Somehow, it happened—Atari revealed more information on it’s new console, The Artari Box.
Or should we say, the Atari VCS, according to Engadget. If that name sounds familiar, it’s for a reason. That was the original name for what is now the Atari 2600—that retro console with the wood paneling and a controller with one button. Players will still be able to use a variation of that console if they so choose, but Atari also revealed a more modern controller at GDC, which looks similar to the Switch’s pro controller.
On top of the new name and controller, Atari also revealed the console will be available for pre-order in April, but an exact date has not been set.
This is interesting news for fans who have followed the console since it was first revealed as the Atari Box. Originally, the console was set for an Indiegogo campaign, but that wasn’t discussed during their GDC presentation.
In all this excitement though, Atari seems to be keeping things vague on exactly what this console is. The console was originally pitched as a way to play retro Atari games on a more stylish system, along with a few PC games. Inside, Atari says the console will have and AMD processor and will run on a Linux variant, so it’s for the juice to play more than just Atari’s classic library. Yet, Atari has been tight-lipped on what could be played
On top of all this, the news seems kind of strange, as Atari recently revealed they want to make a version of Roller Coaster Tycoon for the Switch. Though, it would be crowdfunded. It seems like a missed opportunity, as that could have been a big-name exclusive title for this new system.
Regardless of what Atari does with their own titles, this could be an interesting venture for the company that’s clearly looking to cash in on that sweet, sweet nostalgia. We just wish they’d be a little more open about what this will be.
