As reported earlier, the Atari VCS was set to open its Indiegogo campaign on May 30th and today's the day! While there was little information about the details of this cryptic console, the pre-order page finally shed some light on some of the most burning questions people had:

• Unit Dimensions 14.5" x 5.3" x 1.6"
• Unit Weight 3 lbs.
• Materials Plastic, Metal, Wood
• Operating System Linux OS based on Ubuntu (Linux Kernel 4.10)
• Compatible Systems Linux
• Power Low TDP architecture - Less Heat & Noise
• Connections HDMI 2.0, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 4xUSB 3.0
• External Inputs Classic Joystick, Modern Controller, Microphone
• Storage 32GB eMMC, external HD, SD card
• RAM 4GB DDR4 RAM
• Memory 32GB eMMC
• CPU Bristol Ridge A10
• GPU Radeon R7
• HDCP Integration HDCP 2.2
• Second Screen (Screencasting) Yes
• Cloud Storage Yes. Additional Service Offering
• Required Internet Connection Not for classic gaming but required to access all features
• Cross Game Chat Skype, Discord, etc.
• Voice Commands 4-front facing mic array
• Subscription Needed? No. Includes cloud and other services.
• Live Streaming Yes with Twitch.tv
• Mouse & Keyboard Support Yes

Additionally, the Atari VCS platform will support 4K resolution, HDR and 60FPS content, onboard and expandable cloud storage options, dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. Moreover the proprietary Atari VCS User Interface that the device packs integrates optional voice control and a web browser for full access to the internet.

A new Atari VCS launch video accompanied the announcement:

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And what about games? Every Atari VCS comes with the Atari Vault collection of more than 100 classics like Asteroids, Centipede, Breakout, Missile Command, Gravitar and Yars’ Revenge.

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And that's as much as we know for now but the team behind the Atari VCS previously said that "a growing list of games, especially a full range of popular modern titles, will be announced at later dates". Nevertheless, the Indiegogo campaign page is touting the device as a "gaming and home entertainment streaming device with open platform for creativity and customization". This might entice tinkerers as the platform runs on Linux and might evolve into a community investing in independent software development for the console.

However this revival of the Atari brand in the console market does not come cheap. The less pricey option is the Atari VCS Onyx priced at $199 USD (without controllers), and that for a limited time. Other options include extra controllers or even the $299 USD Indiegogo-exclusive Atari VCS Day One Collector’s Edition, also available only for a limited time. Nevertheless, there seem to be a lot of people interested in the product as its campaign has raised 1779% of its initial goal (almost $1.8 million) at the time of writing, with a month left before the backing ends.

“We are happy with the progress we are making on Atari VCS and thrilled that fans finally have a chance to reserve the first ones,” said Michael Arzt, Atari COO of Connected Devices. “Atari VCS will give fans a lot of freedom to game, stream, connect and customize their experience like never before. The entire Atari team is working hard to deliver this unique platform and can't wait for fans to get their hands on it. We’ll have exciting reveals and announcements between now and then so stay tuned!”

The Atari VCS has an expected delivery date of July 2019. Do you think it will fare well? What games would you like to see on the console?

Atari VCS Indiegogo Campaign page

 

[Deleted-355425]

4gb ram mid 2019 release? It’s going to be so outdated by then...

 

[VitaType]

It's straight-up a PC in a console box... Well, better specs then I expected. Abit more details about the graphics card would have been nice tough.

 

[DeoNaught]

Can't wait For E.T Remastered!

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Utterly disappointed with the choice of hardware. A Ryzen APU would've been an infinitely better choice here, and likely wouldn't even cost any more than the Bristol Ridge APU they're using now. 4GB of RAM is also rather small, especially with a 2019 release date in mind. Same with the 32GB of eMMC, though I suppose with these specs you're not exactly going to be able to play the big beefy, good looking PC games anyways.

Oh well. Lost all interest for me.

 

[linuxares]

How to get scammed out of your money.... It's on fucking Indiegogo. Don't give them a cent.

 

[Deleted-355425]

How to get scammed out of your money.... It's on fucking Indiegogo. Don't give them a cent.

This... I got burnt once and only once but clawed my money back by the skin of my teeth due to their TOS being hazy and my bank got my money back... never again.

 

[supergamer368]

*insert et joke like i do everytime atari is metioned*
i can bet on skyrim being on this thing, it’s on literally every console and the original version can run on like 2gb ram iirc

 

[Old]

This thing's not an Atari VCS. It's a marketing scam/emulator.

 

[pedro702]

4gb of ram will be really low considering not even releasing this year...

 

[DarthDub]

Is it trying to compete with the Nintendo Switch? I see similar specs from it.

 

[kublai]

I signed up for the pre-order but I'm gonna hold off since it just sounds like a PC in a box and nothing about it make me want to have one.

 

[pedro702]

Im not dreaming. I just do not believe that the whole specs and features atari has to offer is limited to your assumptions. And i do not demand them to do what i want. It is what they offer. If they make it desirable and include all/most of the features i want, i will buy. If not, then i wont buy. Lets Just wait for the official specifications and not be closed minded.

see i told you it would just be an emulator machine without any way to read media lol it just has an sd slot and can use external HD to increase its small 32gb internal storage, also it runs linux so its a pure steam machine with an atari Vc store lol.

 

[Old]

"Atari Vault", eh? Pass, thanks, I've already got my own....

Spoiler

 

[pedro702]

Is it trying to compete with the Nintendo Switch? I see similar specs from it.

with the exception that the switch is an actual dedicated console with its own games, portable and all, and this is just a linux pc with an emulator and some old as hell atari 2600 games.

 

[Anunnymous]

Everyone is still hating... Nearly $1.9M raised with a month left to go with the goal only being $100K. If that's not borderline success, I don't know what is. There is obviously a demand for this specific niche market. I've said it before and was shamed for it but I'll say it again; Nostalgia sells.

 

[Axido]

"Low TDP architecture"

That's marketing bullshit for "weak CPU/GPU".
4GB of mere DDR4-RAM are also not gonna help get anything new to run on this thing decently.
I got a feeling that people might have to deal with something only slightly better than recent tablet hardware, except that tablets with 4 gigs of RAM usually have 64 gigs of eMMC nowadays.

Don't get me wrong, I normally don't mind low-end specs that much, but considering that this is a TV-only console with hardware compared to the Switch, which is also a portable console, it'll take a damn lot of exclusives to make up for that.

 

[KingVamp]

The funding is successful, but we don't know what's going to happen with the actual console.

They seem to have the time and money to update the console before release, if they wanted to.

 

[pedro702]

Everyone is still hating... Nearly $1.9M raised with a month left to go with the goal only being $100K. If that's not borderline success, I don't know what is. There is obviously a demand for this specific niche market. I've said it before and was shamed for it but I'll say it again; Nostalgia sells.

thats because people tough it was a new atary console that would get modern games an such so an actual competitor on the console market again, well they way they advertised it at first seemed like it, but now its just a steam machine lol.

 

[LightyKD]

4gb ram mid 2019 release? It’s going to be so outdated by then...

SHIT! I wish I had 4 GB of RAM in my windows tablet. 4 GB of RAM is fine if you're not shooting for 1080p. My biggest gripe is the damn price. From what I can see, this thing will be neck and neck with Switch in the specs arena. No reason this thing should be 300 after Indiegogo sale. It's not portable, has no screen and doesn't come with a controller. A $300 price point is BS. Let's not even talk about the collection of "built in" games when those games can be had on Steam for $10 USD, Negativity aside, I fraking LOVE that UI! I REALLY REALLY hope they add some BGM to it!