Atari teases handheld game system with a trackball and a numpad
In a nutshell: Atari is teaming up with retro gaming company My Arcade on one of the most peculiar handheld game systems in recent memory. The Gamestation Go, teased in an X post ahead of CES, is all about control. The handheld – which appears to be a revised version of the Gamestation Portable teased around this time a year ago – features a traditional D-pad on the left side flanked by a trackball below and a paddle / spinner knob above.
On the opposite side, you’ve got standard A B X Y buttons arranged in the familiar layout with a number pad below. Physical buttons labeled start, select, settings, and credit are also present on the front of the device. R1 R2 and L1 L2 shoulder buttons are positioned along the top edge of the handheld, where we can also see a microSD card slot, a power switch, a home button, a volume rocker, an HDMI-out port, a USB-C power connector, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Most of the controls appear to be backlit or outlined with light, and a pair of USB-C ports on the rear looks to support wired controllers. All it seems to be missing is the crank control from the Playdate. Cooling vents and a kickstand can also be found on the reverse.
An icon, reimagined. 🕹️ @MyArcadeRetro#Atari #GamestationGo #CES2025 pic.twitter.com/AvqTLuegR2
– Atari (@atari) January 2, 2025
Atari’s teaser is accompanied by the tagline, “An icon, reimagined.” Additional details, such as bundled games and pricing, remain a mystery for now. With so many baked in control types, the device could potentially support a range of platforms – so long as the internal hardware and emulation is up for the task.
Last year’s Gamestation Portable was to launch by the end of 2024 for $149, so it is probably safe to assume the Go variant will come in around that same mark.
CES is just days away, so we’ll likely get all of the missing details then. The annual trade show formally kicks off in Las Vegas on January 7 and runs through the 10th.
