What Was the Codename for the Atari 2600 Chip Set?

The Atari 2600 is a legendary console that defined the early video game industry, but its internal hardware was known by a different name during development. This article provides a concise history of the system’s engineering, reveals the specific codename used for the chipset and platform, and explains the significance of the technology inside the machine. Readers will gain a clear understanding of the hardware identity that powered classic games for decades.

The codename for the system and its underlying chipset architecture was Stella. Developed by Cyan Engineering before being acquired by Atari, the project retained this name throughout its design phase. The custom hardware included the Television Interface Adaptor, or TIA, which handled video and audio output. While the TIA is the specific chip name, Stella remains the recognized codename for the complete hardware solution used in the Atari 2600.

This engineering marvel allowed for the creation of interchangeable cartridges, a feature that was not standard at the time. The Stella architecture utilized a MOS Technology 6507 CPU alongside the custom TIA chip to deliver graphics to television sets. Today, the name Stella is still used by emulator developers and historians to refer to the unique technical environment of the Atari 2600.