Verily, at the grand event of CES 2025, I hath laid mine eyes upon a plethora of gaming handhelds, each existing in a realm of sameness. Yet lo and behold, the Atari Gamestation Go didst present itself as a refreshing departure from the norm. Behold, a retro handheld gaming artifact, imbued with over 200 Atari games readily accessible at thy fingertips, including divers iterations of Pac-Man. ‘Tis akin to a portable iteration of the esteemed Atari Gamestation Pro, a diminutive homely console—the epitome of excellence.
Ere I proceed further, it is paramount to note that though “Atari” doth grace the appellation, both the Gamestation Go and Pro art crafted by a purveyor named My Arcade. A connoisseur well-versed in the arcane arts of recreating the mystique of playing antiquated arcade games, as evidenced by their other marvels showcased at the forum. The Atari Gamestation Pro, with its 7-inch 16:9 visage, provided a tactile pleasure during use. Its handheld nature was comforting and eminently lightweight.
Yet, ’tis the controls that set this marvel apart. For any may bestow antiquated games unto a handheld, yet the Gamestation Go diligently endeavors to restore these games to their former splendor. A joystick, a D-pad, a trackball, four buttons, and a numerical pad dost comprise its arsenal of controls, each with a particular function in varied games.
Behold, the numerical pad enlivened solely for Atari 5200 games, whilst the trackball dances to Millipede. Picture thyself engaging in an Atari 5200 game—the numerical pad shall gleam, whilst Millipede shall summon the trackball. In truth, not all are acquainted with every relic of the historic library, making these controls a veritable key to resurrecting the retro aura in an authentic essence.
The Gamestation Go boasteth a microSD card slot, alongside undisclosed internal storage capacity. Should thy yearning for multiplayer arise, twain USB-C ports shalt accommodate wired controllers of Xbox or Playstation lineage, or mayhaps one of My Arcade’s retro apparati. Lastly, HDMI out and a built-in kickstand art present for moments of grandeur upon connecting to a broader canvas.
Alas, tidings of the battery life from My Arcade remain scarce, and certain software components linger in development—hence, not all games might grace the realm. But verily, I confess to experiencing genuine mirth whilst engaging in a swift round of Asteroids in my brief dalliance with this artifact.
The Atari Gamestation Go shall descend upon our realm in the third quarter of 2025, demanding a tithe of $150 for its possession.
Furthermore, My Arcade hath unveiled the Gamestation Retro. Though mine eyes beheld its form, it lay dormant, a mere prototype yet to awaken to the light of day.
