We’ve covered the initial announcement and naming of the new ATARI VCS™ console, but Atari has now confirmed an official pre-sale date and location. Indiegogo will be the exclusive location for gamers to put in their pre-orders for the new console.
The pre-sale will feature a time-limited Atari VCS Collector’s Editon which features the retro-inspired wood-grain front mimicking the original Atari 2600. Other options will be the Atari VCS Onyx, a blacked-out version of the console for more modern design sensibilities. Prices start at $199 USD for the Onyx. Other packages will include the Classic Joystick and Modern Controller, which strongly suggests that the base Onyx package includes neither of those things. Initial Atari VCS shipments are currently planned to start in Spring 2019.
Atari also announced that the VCS is built around a custom processor built by AMD with Radeon Graphics Technology. The console will support 4K resolution, HDR and 60FPS content, and include onboard and expandable storage options, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB 3.0 support. The Classic Joystick and Modern Controller are being developed in partnership with peripheral maker Power A. Full hardware specifications have not yet been announced.
The full family. Console, retro joystick, and modern controller
According to Atari, the VCS will be a “fully customizable entertainment experience.” This is supposed to include a vast array of games, media, and streaming content options. However, no partnerships or even operating system compatibility announcements have been made yet, beyond the inclusion of the Atari Vault series of classic Atari games on the system. I previously speculated that a partnership with Valve to include Steam would make perfect sense for this console, that still seems reasonable, at least until Atari proves me wrong.
“We continue moving forward on the Atari VCS project and are excited to see this pre-sale kickoff and to share more updates with our fans as we look toward the first shipments,” notes Michael Arzt, Atari COO of Connected Devices. “We are building outstanding teams and forging alliances that will make this product great and truly worthy of the Atari VCS name. Expert hardware partners are helping make this project possible and we couldn’t be more pleased with their contributions.” 
Gamers interested in keeping up with the latest developments with the VCS should sign up for the mailing list at the official Atari VCS website.
