is publishing a $39.99 Double Pack for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles. This bundle puts both the Retro Roundup and Toy Story 3 Complete Edition on a single cartridge or disc, while standalone digital versions will run $24.99 each.

Digital Eclipse has carved out a specific niche in the current aftermarket. The studio takes games that are often trapped on dead hardware due to expired licensing agreements and somehow navigates the legal hurdles to bring them back. Getting Disney and Pixar to open their archives for a compilation of 1990s platformers is an unexpected win for game preservation. Licensed games are notoriously difficult to keep on digital storefronts due to expiring contracts. A permanent physical release ensures these versions remain accessible.

The legal red tape involved in re-releasing old licensed games is famously complicated. Digital Eclipse managing to untangle the rights for half a dozen Disney properties is an impressive flex. If nothing else, it means a new generation of players can finally experience the pure stress of the RC car levels.