Despite selling over 15 million units and defining home computing for a generation, Commodore crashed in 1994 thanks to mismanagement and strategic blunders. The brand spent 30 years getting passed around like a hot potato, with each new owner slapping the C= logo on increasingly ridiculous products like smartphones, media players, and even paper shredders. YouTuber Christian “Perifractic” Simpson just paid in the low seven figures to end that embarrassment with the Commodore 64 Ultimate, aiming to revive the original computer in all its glory, but with a few more modern options too.
Faithful Recreation, Modern Execution
To prevent the Commodore 64 Ultimate to become just another emulator cashing in on the nostalgia boom, Simpson’s team built this around an AMD Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA that recreates the original C64’s behavior at the hardware level without any software shortcuts. That means your dusty collection of cartridges, floppy disks, and peripherals from 1983 should work exactly as they did back then, with 99% compatibility across the entire 10,000+ game library.
However, the internals have gotten upgraded as well. You’re looking at 128MB of DDR2 RAM (massive by C64 standards), dual SID sound chips for richer audio, and a Turbo Mode that cranks performance up to 48MHz, which is nearly 50 times faster than the original’s anxiety-inducing 1MHz processor. The machine enters the new age with an HDMI output for modern displays while maintaining analog video connections for CRT purists who want the full retro experience (we don’t necessarily blame them).
Welcomed Connectivity Upgrades
For connectivity, you’ll get three USB-A ports, one USB-C, built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and a microSD slot so you can transfer games wirelessly or load them from a more modern storage device. The included 64GB USB drive (shaped like a cassette, naturally) comes preloaded with 50+ games, including Jupiter Lander: Ascension, a sequel to Commodore’s very first game.
The mechanical keyboard uses Gateron Pro 3.0 switches with full N-key rollover and macro support, addressing the mushy keys that users didn’t love on the original. It’s still the classic C64 layout, but with responsiveness that actually works for modern typing or coding.
Three Flavors of Nostalgia
The BASIC Beige edition delivers pure authenticity with the same beige plastic and same layout as the original. It’s a pretty faithful recreation, looks-wise at least. But Simpson and company has also given us a couple of new (and more expensive) versions that look decidedly 2025.
First off, the Starlight Edition comes in a transparent case and features reactive LED lighting that pulses with your games and music. The translucent mechanical keyboard PCB is apparently a world first. On the other hand, the top-shelf Founders Edition, which is limited to 6,400 units and inspired by the legendary millionth gold C64 from the ’80s, comes with satin gold keys, a translucent amber case, 24k gold badges, and a commemorative certificate. Again, we’re celebrating a machine that helped revolutionize home gaming.
The Bigger Picture
Simpson’s Commodore revival faces steep odds. The retro gaming market is fickle, and without iconic games like Mario or Pac-Man, the C64 library lacks mainstream cultural pull. The company also doesn’t own crucial pieces like the C64 ROMs (those belong to Cloanto) or Amiga rights, limiting expansion possibilities. But faithful retro gamers are also completionists who will want this beautiful piece of gaming in their libraries, if not only to appreciate the meticulous attempt at reviving an icon.
Spec Sheet
Model: Commodore 64 Ultimate
Processor: AMD Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA
Memory: 128MB DDR2 RAM, 16MB NOR flash
Video Output: 1080p HDMI, analog DIN-8
Audio Output: Dual SID sockets with UltiSID FPGA emulation
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3x USB-A, 1x USB-C, microSD
Keyboard: 66-key mechanical, Gateron Pro 3.0 switches
Gaming Compatibility: 99% with original C64 games and peripherals
Storage: 64GB USB drive, original disk formats
Editions: BASIC Beige, Starlight, Founders
Limited Edition?: Yes, 6,400 (Founders Edition)
Pricing & Availability
The Commodore 64 Ultimate is now taking pre-orders at Commodore.net, with early-bird pricing for the BASIC Beige starting at $299, Starlight Edition at $349, and Founders Edition at $499. The first units ship in October, assuming production stays on schedule.
Recap
Commodore 64 Ultimate
The Commodore 64 is being revived with modern tech including a 50x faster performance, USB-C, and Wi-Fi.
