Atari confirmed that it is back in the console making business back in June, with the first images of the Ataribox device being unveiled in July. In its latest newsletter, Atari has now confirmed that the device will be completely AMD-powered, boasting an "AMD customized processor, with Radeon Graphics technology."
Interestingly, the Ataribox will be Linux-based, with a fully customizable interface. The reasoning behind this decision was placed on making the Ataribox a "full PC experience for the TV", giving users access to apps, streaming, social media, internet browsing, and more:
Most TV devices have closed systems and content stores. Linux lets us be more open; you can access & customise the OS, & you can access games you"ve bought from other content platforms (if compatible with the OS and HW).
Valve has also made attempts at Linux-based gaming machines with SteamOS, but judging by the measly amount of Linux users on Steam, the venture has not gone so well.
The company also confirmed that the Ataribox will ship pre-loaded with "tons of classic Atari retro games", along with "current titles from a range of studios" that will be revealed at a later date. An Indiegogo funding campaign is also planned for the device later this year, with the company saying:
We want you, the Atari community, to be part of this launch. We want you to have early access, grab special editions (& pricing) and to have you as active partners in the rollout of Ataribox. We want you to be part of the story.
Atari plans on shipping the Ataribox in Spring 2018, and expects the price to be in the $249-$299 range. There will also be various special editions and memory configurations to choose from.
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