Atari VCS Video Computer System Enters Pre-Production Ahead of First Wave of Backer Shipments in December

There has been a lot of information flying around the internet the past few days regarding Atari and the all new Atari VCS. Whatever the source or quality of information, Atari backers and fans deserve to have as many answers as they can regarding the new console that gamers have been excited about. Since 2017, Atari Edge has been dedicated to bringing the latest Atari related news to our readers, and we will continue to do this as the unofficial source for Atari news. When it comes to the Atari VCS, we have exciting news regarding the new home gaming and video computer system. Set to transform the TV-centric home entertainment experience with an ever-expanding Atari world of all-new games, classic and remastered favorites, streaming media and personal apps, the Atari VCS has now entered pre-production, and despite what some media outlets have been delivering in their articles and videos, our sources have confirmed that the first wave of units will be shipping to Indiegogo backers this December!

Powered by a powerful AMD Ryzen processor featuring Radeon Graphics Technology, the newest images of the Atari VCS PCB provide a first-look at the hardware that will drive the system’s customizable and user-defined entertainment experience. In addition to the AMD Ryzen APU, the PCB features two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, and an M.2 SATA solid-state port. On the underside of the board are twin upgradeable memory slots for SODIMM DDR4 RAM and two additional USB ports. Atari VCS engineers have developed a custom solution to cool the components efficiently while maintaining the system’s small footprint and sleek aesthetic. That sleek design has been something that many backers and fans have raved about since the very first rendered drawings, and it is great to see that Atari is committed to delivering the look and feel that they announced from the beginning.

Among other speculations recently, there has been some information that has led to backers, fans, and supporters thinking that the Atari VCS will be released without the custom Atari OS, but we have been told that the original plans are in place. Early images of the Atari VCS exterior case reveal a near-final look at the iconic system design while pre-production units are now also completely bootable to the core Atari BIOS. This software platform will allow users to interact with their Atari VCS either through the Atari VCS operating system or through Atari Sandbox Mode, which transforms the Atari VCS into an expandable multimedia PC running Windows or Linux.

The Atari VCS lineup of systems, bundles, and peripherals are available for preorder at GameStop.com, Walmart, and AtariVCS.com, for shipments starting in March 2020. Pricing starts at $249.99 USD for the Atari VCS 400 (4GB) Onyx Base model and goes up to $389.99 for one of three Atari VCS 800 (8GB) “All-In” system bundles that include the Atari VCS Classic Joystick (available separately for $49.99) and Atari VCS Modern Controller ($59.99), which were created in partnership with PowerA. Atari will announce international presale dates soon.