The Atari VCS was first teased in 2017 as the "Ataribox" before a rebranding to Atari VCS and a successful IndieGoGo campaign in June 2018. The campaign raised over three million dollars with an original target release date in mid-2019 but development was repeatedly delayed resulting in the project's lead architect quitting. The console is modeled after the Atari 2600 and includes 100 Atari games of which 18 are from the arcade and 82 are from the Atari 2600. The console features an AMD Ryzen R1606G processor paired with 8 GB ram and 32 GB storage both of which can be upgraded. The console also includes support for installing various desktop operating systems including Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. The Atari VCS has now shipped to IndieGoGo backers and is currently available to purchase from Best Buy, Micro Center, and Atari for 299.99 USD. Atari also offers a limited Walnut edition which includes a wireless joystick and controller for 399.99 USD.

Atari - One of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers - today announces that pre-sales of its new Atari VCS hardware platform will start May 30, 2018. The pre-sale is exclusive to Indiegogo and features the time-limited Atari VCS Collector's Edition featuring the special retro-inspired wood-front. In addition to the Collector's Edition, fans will have the option to pre-order the Atari VCS Onyx, a sleek black version. Early-bird Atari VCS packages will be offered, including the Onyx starting at $199 USD for a limited period of time. Other packages will include the Classic Joystick and Modern Controller. Initial Atari VCS shipments are planned for Spring 2019. Fans who have signed up for "insider" email alerts at AtariVCS.com before May 24, 2018 will be eligible for special purchase incentives during the pre-sale.

The VCS is a completely new Atari connected device, designed in California by Atari. The company has partnered with AMD who provides the Atari VCS custom processor with Radeon Graphics Technology. The Atari VCS platform will offer support for 4K resolution, HDR and 60FPS content, onboard and expandable storage options, dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. A complete list of Atari VCS product specs will be posted with the pre-sale.

Initially the Ataribox team wanted to wait until the console's launch to officially reveal the controller's design. But they just couldn't help themselves and decided to share a few photos of the controller on their Facebook page. As expected, the Ataribox's controller maintains a squared design with a familiar layout similar to the original Atari 2600's controller. There's a single joystick in the middle and a big fire button in the corner of the controller. The joystick appears to sit on a translucent, glossy black surface with LED lighting. However, we're not 100% sure on the lighting as it could have been a result of the camera's flash at the angle of which the photo was taken. We will just have to wait until launch day to verify. What's worth noting, though, is that the modern iteration of the controller is accompanied by home and back buttons, which weren't present on the original design.

Atari is back in the console game with their upcoming Ataribox which is slated for a late spring 2018 release. At the heart of the system is a specially designed AMD processor running on Radeon Graphics technology. According to the Atari team, they've opted to implement a customized version of Linux operating system into the Ataribox to bring a full PC experience for the TV. Linux allows users to customize the OS the way they want it while also giving them access to games they've bought from other content platforms. The Ataribox will come preloaded with many classic Atari retro titles, so that gamers can relive their childhood days. However, it will also support modern titles from other studios. Besides gaming, we can use the Ataribox for other tasks like running applications, multimedia streaming, web browsing or checking social media.

Initial images revealed the Ataribox sporting a black plastic casing. It will be available in two editions: black and red with a glass front panel or wooden front panel. We also noticed numerous modern ports at the back of the console. So far, we counted four USB ports, one HDMI port, and an Ethernet port for internet access. There is also a SD card slot for expandable storage.