Practically six months after preorders should have opened, and a yr as a result of it was first unveiled, the Atari VCS (beforehand usually referred to as Ataribox) has landed on Indiegogo.
It’s a Linux-based retro-style console designed to play new video video games, along with hark once more to a better time of Missile Command and Breakout.
Preorders had been meant to open on 14 December, nevertheless in a last-minute e mail to followers on the time, Atari launched the Ataribox was delayed. Apparently, Atari wished “to create the platform and ecosystem the Atari group deserves.”
The Indiegogo advertising and marketing marketing campaign for the Atari VCS has already raised, on the time of writing, better than $2 million (of its $100,000 aim) from better than 7,700 backers, and there’s nonetheless a month to go. In actuality, demand was so extreme, the crowdfunding web page briefly crashed.
Shortly after the advertising and marketing marketing campaign launched, Atari launched a discover saying that additional 5,000 Atari VCS consoles had been preordered and whereas there could also be nonetheless stock obtainable, along with packaged presents, numbers are starting to dwindle, comparatively speaking.
Beneath we’ve outlined what everyone knows regarding the Atari VCS, along with prices and launch date, and may exchange this textual content as additional particulars come to delicate.
Atari VCS: The whole thing it is important to know regarding the former Ataribox
Atari VCS: Why is Atari launching a model new console?
2017 may have been the yr of 4K powerhouses identical to the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro, nevertheless Nintendo killed it with the progressive – and modestly powered – Nintendo Switch. Even Nintendo’s retro-revival console, the Nintendo SNES Classic Mini triggered a storm, so it appears gaming should not be all about pure vitality anymore.
Consequently, and hoping to journey the wave of nostalgia seen all through the tech scene in the interim (see Polaroid’s latest instant camera and Nokia’s 3310 and “banana phone” launches), Atari might be going hoping to concentrate on and capitalise on the gamers of yore who carried out the company’s earlier consoles some 20 years prior to now.
Atari VCS choices and specs
Sooner than preorders of the Atari VCS opened on Indiegogo this week, it wasn’t fully clear exactly what the Atari VCS discipline really was. Many believed it was merely an emulator following inside the footsteps of the NES and SNES Mini consoles, nevertheless Atari hinted at it being one factor additional and now we’ve acquired affirmation.
In a press launch, Atari outlined the Atari VCS will embrace a custom-built processor made by AMD (positive, the similar agency that constructed microprocessors for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.) This chip will attribute a variation of AMD’s Radeon graphics experience, which implies the Atari VCS will run positive stylish PC video video games. Elsewhere, the Atari VCS runs on a variant of Linux, which implies it’s significantly customisable.
The Atari VCS could be inclined to assist 4K choice and HDR colour at 60fps, which implies it opens itself as a lot as streaming. Completely different choices are just a little bit sketchy nevertheless the Atari VCS will furthermore assist dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.0 and embody built-in storage.
Atari VCS: What video video games will it play?
Previous the imprecise “Atari VCS could have entry to an unlimited array of video video games, media and streaming content material materials selections,” assertion, Atari is giving little away in relation to what explicit video video games the Atari VCS will play. In actuality, the press launch merely talked about it will assist “many modern stylish titles.”
Like with the Mini Nintendo consoles, the Atari VCS will ship with better than 100 video video games as part of the so-called Atari Vault assortment, which includes Missile Command, Breakout and Centipede.
Atari VCS launch date and worth
Sooner than the launch of the crowdfunding advertising and marketing marketing campaign, Atari was pricing its retro revival console at a whopping $250 to $350, making it additional expensive than a PS4 or Xbox One S, and significantly dearer than Nintendo’s respective retro console relaunches.
Fortuitously, the Indiegogo advertising and marketing marketing campaign reveals probably the most inexpensive black “Onyx” model coming in at $199. A Collector’s Model, which choices a picket finish, will set you once more a staggering $299.
The Atari VCS Conventional Joystick costs an additional $29, whereas the Atari VCS Fashionable Controller is $49. Atari says it plans to ship the consoles and controllers “in mid-2019”, nevertheless no UK prices or a particular UK launch date has been launched.
Ataribox console: What does it look like?
After being initially teased once more at E3, the Ataribox (now Atari VCS) was formally unveiled in an e mail to Atari followers in July 2017. Modelled on the distinctive 2600 console, evidently that’s better than a straightforward throwback.
It nonetheless has the retro-styled vents and ribs, along with a raised once more that follows the contours of the {{hardware}} contained inside. It’s an attention-grabbing meld of newest meets earlier.
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