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Engineering / COMMODORE 64 ULTIMATE Classic Form. Ultimate Function. From $299*

« Last post by Nemesis on July 19, 2025, 02:48:57 pm »

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Honouring the past. Innovating the future.
Without the distractions that stole it.

Commodore has returned from a parallel timeline where tech stayed optimistic, inviting, and human. Where it served us, not enslaved us. We’re here to bring that feeling back - retro • futurism, transparent tech, digital detox, real innovation.

This is the first real Commodore computer in over 30 years, and it's picked up a few new tricks.

Not an emulator. Not a PC. Retrogaming heaven in three dimensions: silicon, nostalgia, and light. Powered by a FPGA recreation of the original motherboard, wrapped in glowing game-reactive LEDs (or classic beige of course).

Compatible with 10,000+ original retro games, cartridges, peripherals + more RAM & 48Mhz Turbo boost!

SID sound-chip reactive colour-changing case and keyboard

Wi-Fi game transfer & USB "cassette" bursting with classic & new games

Watch “Part Two”, our new TV ad:

World's first transparent keyboard circuit board to let the tech speak for itself

Original C64 creator autographs etched forever into the mainboard copper

Spiral-bound manual, glossy classic box, and more

Whether you grew up with a Commodore or never heard of one, this is for you.

A simpler, distraction-free computing experience. A chance to learn how computers really work. A fun, inviting way to introduce your kids to BASIC coding. And for the kid still within.

C64U isn’t tech that controls you. It invites you...

I was never "into" the C64 but I know others were.

Their FAQ:

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Hi, what’s the product strategy?

Commodore is built on two clear pathways: Retro and Modern. We call it retro • futurism - honouring the past, innovating the future. For every nostalgic offering, expect a modern counterpart that fits our mission as the Digital Detox Brand™. We're already taking the first steps to craft the first of those with a world-class hardware partner, centred around a clear vision.

But it starts with the Commodore® 64 Ultimate; a faithful hardware revival. Alongside that, we’re licensing standout community creations and carefully developing new tech with today’s needs in mind. No hype, no guesswork - only what’s truly wanted.

Is this all just nostalgia?

Nostalgia is one of our two core pillars - alongside modern innovation. Like yin and yang, these forces balance and strengthen each other in that retro • futurism approach.

The commercial power of nostalgia is real - and it will help fuel and fund the development of modern, forward-facing products in turn. It’s a symbiotic cycle: retro inspires, modern sustains. Commodore isn’t returning. It’s evolving, with purpose.

Will Commodore's return hurt small developers or the retro Commodore community?

No. We fully support the community that’s kept Commodore alive - we were born from it! Commodore today is founded by key figures within the retro scene who understand its values firsthand.

We’re not here to shut down creators. That wouldn't make any sense at all. If you’re making compatible products without using official trademarks, you’re free to continue. If you have a YouTube channel with "Commodore" used in the name in an obviously harmless way, as a fan, that's cool too. We get it. #wearecommodore

How do I get my product endorsed/licensed by Commodore?

For those who want to use the official logos or branding, we’ll be offering a simple and fair licensing pathway later this year directly through this website. It will include a quality control pipeline, and other tools. But there's no pressure, and no obligation. Just an option many have dreamed of.

How much will you charge for official Commodore licenses?

Past owners charged flat fees or high percentages - often with complicated terms. We’re keeping it simple: just 6.4% of net sales. Full stop. (We call it "Commodore 6.4").

If you sell a product - say a Commodore case badge - for $1 net, you send us 6 cents. No setup fees. No hassle. We want to support creators, not drain them, while keeping Commodore from blipping out again at the same time.

Isn’t this just another failed Commodore reboot?

We get it, it's easier to tear things down than to build something meaningful up, and to decide something's failed before it's even started. But the benefit of being a second attempt at the real Commodore is that we’ve learned from the past and are doing things differently. We’re elevating trusted, community-loved projects, not slapping the logo on random gadgets like a shredder. Nobody wants Commodore® Curling Irons.

And we're managing our money extremely carefully, with a world-class team including Chief Financial Officer Alex Rozenblat (formerly VP Finance, Disney/Fox). Our roadmap is steady, our standards are high, and the people behind this effort are part of the very community that kept Commodore’s spirit alive for over 30 years. Simply, we answer questions like this through execution rather than explanation.

Why are there Commodore channels on social media if you’re against social media?

It’s a fair question. Think of it this way - if you wanted to help people stop smoking, you’d need to start the conversation where the smokers are: at the cigar shop.

Commodore is returning partly as The Digital Detox Brand™, but social media is still where many in the community gather. We’re here to connect, share updates, and gently offer a different path - one built on creativity, clarity, and calm, optimistic tech. We don’t reject the platform. We reject the toxicity, and the algorithms designed to keep users trapped in a loop.

What's the Japanese text on your website and merch?

コモドール (Komodōru) is the Japanese katakana spelling for Commodore. It’s a nod to the brand’s global legacy - and the era when Japanese tech design helped define the look and feel of computing’s golden age, not to mention retro-futurism of course.

Is Amiga part of Commodore?

Well, Amiga was a Commodore! Later, at least. But, officially, not yet - though we’d love it to be. And we won't repeat the mistakes of the past relating to that. We’re in open dialogue with the most relevant rights holder to explore a potential reunion, and techno-optimism is in the air. Commodore and Amiga belong together in spirit, and we hope to make that true in practice as well. We're just waiting for them to give the green light and let the fun begin.

What is the status of the Commodore brand acquistion?

We’ve signed a formal share purchase agreement for the purchase of 47 trademarks, the oldest of which dates back to 1983 - as was stated in the "Let's Buy Commodore" series. The final stage is now close to fruition. With strong support for the C64 Ultimate Founders Edition, we hope to be able to announce financial completion of the acquisition. This is a carefully structured process focused on security and long-term sustainability.

Is Commodore just another brand cash grab?

Commodore has been rebooted from a place of deep love - for the brand, for its connection to childhood, for the magic it represented, and for the promise of the future it once held and now holds again. Every company needs cash to operate, but that doesn't make it a cash grab every time.

Plus, only carefully selected, high-quality products that respect that legacy will earn the right to use our name. Our mission is thoughtful restoration, not reckless licensing. We’re not here to stick logos on widgets for quick profit.

More than that, we aim to create meaningful technology that improves lives - tools that support creativity, learning, and digital wellbeing. Watch us be Calculating in that. That mission will unfold in real time. And ultimately, it will answer this question better than any corporate statement ever could.

Is a "YouTuber" really qualified to lead this?

For our CEO, that journey began eight years ago on a whim, pointing an old smartphone at a Commodore 64 diode installation he was undertaking, to make a video about a hobby he loved. The community asked him to continue, and 40M views later, here we are. Commodore is back.

But a YouTuber label is one tiny part of a much bigger picture that includes three decades of creative work, patents, property development across four countries, and a business career that began with factory tooling setups and retail sales of his inventions by age 24 - just like now with Commodore. This isn’t a media project. It’s a structured revival led by someone with a proven history of turning vision into reality, as set out in "Let's Buy Commodore - Part 1"; that video intended as a resumé, handed to the community for the job application as CEO.

Jack Tramiel himself started Commodore not as a corporate executive, but similarly as a hands-on worker repairing typewriters. Commodore has always been built by doers.

Why is AI video used in marketing?

It's not. Our partner channel Retro Recipes occasionally uses clearly labelled AI in whimsical parody sketches aimed to raise a smile, and usually trained on the faces of the owners of the channel. It’s separate from Commodore the corporation though, and that’s clearly stated on the channel.

As for Commodore: AI might be used where it adds meaningful value - such as accessibility tools or educational resources. For example, if a national curriculum or education ministry begins requiring AI coding teaching, we may release educational tools that recognise that. Ignoring such realities would risk repeating history - and our CEO's main job is making sure Commodore never blips out of existence again.

We also want to be clear: 100% of our creative work is made by actual humans. Every merchandise design, the motherboards in our computers, even the retro-futuristic 3D banner up there, were crafted by talented artists. We embrace progress, but only when it serves people. And remember, the first AI programs were running on Commodore computers. Who remembers ELIZA and NIALL, the Near Intelligent Artificial Language Learner? He actually wrote this FAQ! (No, not really).

Are you working with Retro Games Ltd.?

Yes - we stay in close contact with the makers of incredible THEC64® Mini, THEC64 Maxi, THEA500® Mini, and its upcoming big sister. Our dream at Commodore is a single, joined-up family of Commodore machines, from superb-value, low latency emulators, to premium chip-based systems. Collaboration, not competition, is how we build a stronger future for fans. That's all anyone really wants.

Truth is, we have already been unofficial partners for years in a way. Retro Games Ltd. gave our President & CEO prototypes to review, and the resulting videos about RGL devices have brought their computers to over two million eyeballs. Commodore can't wait to work with them more officially in the near future. Watch this space for a more formal statement...

We've reached the end. Let's get the FAQ out of here.

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