Microsoft is partnering with Atari to re-release eight classic games this week for HTML5-enabled browsers. Asteroids, Combat, Centipede, Lunar Lander, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, and Yar’s Revenge are all available via a new arcade section at Atari's website. The games will work on the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and other popular HTML5-capable browsers — including mobile versions of Safari and Internet Explorer.

The pairing between Atari and Microsoft is part of Microsoft's broader effort to market Internet Explorer in unique ways to consumers and developers — highlighting the power of HTML5 content on the web. Microsoft has previously launched a HTML5 version of Cut the Rope and a Brandon Generator crowd-sourced animated film, as well as a Hunger Games minisite.

Microsoft says Atari approached the software company to mark 40 years since the launch of Pong and to create a way to market Atari's games to a new generation. Optimized for touch, most of the games include multiplayer options that work via a special link or through a Facebook account. The games are free to play, but non-Internet Explorer users will see display and pre-roll ads on the site. Atari is also launching a way for developers to create additional games for the portal, with an open source SDK and JavaScript libraries available to devs.

Update: A spokesperson just told us that the HTML5 versions of these games hasn't gone live yet. It should be up "shortly" at atari.com.

Update 2: The new arcade is now live!

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