Atari was one of the foremost video game companies in the world during the early 1980s. That was until the video game crash of 1983, from which Atari never truly recovered. Although Atari remained a prominent games developer until the early to mid 1990s, today it is a company that revels in its nostalgic 1980s glory.
Atari has released numerous consoles during its history, even in more recent years. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane to remember the history of Atari consoles from the 2600 to the VCS.
Atari 2600 (1977)
The Atari 2600, released in 1977, was Atari’s first interchangeable cartridge game console that revolutionized gaming with its iconic single-button joysticks and surprising versatility. This was the 8-bit console that delivered many of the most popular arcade games for home audiences. Games like Missile Command, Space Invaders, Centipede, Mario Bros, and Asteroids helped make the Atari 2600 a smash hit, selling nearly 30 million units worldwide and turning Atari into one of America’s fastest-growing companies.
Thus, the 2600 is by far the most celebrated of Atari consoles in history. Atari relaunched this console with the 2600+ in 2023. The Atari 2600+ supports HDMI output for playing original 2600 and 7800 cartridges on modern TVs. It also comes with a recreated CX40+ joystick to play games with.
The Atari 2600
Atari 5200 SuperSystem (1982)
In 1982, Atari launched the 5200 SuperSystem as a follow-up to the 2600 and as a console-style version of its Atari 400/800 computers. It was based on the same architecture as the Atari 400/800 that offered superior graphical and sound quality over the 2600, with 16KB RAM and 256 colors.
Yet, for all its technical superiority, the Atari 5200 was a console flop. It was a large, clunky console with badly designed, non-centering joysticks that were fragile and unreliable. Nor did the 5200 offer any backward compatibility with the vast Atari 2600 games library. Consequently, Atari discontinued the 5200 just a couple of years after its launch.
Atari 7800 ProSystem (1986)
The 7800 ProSystem was (kind of) a step in the right direction for Atari after the 5200. This 8-bit console had an advanced MARIA graphics chip for its time, support for higher resolutions, and a wider color palette than the 2600 and 5200. A low price point and backward compatibility with Atari 2600 games made the 7800 a modest hit in North America, with more than three million console units shifted.
The Atari 7800
Yet, Atari didn’t release the 7800 until 1986, when the NES already had strong momentum in North America and a growing library of hit games. The NES overshadowed the Atari 7800 throughout the latter half of the 1980s as Nintendo rolled out more and more hit games. With the vast majority of third-party developers snubbing the Atari 7800 in favor of the NES, this console struggled to compete with its somewhat smaller game library.
Atari XEGS (1987)
With the distinction between home computers and consoles blurring, Atari released the XEGS in 1987. This was an Atari 65XE rebranded as a console with a joystick and keyboard. Atari also took a leaf out of Nintendo’s book by including a light gun with the console. Thus, the Atari XEGS was effectively a high-end gaming machine and a low-end personal computer.
However, the Atari XEGS had a bit of an identity crisis when marketed as a console and home computer. Furthermore, it remained firmly focused on 8-bit technology at a time when 16-bit gaming was on the horizon. Consequently, the Atari XEGS faded quickly. This XEGS reveal clip shows how Atari tried to position the system between console and computer, but that mixed identity never translated into lasting momentum. Consequently, the Atari XEGS faded quickly.
Atari Lynx (1989)
Atari consoles went portable with the 1989 Lynx, which took on Nintendo’s Game Boy handheld. The Lynx was a handheld technical marvel compared to the Game Boy, with the first backlit color LCD and hardware scaling capabilities that enabled pseudo-3D effects. This handheld also offered eight-player multiplayer capabilities.
The Atari Lynx
Yet, this was a fancy, bulky, and pricey handheld that generally didn’t appeal to most players. The Atari Lynx drained batteries much faster than the Game Boy, forcing players to buy replacements more often. A lack of games was another issue for the Lynx, and Atari lost the rights to Tetris, which was a massive hit for the Game Boy.
Atari Jaguar (1993)
Atari tried to get ahead of the game with the (allegedly) 64-bit Jaguar in 1993, but ultimately fell flat on its face. This console incorporated a complicated multi-chip architecture, and Atari boasted that the Jaguar was the first 64-bit console. However, the Jaguar did not have a true general-purpose 64-bit processor like the N64.
The Atari Jaguar
The awkward architecture of the Jaguar severely undermined it. Only a handful of games like Tempest 2000 and Alien vs Predator genuinely showcased the Jaguar’s superior graphical capabilities compared with 16-bit consoles. The Jaguar also had a cumbersome gamepad and manufacturing woes. Consequently, the Jaguar was a big flop that almost killed off Atari consoles altogether. Atari exited the console industry after SEGA and Sony launched their Saturn and PlayStation consoles.
Atari VCS (2021)
The Atari VCS was supposed to be a comeback console for Atari in 2021, rather like the ill-fated Jaguar before it. This is a hybrid Linux-based console and PC that comes with more than 100 retro Atari games. With its PC Mode, players can also play Windows 11/10 games on the Atari VCS.
The Atari VCS
However, the Atari VCS has had a rather confused hybrid identity, rather like the XEGS. With a lack of exclusive game content, the Atari VCS offered little as an alternative to dedicated home consoles like the Switch. As a low-spec, niche gaming PC, it was not compelling enough to offset those console-side weaknesses. Atari halted production of the VCS in early 2023.
The history of Atari consoles shows how volatile gaming innovation can be. Atari’s console history is ultimately a story of bold ideas, uneven execution, and one unforgettable triumph: the 2600.
