Atari VCS Console Delayed To Increase Hardware Specs
The current trend of microconsoles is set to produce quite the piece of hardware in the Atari VCS, the device offering far beyond standard emulatio. In addition to bringing retro enthusiasts the Atari experience they remember, a myriad of modern features such as extended peripheral compatibility and an open-source Linux OS have definitely kept players’ expectations high.
Following its smashing success on IndieGoGo, production on the anticipated console has since been underway, with a loose release window previously pending for sometime this Summer. However, it appears that gamers might have a bit more waiting ahead of them, as its been revealed that Atari VCS has been officially pushed back to the “end of 2019.” Not for nothing, this latest delay was attributed to bettering the device itself, with Atari hoping to implement further upgraded hardware before its eventual release.
Via Medium, Atari revealed the VCS will gain a significant upgrade through a spiffy new AMD Ryzen processor, complimented by high-performance Radeon Vega graphics. This replaces the Bristol Ridge-based processor in mind when the console was conceptualized back in 2017, allowing for “faster, cooler, and more efficient” running of the console. Atari’s statement added, “The new processor includes built-in Ethernet, Native 4K video with modern HDCP, and a secure frame buffer that fully-supports DRM video (Netflix, HBO, etc.).”
A victim of numerous delays, the Atari VCS was originally supposed to reach consumers last year, but now won’t become a reality until at least the end of 2019. Atari assures that Indiegogo backers and fans will receive updates “over the next few months,” including an array of aspects such as “design architecture, distribution partnerships, peripherals and accessory updates, game and media partnerships and other content, VCS user experience, on-screen dashboard and storefront, service offerings, and of course, more specifics about the new AMD APU and its impact.”
What do you think? Are you bummed out that the Atari VCS is delayed, or do you appreciate the increased console power? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
