Intellivision Amico specs leaked cover

Intellivision Amico Specs Leaked via Developer Portal

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Published: June 30, 2021 1:40 PM

The Intellivision Amico specs have leaked via a developer portal that was accidentally made public, revealing the storage space and other technical details of this upcoming family-friendly console.

We're getting closer and closer to the launch of the Intellivision Amico, a new family-friendly gaming console that aims to deliver games with no microtransactions at budget-friendly prices. Most recently, the console's creators revealed that they'll have a new game from the creators of Ecco the Dolphin debuting on the console.

Presentations about the console over the last few years have given us a good idea of what we can expect from the Amico. That said, the one thing that was missing was firm technical details about its onboard storage, processing power, and the like. Now, an apparent leak has revealed exactly what's under the hood.

Intellivision Amico specs leaked slice

What Are the Intellivision Amico Specs?

The Intellivision Amico specs aren't quite as powerful as a modern console as one might expect. After all, most of the games being made for this console are simpler experiences that aren't exactly demanding the latest in gaming hardware.

Here are the Intellivision Amico specs as revealed in an archive (which has since been taken down) of the developer web portal via Ars Technica:

Amico Console

  • CPU: Qualcomm® Snapdragon 624 APQ8053-Lite, 8 ARM A-53 cores at 1.8GHz
  • GPU: Adreno 506 GPU
  • Memory: 2GB LPDDR3 DRAM
  • Storage: 16GB Flash (eMMC)
  • Video: HDMI out to fixed resolutions of 1920x1080 pixels or 1280x720
  • Audio: Embedded HDMI audio
  • OS: Android 9 (Oreo) API Level 28
  • Graphics: Support OpenGL ES 3.0 and Vulkan 1.0.
  • LED light string (15 LEDs per side, 10 LEDs in front)
  • Bluetooth for controllers
  • WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n, and 802.11ac.)
  • RFID Reader
  • Two contact-charging cradles for wireless Amico controllers.
  • 1 USB-C for expansion
  • 1 SD card slot for additional storage
  • 1 power socket (12V External Power Brick)

Amico Controller

  • CPU: ESP32 SOC Wireless Module (Dual core 240Mhz Xtensa)
  • Connetivity: WiFi and BT/BTLE
  • Four RGB Lit Action buttons (a pair on each side)
  • Home button (on the face) for controller-system menu/pause
  • Directional Disc (DDisc) with 64 directions and four levels of pressure detection.
  • Ring of LEDs around DDisc: 8 LED (RGB) lights
  • Single microphone
  • Mono Speaker (no headphone plug)
  • Display: TFT 320x240 pixels 15-30+ FPS update rate, 16 bit RGB565, Capacitive Resistive Touch, 3.2-inch diagonal screen approx. (50mm x 66mm) +-3mm, not counting bezel.
  • 3D Accelerometer
  • 3D Gyroscope
  • Force feedback/haptic motor, driver
  • Li-ion battery, replaceable with some disassembly
  • RFID passive tag, no electronics or connection to processor
  • USB C connector for charging (and firmware updates) or play while charging
  • Contact charging when placed in cradle
  • Safety strap and attachment loop/hook

Aside from the processing power, the key point to highlight with the Intellivision Amico specs is the 2GB of RAM and the 16GB of onboard storage for the system. That might not seem like much for a gaming console.

Context is key here, though — the install size of Intellivision games will be a big factor in determining whether or not this will be a problem later on down the line. That said, there is SD card storage capability in the mix, too, so gamers should be able to add in more storage at a later date.

Intellivision Amico specs leaked slice 2

Intellivision CEO Threatens Legal Action Over Leaked Console Specs

The leak of the Intellivision Amico specs isn't all that unusual; after all, the months leading up to the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S saw multiple potential leaks of the console's specifications. What is unusual, however, is the public response to the leak by Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico in a now-deleted tweet.

"@ArsTechnic "journalist" @samred just illegally posted a bunch of confidential information about Intellivision in his ridiculous misinformed article," read the tweet from Tallarico highlighted by the Video Game HIstory Foundation's Frank Cifaldi on Twitter. "The private info had NOT FOR PUBLIC use and CONFIDENTIAL all over it. Unfortunately legal action will need to be taken."

Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico has since deleted the tweet in question and followed it up with a public statement about the preceding tweet.

"Yo Everyone, Didn't mean to cause such a stir in regards to calling out @samred and his article. Our developer portal had a hole in security and was breached. The copywritten info on there was labeled Private, Confidential and Not For Public Dissemination. Some may say that... posting it publicly violates DMCA. We're a small company trying to bring something unique to the video game world during a crazy time in the world in hopes that more folks (no matter what your skill level) will play together. Folks try to tear us down every day & sometimes... I sometimes get a little too emotional because the information that is being spread isn't true & my family, employees & developers get actively [harassed]. Will try to do better and look forward to more people actually trying Amico for themselves before crapping all over it." – Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico on Twitter

We've reached out to Intellivision about the leaked specs and the public response to them. For now, you can pre-order an Intellivision Amico for a $100 deposit towards its retail price which starts at $249.99 or your regional equivalent.

What do you think of the Intellivision Amico specs? Does anything in terms of hardware stand out as particularly concerning to you? Let us know in the comments below!

A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
| Senior Writer

One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N