The Atari 7800, released in 1986, was a 4th-generation video game console designed to improve upon the shortcomings of the Atari 5200 and compete with... The Atari 7800, released in 1986, was a 4th-generation video game console designed to improve upon the shortcomings of the Atari 5200 and compete with the growing popularity of Nintendo's and Sega's systems. It featured backward compatibility with Atari 2600 games, allowing players to enjoy a vast library of older titles, while also introducing new games with enhanced graphics and sound for the time. The 7800's hardware included a dual-processor architecture that allowed for more sophisticated gameplay and smoother graphics compared to previous Atari consoles. It also supported up to 256 colors and more detailed sprites in games. Despite these technical improvements, the Atari 7800 faced stiff competition from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and other emerging consoles, leading to limited commercial success. Expand