Atari shows first look at the Ataribox

Atari showed its subscribers via a newsletter the first look at the Ataribox, one month after revealing the gaming console at E3 2017.

One of the two models, the Ataribox’s wood edition, may reminds players of the original Atari design from the early 1980s because of its raised back, ribbed lines and the use of wood. The second model, a black/red edition, looks more modern. Both models will feature “a front panel that can be either wood or glass, a front facing logo, indicator lights that glow through the material, and an array of new ports (HDMI, 4xUSB, SD).”

What may surprise veteran gamers is what games Atari may publish. “As you can guess, those ports suggest modern internal specs. It also means that while we will be delivering classic gaming content, we will also be delivering current gaming content.” Unlike the NES Classic Edition or similar retro consoles, bringing new content and modern specifications could set Ataribox apart from others.

Atari did not announced any more info about the Ataribox, though it seems like Atari, Inc., is going one step at a time. “We know you are hungry for more details; on specs, games, features, pricing, timing etc. 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.”

Something missing in the newsletter was how Atari, Inc., plans to bring the console to the masses. Eurogamer discovered the Ataribox will be crowdfunded. “To limit risk taking, this product will initially be launched within the framework of a crowdfunding campaign,” the translated text says.

The new Atari, Inc., may have to take its steps carefully if it takes its Ataribox to Kickstarter for crowdfunding. Projects such as Ouya, GameStick, Coleco Chameleon (aka Retro Chameleon), failed to achieve success.

Will Atari, Inc., find success with Ataribox? Will it define the Ataribox as a retro console, a new console, or what?

[Sources]: Atari: First look at the Ataribox design.  Eurogamer: First look at Atari’s new console.