| Atari XEGS (XE Video Game System) was released in 1987 as a hybrid console and computer by Atari Corporation. It was essentially a repackaged Atari 65XE home computer designed to compete in the gaming market. The system featured a MOS 6502C CPU at 1.79 MHz, 64 KB RAM, and supported Atari’s vast library of 8-bit games on cartridge. The XEGS could function both as a gaming console and, with the addition of a keyboard and disk drive, as a full-fledged Atari 8-bit computer. It offered compatibility with Atari’s existing peripherals and software, including disk-based applications and programming in Atari BASIC. While marketed primarily as a console to attract gamers, the XEGS also appealed to hobbyists and home users wanting an affordable entry into Atari’s computer ecosystem. Production lasted until the early 1990s, making it one of the last models in Atari’s 8-bit computer line. |
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