Subscribers to the Atari Newsletter were given a special treat today, when the company sent out a new release with fresh details and images of the upcoming new console, the Ataribox.

The Ataribox is, according to Atari, born of a desire to “to create a new product that stays true to our heritage while appealing to both old and new fans of Atari.”  The new console features “classic Atari design elements”, such as the prominent wood paneling, layered/ribbed body shape, and sloped back, as well as an illuminated front-facing Atari logo and LED lights that shine through the shell material from within.  The console is planned to come in two primary design categories: a wood edition, and a glowing black/red edition.

Tech-wise, all we know so far about the Ataribox is that it will feature a variety of new ports, including outlets for HDMI, SD, and 4 USB connectors.  Beyond that, we’ve got nothing; all Atari gives us is that “those ports suggest modern internal specs”, and that the console will be delivering both classic and modern gaming content.

The Atari team does specify for the curious fan that they are not teasing us intentionally, but rather choosing to share their progress on the console with the community as it is made step-by-step.  It’s not that they are purposefully withholding details on the console’s specs, games, features, pricing, or schedule, but rather these details are not yet solidified yet.  What this means?  The console is likely still well far away from its ultimate release.  With no public release date set, or even vaguely hinted at, it’s likely that we won’t be getting our hands on the Ataribox until at least 2018.

You can read the full text of the new Atari newsletter here.