A few months ago, the gaming pioneer Atari announced that it was going to make a major comeback with the release of the Ataribox retro gaming console. Those who have subscribed to receive updates from Atari got a notification that the long-anticipated Ataribox will be available for pre-order on December 14th. Customers who pre-order will be eligible for receiving a discount, but the available units will be extremely limited.
Since the announcement that a new console was in the works, Atari has been keeping details about the Ataribox close to the chest and occasionally dropped teasers to the delight of the excited retro gaming fans.
What we have learned so far is that the Ataribox would run on Linux. It will support both classic as well as contemporary games. Also, the device will have an HDMI port as well as 4 USB slots, and an SD card slot.
There is no saying which will be the included games, although the Breakout, Asteroids, and Missile Command are said to be among the pre-installed games. As for the console price, Atari is yet to make an announcement, but the price is expected to be between $250 and $300.
The Ataribox will have all essential features of a contemporary console but its design bears striking resemblance to the 2600 model.
However, the console price may prevent some fans from getting a unit. The Ataribox will cost as much as an Xbox One or a PS4 version but potential buyers would buy it to play the old Atari games.
In all cases, it will not be long before we see if the Ataribox would spark a considerable interest among the retro gaming communities.
The Ataribox launch is scheduled for spring 2018.
