RIP? Atari’s grand comeback has seemingly hit a significant roadblock as the corporate introduced the suspension of direct {hardware} manufacturing relationships in its most up-to-date earnings report dated December 16. The corporate did not point out any different partnerships which means the VCS may very well be headed for an early grave.
Atari’s return to the grand stage of gaming was all the time a longshot, however one the corporate was keen to take. It began teasing a brand new recreation console, initially generally known as the Ataribox, in mid-2017 and plenty of on the time thought it could be little greater than a retro mini console just like the NES Basic Version (in hindsight, that is in all probability all it ought to have been).
The Ataribox finally as a result of the Atari VCS and as we might study, it was far more than a mini console pre-loaded with basic video games. The system would pack a customized AMD processor with Radon graphics and ship with as much as 8GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
Pre-orders had been set to open on the finish of 2017 however obtained pushed again to Might of 2018 by way of Indiegogo. Issues appeared promising at first regardless of the $199 beginning worth, however then extra delays got here. A promised 2019 window got here and went, then the pandemic gave Atari another excuse to delay in 2020.
In the end, the primary items would not make it out to early backers till the very finish of 2020. Retail availability would not happen till midway by way of 2021 however by that time, did anyone actually care?
Atari in its newest monetary report stated earnings for the first-half of the 12 months ending September 30, 2022 had been €4.3M ($4.6 million), down 27 p.c in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months. Worse but, income from {hardware} gross sales dipped a whopping 92 p.c – from €2.3M to €0.2M – throughout the identical time-frame.
For what it’s value, the bottom console has been slashed from $199.99 to $159.99 over on Atari’s web site. Optionally, you’ll be able to nab a bundle that comes with the Speakerhat for $303.99. At this level, the Lego Atari 2600 equipment looks like the higher purchase.