Xbox co-founder J Allard gets back into gaming with a new $249 console, the Intellivision Amico

Xbox co-founder J Allard is joining Intellivision as a Global Managing Director. As noted in a post on GeekWire, Allard will join the team to help launch the Intellivision Amico, a $249 family-friendly console set to be released in October 2020. For those unfamiliar, Intellivision was a console released by toy company Mattel in 1979. At Microsoft, Allard co-founded the original Xbox, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, and the Xbox 360.

In a press release, Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico announced the addition of Allard and his role with the Intellivision Amico team.

“In his new role at Intellivision Entertainment, Allard will provide invaluable insights to support the final development of Amico – the new console designed to make video gaming accessible to all. His expertise and deep knowledge in user experience, operating systems, game certification, and building ecosystems will help Amico stay true to its mission to bring family and friends together again with fun games that everyone can play.”

Here is a look at a gameplay trailer for the upcoming Intellivision Amico console.

Since leaving Microsoft in 2010, Allard has been hard at work at Project 529, a Vancouver community-powered bike anti-theft company. The Intellivision Amico is planned to be released in October 2020 with pricing for the system starting at $249 with games for the console being priced at under $10 each.