Fact: The Atari 2600 was an important part of video game history. It pretty much created the concept of a home console.
It was also horrible, as we’ve argued before.
But that didn’t stop the company from announcing a revamped, modernized take on the console last summer, dubbed the Ataribox. Outside of appearance — like an option for old-school wood paneling — details were scarce.
Thanks to emails the company sent to some fans this week, we have more info: Thursday is the first day for pre-orders of the Ataribox, which will retail for between $250-$300. An actual release date is still sometime next spring.
And it won’t just be a nostalgic console. Ataribox runs on Linux and could, theoretically, play both classic Atari games and some PC titles.
We’re not quite sure who this is being marketed towards. New gamers will literally not care. PC gamers probably have a better system already set up. And nostalgic fans aren’t necessary going to want to play new titles.
If you’re the latter, you may want to look into our list of 10 best retro gaming consoles. At least you’ll know what you’re getting.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
