![Atari VCS Onyx console will soon be made available to the public. [Source: Atari]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/6/12/660x290/b_502x220x82/atari-vcs-onyx-console-source-atari_2278331.jpg "Atari VCS Onyx console will soon be made available to the public. [Source: Atari]")
After over a year of constant delays and redesigns, the Atari VCS console will finally become available to its IndieGoGo backers later this year while non-backers can pre-order the retro model from Atari and major retailers including GameStop and Walmart, scheduled for launch in March 2020.
Three bundles, zero sense
The news comes straight from the official Atari VCS website. Atari will launch three bundles of the Atari VCS as opposed to its original two bundle plan. The "400 System" (Onyx) comes with 4GB DDR4 RAM and will retail at $249.99. Then there's the "800 System" (Classic) comes with double the RAM and will retail for $279.99.
Both consoles will come pre-loaded with 100 Video Games.
Strangely, neither bundle will include either the classic joystick controller nor the modern version. These can be purchased separately with the former retailing at $49.99 and the latter for $59.99. However, Atari will also launch a classic bundle that includes the 800 System along with both controllers for $389.99.
The decision is a bizarre one that will undoubtedly lead to some buyer's confusion and perhaps the eventual product cannibalism of the first two bundles by the third and more pleasurable one.
Those specs again
The website also outlined what is expected to be the final specs of the Atari VCS. Both the 400 and 800 Systems will be rocking AMD Raven Ridge 2 APUs which are Zen-based dual-core chips with Vega graphics built in.
The base model will feature the R1505G model with a CPU that clocks up to 3.3 GHz while its GPU will clock up to 1GHz. The higher end model features the R1606G chip with a CPU clock of 3.5 GHz and a GPU clock of 1.2 GHz.
Both APUs will also feature 4K resolution, HDR support, and streaming capabilities as previously touted by Atari.
The console is primarily a Linux OS system but will offer support for other OS to be installed through a Sandbox mode on behest of the owners.
The most infuriating launch campaign
The Atari VCS campaign is one riffed of ambiguity and has been met with much criticism. Unlike most consoles from major tech companies, Atari's attempt at re-entering the console had relied upon crowdfunding with backers on IndieGoGo frustrated due to constant delays, missed launch windows and reworks of the console's design.
At this point, many critics ranging from professional game journalists to your average consumer if the console is even real.
Atari didn't make things any easier when its representatives failed to detail and demonstrate the capabilities of the console during its long journey to retail. Hopefully, this is only due to the company's long withdrawal from the hardware market and will be remedied in time for the official launch next year.
