The lifecycle of the Atari VCS, Atari’s first foray into the console market since the mid-90s, seems to be coming to an unceremonious end, as the company recently suspended its manufacturing contracts and announced plans to rework its commercial approach. The Atari VCS was first made available for pre-order in 2018 and was first shipped in 2020, but various controversies and complications hindered the system, and, while it won’t necessarily be unavailable, the future of the system seems murky.
Poised as something of a successor to microconsoles like the OUYA or the Nintendo’s line of NES and SNES Classic Edition consoles, the Atari VCS was meant to combine both retro titles and modern indie hits together to create a one-of-a-kind console that could appeal to casual gamers and old-school gaming enthusiasts alike. Unfortunately, the Atari VCS 800 model launched with a hefty price tag of $399, which made it an inferior competitor to the equally-expensive Xbox Series S or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. Today, that price has been significantly reduced—as have Atari’s profits from hardware sales.
In its recent half-year financial report, Atari announced an interest in “developing new hardware complementary to the Atari VCS.” Specifics weren’t given, and this could be anything from a standard console revision to an add-on ala the Sega 32X or, more aptly, the Atari Jaguar CD. In the past, Atari has shown an interest in NFTs and cryptocurrencies, so the console’s new direction could see the company doubling down on these elements.
In the past, rumors circulated concerning Xbox Game Pass integration on the Atari VCS, and, while that doesn’t necessarily seem likely, this would be a great move for the struggling system. Now available for less than $200, Xbox Game Pass compatibility would make Atari’s console an inexpensive way for casual gamers to get into the hobby. However, given that some Xbox One models can be had for around the same price, Atari would also have to focus on retro revivals and first-party endeavors in order to stand out from the competition.
Interestingly enough, Atari also seems to be focusing on retro emulation, as an Atari Jaguar emulator was developed from scratch for its Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation. Given how other major game publishers—Nintendo, in particular—tend to balk at emulation, Atari could advance the profile of the VCS console by leaning into this niche. All in all, the future of the Atari VCS seems uncertain, though the company isn’t planning on abandoning the system just yet.
Source: GlobeNewswire