Atari has announced that it will stop providing further support for the VCS console released in 2021.
This retro console is modeled after the original Atari VCS (later renamed the Atari 2600) released in 1977. It was first delivered to Kickstarter backers in 2020 and officially launched for general sale the following year.
The console comes with its own dedicated game store and library, and supports PC mode, allowing it to run Linux or Windows systems. However, it has received lukewarm reception since its launch, with modest sales throughout its lifecycle.
Atari has now officially announced the end of support for this console, with its built-in store set to close permanently on February 1, 2027.
Atari Community Manager Carly Francis posted on the official Discord server: "We are here to inform everyone that support services for the Atari VCS platform will be adjusted."
"The Atari VCS has earned its place among the many consoles the brand has released over its more than fifty-year history. This project started as a one-time crowdfunding campaign, which we turned into a jointly operated platform since 2020. Thank you to all the loyal players and creators who brought quality content to the VCS and helped build a vibrant community."
"We will begin the end-of-support process for the Atari VCS, and the VCS Store will close on February 1, 2027. Players can still purchase games normally in the store until January 31, 2027."
While some consoles become essentially useless after support ends, Atari has promised players that they will still be able to use their VCS consoles normally after the service termination.
The company will push a system update to remove all mandatory requirements for connecting to Atari servers. They also plan to release a homebrew application, allowing players to continue developing games and adding new content to the console without relying on the official store.
Francis wrote: "After the store closes, we will push a system update to migrate all functions to local operation, eliminating the dependence on Atari servers for account authentication and software execution. Once the migration is complete, we will officially terminate support for the platform."
"As part of the transition plan, we will push the Atari homebrew application to all players. With this app, everyone can independently add new games to the VCS, and developers can continue to create applications for the VCS and share them with the community. Early next year, we will release a detailed guide explaining the system migration steps and the features of the homebrew application, giving everyone ample time to prepare."
"We know this news is hard to accept. We are doing Everythinggj we can to ensure that community players can continue to use the VCS normally in the future, and we will provide full transition support throughout the process."