Atari announces the handheld console “GameStation Go”.

Atari announced “GameStation Go” this week on Platform The handheld console is scheduled to be presented at CES 2025 in Las Vegas in the next few days. The organizer himself also shared and commented on the post, so one can assume it is authentic. The console, then called “GameStation Portable”, was already shown at CES 2024, but was not in operation.

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By current video Atari briefly demonstrates the Game Station’s input devices and interface and finally displays the front, but no games are running on it. The “My Arcade” logo can also be seen at the bottom of the display frame (Atari’s brand is at the top), so it appears to be a joint development. My arcade already sells the stable console GameStation Pro, which comes with licensed games from Atari for the 2600 (VCS), 5200, 7800 consoles, as well as some arcade titles.

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Neither Atari nor My Arcade have yet provided any concrete information about the GameStation Go’s game selection, its hardware, apparently required emulation software, and more. However, some unverified speculations suggest a 7-inch display and a price of more than $150 plus taxes. cost of gamestation pro Although it only costs $100 with two wireless joysticks, the unofficial price seems quite ambitious compared to other handhelds in this form factor, provided the battery life and display quality are good.

Many ports, but only one stick

The teaser video also shows that the console is quite well equipped with an interface. It also has two USB-C ports, a slot for a microSD card, analog headphone output, and an HDMI port. For example, it should probably be possible to connect a GameStation Go to a television in a hotel with an external power supply. Battery life can potentially be extended with a USB-C connected power bank. However, there is a logo next to the USB port that symbolizes a gamepad – if the port were made just for this, it would be disappointing.

It is unclear why Atari and My Arcade decided to have the joystick installed only on the left side. If more modern games could somehow be played on the console, you’d instantly miss the second stick of the post-PlayStation 2 era. This is even more confusing because the shoulder buttons used since then also exist. Of course there’s the D-pad (left) and ABXY buttons (right), and there’s also a number pad below these buttons. What it was used for in games for early Atari consoles is another mystery. A highlight in the retro world can be the trackball on the left, as many classic titles like “Missile Command” or “Centipede” can be controlled much better with it – because it was designed for arcades.

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