Atari VCS (2021 console)
A hybrid console and PC paying homage to the Atari 2600.
The Atari VCS is a home video game console from affiliates of Atari, Inc. It runs contemporary games and streaming services through AtariOS, a Linux-based operating system that also permits installation of other compatible software, including titles made for Microsoft Windows. Its exterior design deliberately echoes the look of the original 1977 Atari 2600, and its name revives the acronym of that console’s original title: Video Computer System (VCS). The system acts as a hybrid between a traditional game console and a gaming PC, an idea that came from watching players hook laptops up to televisions to access games unavailable on standard consoles. The console was first teased as the Ataribox in June 2017 and received partial crowdfunding starting in May 2018. After multiple delays, it was slated to ship in March 2020 but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial units reached backers in December 2020, with a general release following in June 2021 in Australia, New Zealand, and then North America. Atari and its official distributors initially limited shipping to the United States, expanding to Canada by October 2021. The VCS has not been released in Europe, Africa, or Asia. In March 2023, Atari announced it would release 100 numbered-edition consoles that had been held in reserve. Atari Corporation exited the hardware business around 1996, shortly after the Atari Jaguar, and was liquidated in 1998; Hasbro Interactive then bought the brand’s intellectual property. In 2001, Infogrames Entertainment SA acquired Hasbro Interactive, later renaming itself Atari SA, while the subsidiary became Atari Interactive. That entity licensed the various Atari Flashback dedicated consoles produced since 2004. The concept for the Atari VCS originated with Feargal Mac Conuladh, who joined Atari as general manager to oversee the Ataribox launch. He was inspired by seeing players connect laptops to TVs to play games not available on consoles, then use the same laptop to chat with friends on social media. He also noted strong brand recognition for Atari’s game catalog. His design aimed to tap nostalgia for older Atari consoles while letting users enjoy indie games without needing a PC. AMD supplied custom components for the hardware. Atari made most hardware decisions but also solicited fan input on the unit’s aesthetics and visual features.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- Project Ataribox
- Developer
- Atari, Inc.
- Manufacturer
- Flex (console) / PowerA (controllers)
- Generation
- Ninth
- Lifespan
- 2020–present
- Price
- US$139.99(Onyx Base system) / US$199.99 (All-In system)
- Cpu
- 14 nm AMD R1606G Zen processor with 2 cores and 4 threads @ 2.6 GHz (up to 3.5 GHz)
- Os
- Debian-based (Atari OS)
- Memory
- 8 GB DDR4 (800 model) (upgradeable) / 4 GB DDR4 (400 model) (upgradeable)
- Storage
- Internal flash memory: 32 GB
- Memory Card
- Internal (user upgradeable) M.2 SSD, or external USB-based storage
- Display
- HDMI 2.0
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The concept of the Atari VCS came from Feargal Mac Conuladh, who joined Atari and became general manager to oversee the Ataribox release. He was inspired after seeing players connect laptops to televisions to use a larger screen for games not available on consoles, and also saw that Atari's game catalog had strong brand recognition. The design goal was to feed nostalgia for old Atari consoles and allow players to enjoy indie games without a personal computer. Processor maker AMD provided custom componentry, and Atari kept the hardware configuration fixed and controlled by the company, steering away from the approach of Valve's Steam Machines. The system was first teased as Project Ataribox in June 2017 during E3. Pre-orders were expected to start on December 14, 2017, but Atari announced a temporary delay that day. In December 2017, Atari recognized several issues with the hardware and postponed pre-orders; Michael Arzt, head of Atari Connected Devices, took over production while Conuladh left Atari. Atari CEO Fred Chesnais stated this period allowed them to review what they wanted the Ataribox to do and revise specifications without sacrificing core elements. The console was renamed Atari VCS during the 2018 Game Developers Conference. Pre-orders launched on May 30, 2018, exclusively via Indiegogo, with configurations including a wood-veneer front panel "Collector's Edition" and an all-black "Onyx" model. Within the first day, pre-orders far exceeded the anticipated funding goal. In June 2018, Rob Wyatt, system architect for the original Xbox and designer of PlayStation 3's graphic systems, was announced as part of the VCS team. Wyatt resigned in October 2019, citing non-payment by Atari, and filed a lawsuit in April 2020 to recover payment for his design work. After several delays, initial units for backers shipped in December 2020, with general release in June 2021 in Australia, New Zealand, and then North America; shipping was initially restricted to the United States only before expanding to Canada by October 2021. The VCS has not been released in European, African, or Asian territories. In March 2023, Atari announced it was releasing 100 numbered-edition consoles that were held in reserve.
Reader's Guide
The Atari VCS represents Atari's return to the hardware business after the company left it around 1996 following the Atari Jaguar. Its development drew lessons from the commercial failure of the Ouya, a similar crowd-funded microconsole: the VCS used Linux directly rather than through Android, employed a higher-performance laptop/desktop APU instead of a smartphone/tablet APU, and kept hardware specifications fixed and controlled by Atari rather than relying on third-party manufacturers. The console's open platform allowed users to install software by any means, not just through a storefront. Despite strong initial crowdfunding support, the project faced multiple delays, leadership changes, and a lawsuit from its system architect over non-payment. The console's limited release—restricted to North America and Oceania—and the subsequent release of only 100 numbered-edition consoles in 2023 suggest a niche market presence rather than broad commercial impact. Its significance lies in attempting to blend console and PC gaming under a nostalgic brand, though its actual legacy remains constrained by production and distribution challenges.
Did You Know?
- The Atari VCS was first revealed as Ataribox in June 2017 during E3.
- Its exterior design pays homage to the original Atari 2600, and its name comes from that console's original name, Video Computer System.
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