Atari XE Game System (XEGS)

Summary

The Atari XE Game System (XEGS) is Atari’s attempt to better position itself in the 8-bit market and to attract new users to the home computer segment in the long term: The XEGS is an Atari 65XE that lacks keyboard and typical peripherals, but can easily be expanded into a full-fledged home computer. In addition to the standard version, Atari also offers a deluxe set in which the keyboard is already included.

A total of 32 modules appear especially for the XEGS, but also cartridges for the 65XE and its predecessor model 800XL run on the console and vice versa. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Although this expands the software offer, but since the 800XL is already several years old at this time, a majority of the games offered in total no longer seem up to date. The XEGS is on the market at the same time as the Atari 7800 and the Atari 2600 Jr., but represents only limited competition for these systems, as it serves other customer interests.