Functioning version of 'the first arcade video game ever created' heads to auction with $200,000 estimate — green sparkle 2-player edition of Computer Space hails from 1973

An esteemed games industry veteran is preparing to auction off what is believed to be one of the most elusive arcade video games ever produced. The fully operational Computer Space 2-player edition, finished in a distinctive green sparkle, is expected to fetch an estimate of $200,000 at the Boston-based RR Auctions. Currently, the bidding stands at $6,748.

Due to the buyer's need for additional space, the machine – which was originally released in 1971 by Syzygy Engineering (which later became Atari) – is being put up for sale. The auction house argues that this particular cabinet is the "rarest arcade game in existence" and was the "first arcade video game ever created and the first commercially available video game."

This 2-player arcade machine from 1973 is notably more scarce than its single-player counterpart. While a typical single-player version of the game was sold for $69,000 in 2024, the 2-player edition's estimated price demonstrates the rarity of this specific edition. Perry, who held the machine in his collection, shared his motivation for selling it, stating that it was due to his home arcade collection occupying too much space.

The auction is set to conclude on August 20, 2026, as part of the Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction Part Two.