With the PS5 and Xbox Series X just weeks away from launch, the PS5 and Xbox Series X will usher in a new generation of gaming with immersive 4K graphics, instant load times, and blazing fast frame rates But the upcoming Sony and Microsoft consoles will also include new hardware from one of the venerable names in console gaming: Atari

The Indiegogo-backed Atari VCS has appeared in various forms at gaming trade shows since it was first announced a few years ago The console can play more than 100 classic Atari games, including Pong, Asteroids, and Centipede, and acts as a mini-PC on which users can install their own operating system It is roughly the same price as the $399 PS5 Digital Edition and more expensive than the $299 Xbox Series S

Speaking to Bloomberg, Atari CEO Frederic Chesnais said that while the VCS may seem like an uphill battle, he believes it can still find users

"We have a brand, we have a following - I think we're going to get attention one way or another," Chesnais told Bloomberg

Atari hopes to set the VCS apart by integrating a cryptocurrency system into it, allowing gamers to purchase and use special "Atari tokens" to purchase games and in-game content The company is also reportedly working on developing its own "stablecoin" Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that fluctuates less in value than other cryptocurrencies

It is unclear exactly who the Atari VCS is for, given its price and feature set; retro gaming consoles like the SNES Classic and Sega Genesis Mini have been gaining popularity recently, and these consoles are affordable gift items that range from $59 to $79 A $400 box seems like a hard sell to those nostalgic for "Tempest" or "Missile Command," and those interested in customizable PC elements could theoretically build their own retro game box with something as simple as a $29 Raspberry Pi 4 can do so

Still, with the Atari VCS reportedly having sold over 11,500 pre-orders and raised over $3 million in crowdfunding on Indiegogo, it is clear that the company's appetite for a unique hybrid machine is there; if the VCS can take PS5 and Xbox Series X, but we're eager to see how Atari's mystery game box performs in the real world come November