With the release of the impossible-to-find NES Classic Edition last winter and the upcoming release of the (most likely) impossible-to-find Super NES Classic Edition, retro consoles are making a huge comeback. However, one particularly intriguing such console is the Ataribox, a mysterious machine from the classic video gaming company Atari.
The company, which announced the console in June, has still released sparse details regarding both what it is and what it will do. We do know what it will look like, as it appears a version of the console will don the iconic wood paneling of the company’s classic consoles. Atari has also claimed that the console will play both modern and retro titles, but with no further details. It’s almost as if they’re attempting to fuel speculation so that people will write articles about it.
This all sounds well and good, but you have to ask yourself: why? Atari hasn’t made a console in nearly 25 years. What could they offer in the current age of virtual reality, 4K graphics, and a Super Mario game where you possess people with your magic hat?
And you may be thinking (although most likely aren’t but I’ll say it anyways to make my point), “well, maybe it’ll just lean more towards older games like the NES Classic.” Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but you can literally already get one of those at your local Bed Bath & Beyond. How do I know that? No further questions at this time.
While I may sound a bit skeptical of the Ataribox, I’m overall very excited for the console. After all, we’ve pretty much only had a small oligopoly of Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony making consoles for most of the century. Why not have Atari get back in the game after over 20 years of beauty sleep?
P.S. How about a little credit for getting through an entire Atari article and not making an E.T. game joke?
