Atari has just announced that it will officially be getting back into the hardware business with the upcoming release of a mysterious new gaming console. Rumors regarding the company finally getting back in the competitive gaming hardware market were finally put to rest when the company’s CEO Fred Chenais confirmed in an interview that a new hardware was indeed going to be released.
Getting back into the game
The company initially released a brand new video on YouTube that showcased what seemed to be a console clad in wood paneling that is very similar to the ones found on the classic 1977 Atari 2600 console.
The video, which was uploaded by an account named Ataribox, didn’t really reveal much information about the device, but it did say that the console was going to be “coming soon.”
As of the moment, the company has clarified that the console was going to be based on the latest PC technology. It isn’t clear however if it would be directly competing with modern gaming systems such as the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, or if the device would be a retro gaming rig able to run classic video game titles.
Several companies have found some success within the growing retro gaming market and it has yet to be seen if Atari is going in that particular direction as well. Atari should be announcing additional details regarding its new Ataribox console in the coming months.
The pioneer in home consoles
Atari was previously a behemoth in the 8-bit and 16-bit video game market. The company had huge shares in the arcade game, home video game console, and home computer markets. The company, which was founded in 1972, defined the electronic entertainment and gaming industry from the 70s to the 80s with its highly successful consoles and games.
The company’s most notable titles include games such as “Pong,” “Asteroids,” and “Centipede.” It also found a lot of success with consoles such as the Atari 2600.
The company’s downfall and return
Unfortunately, the company suffered heavy losses with the Jaguar and the Atari Lynx gaming systems. Some of its newer games also didn’t do well in the market, which eventually led the company to be acquired by a slew of other companies, including Hasbro Interactive and Infogrames Interactive.
The company has so far been able to stay afloat thanks to royalties from its various properties and its renewed focus on other markets including social casinos, online gambling, and YouTube.
