The iconic Commodore 64 brand unveils its initial hardware product in more than three decades, opening pre-orders at $299

The Commodore 64 Ultimate, the first new hardware released under the new management, is now available for pre-order. This iconic gaming system, which first graced our screens over three decades ago, is making a comeback with three new cosmetically different editions: the BASIC Beige, the Starlight, and the Founders.

The BASIC Beige edition, priced at $299 during the promotional pre-order stage, harks back to the original design. For those who want a touch of exclusivity, the Founders edition, priced at $499, includes a commemorative gold seal 'share' certificate, a 24k gold Commodore badge, a gold label holographic serial number, an "I Rebooted C=" t-shirt, and reactive lighting. The Starlight edition, priced $50 more than the BASIC Beige, features a translucent case and LED lighting.

The processing heart of the Commodore 64 Ultimate is a faithful recreation of the original motherboard on AMD Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA hardware. This ensures that the system remains true to its roots while offering modern performance. The system is not a software emulator but is built around an AMD Artix 7 FPGA.

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is claimed to be compatible with "10,000+ original games, cartridges, and peripherals." Its motherboard includes autographs/names of C64 creators past and present, regardless of the edition. The system also boasts a keyboard with 66 keys, Gateron Pro 3.0 55g switches, and RGB LEDs. It comes with 128MB DDR2 RAM and 16MB NOR flash for memory.

The production of the Commodore 64 Ultimate is led by Christian Simpson, the CEO of the revived Commodore company, who is heavily involved in the project. Manufacturing is affiliated with PCB Way in China. Simpson oversees software design and overall production financing through pre-orders.

The system supports USB thumbdrives in FAT, FAT32, exFAT formats and various game file formats. Shipping of the Commodore 64 Ultimate will happen in October at the earliest.

Readers are encouraged to follow Tom's Hardware on Google News for up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews. Some may choose to wait until October or November to purchase the Commodore 64 Ultimate, paying a $50 premium for reviews from retro tech publications, a finished manufacturing phase, and shipping from stock.

It's worth noting that the crowdfunding for the Commodore 64 Ultimate is not on Kickstarter or Indiegogo to save expenses. The crowdfunding platform offers a money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty. The Commodore Corp buyout does not affect the release of this hardware.

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is set to rekindle the nostalgia of the 80s gaming era while offering modern performance. Whether you're a fan of the original or a newcomer to the world of retro gaming, the Commodore 64 Ultimate promises to deliver an unforgettable experience.

The iconic Commodore 64 brand unveils its initial hardware product in more than three decades, opening pre-orders at $299