Should You Buy The Atari VCS In 2023?

The atari vcs has been on the market a couple years now. What started as a promising console has stalled a bit. So where does the vcs stand and should you pick one up? Lets find out!
Unboxing the console, the internal packaging isn't crazy good but I enjoy the detail printed on the box. Little asteroids and printed instructions, so you don't worry about loosing a slip of paper.
The modern controller feels like an xbox one controller. My only complaint is the smushy feel from the directional pad. And the joy stick reminds me of an original 2600 controller. The joystick has some smush factor to it. I haven't decided if that's good or bad. Yes it feels like the original, but in the modern era, I expected more feedback. A tactile click or something to let me know I actually input a movement. My biggest gripe is with the charging cords. I wish they were usb c. Its a little thing but it would have gone a long way for longevity.
Now the console itself feels great. It has a good weight. It feels like a premium product. And it should considering its a small pc. You can essentially use this as a pc if you choose to add an ssd. Maybe some extra ram too. Then you can side load windows or Linux, your choice really, but I intended to use this as a console.
What do you think? Is it worth picking up the atari vcs in 2023? Or would you put your hard earned money somewhere else?
#gaming #gamecollecting #atari

[@Atarifan72]

I just bought a VCS bundle around the same price point. Pretty excited as a lifelong Atari fan.

[@BrianJonson]

Good summary. I love my VCS but I am 56 and grew up with the Atari age of games. It is very nostalgic. At the same time, some of the Recharge titles are fantastic (Gravitar in particular). Unfortunately, this console has a lot of bug issues. I had to flash the OS twice because it lost Wi-Fi capability and the Bluetooth failed for thw controllers. I was told this was due to Debian OS updates that were conflicting with the Atari OS. This is not acceptable. They really need to fix these issues.

[@jonnyfive5000]

I didn’t have an issue updating mine and I got the bundle a few months ago from a Best Buy sale. It just took a long time to get through the update. I installed windows 10 on the internal ssd which was challenging and use it as mini game pc. I’ve had fun playing the new 2600 games on the vcs from the store and other indie games. It’s been great and exposed me to another side of gaming I enjoy! Glad I purchased! You also get ant stream arcade which has a ton of retro games and community challenges. There is a paid subscription but vcs owners get access to the games free.

[@shawn6306]

i have the atari vcs it was amazing best unpopular underrated pc/console hybird to me in my honest unpopular point of view take it was a 10 out of 10 for me this new atari vcs made me a new atari fan that's how much i love itit doesn't matter to me if a video game hardware has alot of games or only have little bit of games and it doesn't matter to me if video game hardware is popular or if video game hardware is unpopular there are some unpopular video game hardware and software i just love better than most popular video game hardware and software i love everything about it even if it does last or doesn't last i will always still support it no matter what happens atari i'm going to stay positive on atari i will never be negative on atari at all will always have a place in my heart and thanks for sharing your honest throughts on the atari vcs

[@siskavard]

I was an 80s Atari kid, so I'm interested in the VCS, just waiting for a price drop

[@chslaw]

The VCS is something that someone should have specific vision for before purchasing. Out of the box and properly configured, it can make a decent living room computer, media device and console. I tinkered with mine a lot and turned it into a Windows PC that can run 2 monitors.

[@BMW-sd6nn]

I just got the same bundle same price, and I really enjoy it, the UI is buggy but overall it's pretty sweet.

[@wheresknott]

I wouldn't buy it if you are only buying one console for the home. For an additional console or nostalgia (which is why I purchased it) its worth owning.

[@adm712]

I do like the fact you mentioned you can access Xbox game pass on here. I do think this great feature on the VCS is hardly, if ever, mentioned by anyone. I fly on Microsoft Flight Simulator on the VCS and it runs great.

[@KingAlone516]

Gamestop had it for a few days for $99, imo its not worth over $200, but its still a good console and you can get about $180 worth of enjoyment out of it if you use it to the fullest and add $20 to it for its design and the fact that its an Atari. Also, they really should've included Atari 50 with it from the start.

[@fierrosoft]

It is worth the money

[@PongbyAtari]

I have heard of people having issues updating I have never had an issue it can take some time depending on the update.

[@braillynn]

While I admire that you made the video, I wish you had talked about the experience after the set up. Maybe showed screen capture of how you set up your account and all that. I imagine the video would have been more helpful for anyone who happened to be thinking about getting one now, but hasn't done much research. Also gone in to how you buy the games, what's on the store, etc.

[@mattbaker5757]

I just bought the all-in bundle new, direct from Atari for $225. I was waiting for either an under $200 price point for a still supported VCS if they managed to hang around for a while, or if Atari failed, get it at a bargain bin price. But my newest PC is about a decade old anyway, the one I use in my shop/office, and my second PC in my bedroom is even older. So I needed a new PC anyway, and after the older PC finally gave up the ghost a few weeks ago, and seeing the VCS on sale for $225 including both controllers, that it was a good enough price point for me. It may be a low end PC, but it will be, to me, state-of-the-art compared to the PC's I've been using! I've also been a life-long Atari gamer (and Sega) so there is the nostalgia factor, but I still have all my classic Atari consoles upto the Jaguar & CD unit, so the most important thing to me is new Atari VCS content mostly, and being able to use it as my new BR PC that will allow me to do streaming from bed easily too. My expectations are not high, but the newest consoles I have are the 360 and PS3 anyway, so if it's comparable to them (along with the PC side and Steem, etc.) then it is worth $200 for the console/PC replacement. And heck, with the all-in bundle for $225, I'm getting both the modern and classic controller for $12.50 each! I'm looking forward to it's arrival in about a week or ten days. I just ordered it this past friday evening so I don't expect it to be shipped until tomorrow (Monday).

[@Oribaa90]

I had to have one. I don't feel any nostalgia for Atari because I am actually too young. I only experienced Atari games during the last couple of years. I guess I bought my first 2600 in the year 2019 😅 But I collect consoles so I had to buy the limited edition VCS. And what can I say about it? The recharged series is a lot of fun. I really like playing on the VCS. There aren't many games for it but the are a few real gems. I paid a lot for it because Atari doesn't ship to Europe. I had to buy it from an Ebay reseller.

[@ismaelrosado3576]

My aunt gave us the original Atari way back in the day so I would like to own the new one

[@denniss4951]

I just bought an all-in bundle brand new in the box with hat for $125. Haven't opened it just yet. Found out that I need to upgrade the RAM and put in a SATA SSD. Kinda disappointing that it can't use an NVME which is a ton faster.

[@chiquitodaviii2913]

Game pass and Luna? I use both but cant find a console to launch Luna. This is a plus for me.

[@Caleb_Bravo99]

If this had physical games, I would've bought it for sure. But it doesn't so it's kind of hard to justify. Especially since this doesn't really offer much that can't be done on any other console.

[@jordantheproducer9284]

I have two of them

[@punchingleechgames]

I guess I need to buy more

[@zacharycardon2353]

Only if the Joystick is compatible on Switch and Steam Deck would I consider getting one. I'm also curious how the VCS manages as a mini PC...

[@rogeriopereira2360]

Atari marcou minha infância.

[@THaB4DGuY]

grew up in the 90s on the 1st nintendo and sega genesis and have the kaest xbox series x,ps5, and nintendo switch and ill pass, 199 bucks highest and i might think about it lol

[@Hammersmith4602]

i just ordered one on ebay for $219.99

[@Nobody-w8n4s]

It’s 150$ right now.

[@arthurs4964]

If you are are buying or complaining about an Atari system not being modern enough or not being able to act as your main home PC then you might need need to find a girlfriend and get a testosterone shot.

[@jasenwm]

At this point I mean for this price or any price every atari game available should be on this out of the box. Atari is dead. If you are going to come back to life give us the almost unplayable by today's standards the games

[@jesusrios9482]

Yeah I'll be willing to pay twenty twenty five dollars for it... Never near anything pass fifty bucks... You gotta be joking... My new nintendo three d s does more than this thing...

[@jesusrios9482]

Dude even this review is depressing. Everything this machine could do and xbox one x could do it better... So there's absolutely no reason to pay. No more than $25 for this thing.

[@brandonselitetv1436]

the xbox can't use steam or play Steam Games. At Least with Atari VCS i get to use both the AtariOS and SteamOS.