The love for mechanical keyboards and all their clicky glory has resulted in a niche, yet dedicated fanbase that values the tactile feel a lot of modern tech seems to be doing away with these days. 8BitDo is among the growing number of companies specializing in mechanical keyboards, and draws plenty of inspiration from classic tech and gaming for its designs. Recently, they looked to Nintedno’s Famicom and NES for a gaming-inspired keyboard, and now they’re paying tribute to the Commodore 64 (an 8-bit PC from the ‘80s) in the Retro Mechanical Keyboard C64 Edition.
There’s a slew of gaming-inspired features here, but it’s a keyboard first and foremost, boasting Kailh Box White V2 switches and a hot-swappable PCB if you want to switch them out, along with Double-Shot ABS keycaps for some added durability. You get the choice between Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, or wired connections, and the ability to customize the keyboard mapping via 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2. The real kicker here is the Commodore 64-inspired design, complete with a retro rainbow logo up top that graced the ‘80s-era 8-bit PC. Small details like the volume knobs and the A/B buttons celebrate the tactile joy that complements some of the best retro tech, and the Super Buttons from the N and Fami Editon of the keyboard are making a return, now accompanied by a mini joystick for your gaming needs.
8BitDo definitely took a lot of inspiration from the design (and success) of the NES-inspired “N Edition” and Famicom-inspired “Fami Edition” of its Retro Mechanical Keyboard, and it’s exciting to see another crossover build like this that’s celebrating some of the most iconic tech (especially since this likely means we’re getting more down the line).
The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard C64 Edition is available for pre-order now through Amazon for $110 and will start shipping on May 26th.
