The Commodore 64 deserves to have a happy ending it never got in life. You’ve likely seen at least one of those rounded beige rectangles sitting prone and forlorn in some office or forgotten attic. For those who loved their age-old home computer, the big blocky keyboard is back, and for $300 you can get what may be the most accurate recreation of the classic computer, no software emulation required. At least, it will be when the company manages to finalize the operating system and produce all the parts.
For those wondering just what the hell the Commodore 64 is, it’s a home computer that first saw the light of day in 1982, and at the time it was one of the best-selling computers in the world. The 8-bit device had unique qualities for the time, with advanced sound and graphics capabilities that made it one of the early leaders for at-home computer gaming thanks to its compatibility with cartridges. More than that, it managed to make computing accessible thanks to it selling in stores beyond specialty computer retailers. Though there are lingering examples of Commodore 65 prototypes, there wasn’t any sequel to the Commodore 64 that proved nearly as popular. The makers of the Commodore 64 had success with devices like the Amiga 1000, the company discontinued the C64 in 1995 and shortly after declared bankruptcy.
So what is the new Commodore 64 Ultimate and what do you get in the box?
Everything you need to know is below…OVERVIEW
• The Commodore 64 Ultimate comes in 3 varieties: Basic Beige, Starlight Edition, and Founders Edition.
• This is the first official Commodore 64… pic.twitter.com/Gtm25zPwWw— Commodore Computer Museum 🕹 (@MuseumCommodore) July 12, 2025
This isn’t the first attempt at a C64 emulation device, but it could be the most thorough. The modern recreation is using field-programmable gate array technology, or FPGA, to emulate the original computer’s design and chip logic. It means the device is fully compatible with all the old software and games that made the device such a hit in the first place. The $300 Basic Beige comes bundled with a cassette-style USB that includes some music, demos, and games, including a “new sequel” to the C64 original title Jupiter Lander: Ascension. The device still has modern amenities like HDMI and Wi-Fi, so you’re not going to need to find a working modem. The Commodore Computer Museum X account said this version resembles the Ultimate 64 Elite II version. The creator of that C64 version, engineer Gideo Zweijtzer, is named as a “launch partner” on the company’s team page.
The device is up for preorder, though the company claims that the money is going toward production, almost like a Kickstarter. Commodore claims “most parts are already in production,” and they are mostly looking to fund manufacturing parts like the keyboard base. A preorder “also helps power the full reboot of the Commodore brand.” The device is $300 at base, but that doesn’t account for tariffs that will come through as a “tariff tax” at checkout. If you want to see some of the internal components in all their glory, you’ll need to opt for the $350 Starlight Edition that also has RGB LEDs under the hood to bathe your desktop in retro goodness. There’s a separate, limited “Founders Edition” for $500 with clear amber plastic. While there will only be 6,400 of those made, Commodore says every device will have Easter eggs in the form of the names and/or autographs of the original C64 creators etched on the motherboard.
Commodore Corp., which was bought up by YouTuber and actor Christian “Peri Fractic” Simpson in a deal he announced on his channel June 30. He said he bought the company for “a low seven-figure sum,” though he did not reveal the total amount or offer any other details about what went into the purchase. The precise nature of the deal is still in limbo, and the company’s new owners admit on the site that the deal is “close to fruition.” The company added, “This is a carefully structured process focused on security and long-term sustainability,” and promised it will still make the hardware no matter what happens with the Commodore buyout.
Simpson previously announced his intent to buy Commodore a month ago, and things have moved quickly since then. Even with the new Commodore team’s promises for full refunds, the uncertainty is enough that I’d advise some hesitation before smashing the buy button on a brand-new FPGA Commodore 64, even if the translucent edition with built-in LED lights looks spiffy. The device won’t ship until October at the earliest, which gives us enough time to see what kind of pronouncements the dev team makes in the coming weeks and months.
