The Great Video Game Burial: How Millions of Atari's 'E.T.' Cartridges Ended Up Under the New Mexico Desert

How does a company's worst failure become a 30-year-long legend? The story sounded too perfect to be true: a gaming giant, humiliated by what's often called the worst video game ever made, buries millions of unsold copies in the desert. For decades, it was gaming's greatest urban myth. But it really happened.

The Crash and The Cartridges

Back in 1983, gaming pioneer Atari was facing a crisis. Its highly anticipated movie tie-in game, 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial', was a commercial and critical disaster. According to reports like one from Boing Boing, the company decided to take drastic measures to deal with the millions of unsold cartridges. They trucked the inventory to a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico, crushed them, and poured a layer of concrete over the top.

A 30-Year Urban Legend

The event was never officially confirmed, and for over 30 years, the 'Atari Game Burial' remained a mystery. Gamers and tech historians debated whether it was an exaggerated rumor or a real, physical symbol of the industry's infamous crash. The story became a cautionary tale about corporate hubris and spectacular failure.

Vindication in 2014

The debate finally ended in 2014. A documentary film crew secured permission to excavate the landfill site to uncover the truth. As diggers broke through the earth, they unearthed crushed game boxes and cartridges of E.T., confirming the legend was fact. The Atari burial was officially cemented in the annals of tech history.