Saddle up for some sever nostalgia, Atari is back in the game and the first look at their new retro-inspired console has arrived. RIP the so-called "Ataribox", as it was previously announced, the new gaming and entertainment platform is officially called the Atari VCS and features both a classic joystick and modern controller in the device prototype. The classic gaming company debuted the new console at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and they're aiming to reveal the pre-order date next month.

The new console takes inspiration from the silhouette of the silhouette of the original Atari 2600 system and updates it with a slim, sleek design for the modern home. And it's not just a platform to freebase nostalgia. The plan is for the VCS to deliver the system's classic content, but it's also a "completely new Atari connected device designed for today's living room." Likewise, the new Atari VCS logo is designed to bring the past into the present with a nod to "Atari's rich history of progressive graphic design."

atari-vcs-console
Image via Atari

Atari's COO of Connected Devices Michael Arzt said in a press release.

“Every person at Atari and every partner involved with the new platform is just as fanatical about the brand and its heritage as our biggest fans are. With the Atari VCS name, we know how important it is to get everything completely right and that’s why we briefly paused an imminent launch late last year. It was a difficult decision with the countdown underway, but we weren’t willing to go forward with even one thing out of alignment. We hope that Atari’s fans appreciate our extreme attention to detail and are as excited about the Atari VCS as we are.”

The last time Atari shipped one of their own consoles was the Atari Jaguar back in 1993, so their return to the fold is rather a to-do for fans of classic gaming. No word yet on the price point, so stay tuned for Atari's pre-order announcement in April and check out more of the first look images below.

atari-vcs-logo
Image via Atari
atari-vcs-joystick
Image via Atari
atari-vcs-modern-controller
Image via Atari
atari-vcs-3
Image via Atari
atari-vcs
Image via Atari
atari-vcs-image
Image via Atari