The lights are on
Earlier this month, Atari released a cryptic video on its website, showing off sleek visuals of new hardware with a wood-grain design. The video doesn't show much, but it teased that Atari is returning to the console market. Now, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat, CEO Fred Chesnais confirms Atari is making a console comeback.
Atari's last console to release was the Atari Jaguar in 1993. Although the company played a big part in making video game history, it is barely present today in the industry. Chesnais told VentureBeat that, "We’re back in the hardware business."
Details are slim, but Chesnais confirmed that the upcoming console, codenamed the Ataribox, is PC-based and that the design of the hardware is not yet finalized. He says more information will come at a later date. For more on Atari, read our feature where we speak to Pitfall creator David Crane.
[Source: VentureBeat]
Our TakeAtari played a huge role in video game history, but I'm skeptical about whether this comeback will succeed. Entering the console market successfully is a difficult feat, especially for a company that hasn't been in that business for decades. The Ouya tried and failed, but Atari at least has the recognizable brand name. Atari filed for bankruptcy back in 2013, and came out of it soon after, newly focusing on social casino games. It's unclear just how powerful this upcoming console is, and what kind of library it will have, but it sounds like we'll find out more down the road.
Email the author Elise Favis, or follow on Game Informer.
All i know is that it had better be backwards compatible with previous Atari software or im not interested.
If Atari is considering competing against Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, I think they are in for a world of hurt. That's not to say that I'm against them creating their own hardware. The problem will be how powerful the hardware is, what exclusives will the console have, and what kind of online service can Atari make to compete with everybody else.
Atari is going to have invest billions if they are serious about this. I'm not sure they have the money nor the capabilities to pull this off, unless they try to do something unique like Nintendo. Even Nintendo is able to rely on their oldest properties when everything else fails.
I thought it was just going to be like the NES classic edition and just have throwback games.
wood. I'm in. Can I refinish it every couple years or so?
I'm curious to see what it is, but skeptical that it can succeed.
Also: Insert "already has better 3rd party support than Switch" joke here.
What. *heavy breathing*
they should team up with Sega and make a bunch of rad games for their console