Old school gaming company Atari started teasing a new console at E3 this year, saying they’re “back in the hardware business.” Now, after 20 years of no new consoles, meet the Ataribox.
In a recent newsletter to those who asked for more information, Atari provided a first look at the new console “that stays true to [Atari’s] heritage while appealing to both old and new fans of Atari.”
We now know what the Ataribox looks like, and it screams retro. The basic model features a front wood panel, black ribbed lines, and a raised back, much like the 2600. Atari will also be releasing a more modern version of the console with a glass front and red LED features.
So what does the Ataribox do? Will it play new, HD games? Or will it be like the popular NES Classic, which comes pre-loaded with classic titles? Looks like a little bit of both.
As the newsletter states, the Ataribox will feature four USB ports, HDMI, and SD card support.
“As you can guess, those ports suggest modern internal specs,” says Atari. “It also means that while we will be delivering classic gaming content, we will also be delivering current gaming content.”
So maybe the console will come pre-loaded with retro games and also see some new releases. Whether those will be remasters, sequels, or entirely new IP’s, Atari hasn’t said yet.
“We’re not teasing you intentionally; we want to get this right, so we’ve opted to share things step by step as we bring Ataribox to life, and to listen closely to Atari community feedback as we do so. There are a lot of milestones, challenges, and decision points in front of us in the months ahead.”
The company isn’t providing any more details on this project yet but promises to listen to fan feedback and share development progress along the way.
