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ModRetro

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ModRetro
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded2023
Founders
HeadquartersUnited States
Key people
Torin Herndon (CEO)
ProductsChromatic, M64
Websitehttps://modretro.com

ModRetro is an American consumer electronics company founded by Palmer Luckey and Torin Herndon.[1] It is best known for the Chromatic, a retro handheld console[2][3], and the M64, a recreation of the Nintendo 64.[4][5] It also operates an independent game studio, responsible for first-party development and publishing of external titles.

History

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Online forum (2009-present)

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In 2009, Palmer Luckey and several others founded internet forum ModRetro, for the discussion of retro consoles and hardware modding. The community became notable for the practice of "portablization", modifying home consoles to convert them to handheld game consoles.

As of 2026, the community still exists, however the website is largely inactive.[‡ 1]

Consumer electronics (2023-present)

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In 2023, Palmer Luckey and Torin Herndon re-established ModRetro as a hardware company.[‡ 2]

Torin Herndon previously worked as an engineer at Oculus and Anduril, companies also founded by Palmer Luckey. Following the revival of ModRetro as a hardware company, Herndon joined Luckey as a co-founder and helped oversee the development of the Chromatic handheld and the company's expansion into game publishing and hardware manufacturing.[6][7]

In June 2024, ModRetro announced the Chromatic, a handheld console inspired by the Game Boy Color.[‡ 3] The system uses open-source components from the MiSTer FPGA project.[8]

In July 2025, ModRetro permanently restocked the Chromatic after the initial First Edition sold out. The relaunch introduced additional color variants, optional Gorilla Glass models, new accessories, and additional game releases.[9]

The permanent restock introduced seven standard color variants: Cloud, Midnight, Wave, Inferno, Bubblegum, Volt, and Leaf.[10]

In 2025, ModRetro announced the M64, an FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo 64. The console is planned for release in 2026.[11]

Reception

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In March 2026, multiple publications reported that ModRetro was seeking new funding at a valuation of approximately $1 billion.[12][13]

ModRetro's hardware has been covered by several media outlets, including The Verge, Vice, Wired, Popular Mechanics, and GamesRadar+.[14][15][16]

In 2025, ModRetro participated in several promotional collaborations with other companies and media personalities. One of the most widely reported events was a partnership with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and GameStop to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp. The event featured a Pokémon battle played on ModRetro Chromatic handhelds aboard the blimp and included participation from Palmer Luckey and YouTuber Casey Neistat.[17][18]

The collaboration also included a limited-edition Chromatic giveaway produced jointly by ModRetro and Goodyear.[19]

Some outlets have expressed concerns over the association with Luckey's defense technology company, Anduril Industries.[20][21][22]

Games and publishing

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ModRetro publishes new titles and reissues games in physical cartridge format.[‡ 4]

Platform Category Title Year Ref
Chromatic[a] Original Dragonyhm 2024 [23]
Patchy Matchy 2024 [23]
In The Dark 2 2024 [23]
Traumatarium Penitent 2025 [23]
Hermano 2025 [24]
Chantey 2025 [25]
Gravitorque DX 2025 [26]
Wicked Plague 2025 [26]
Self Simulated 2025 [26]
First Contact Protocol 2025 [26]
Tales of Monsterland DX 2025 [‡ 5]
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge 2025 [‡ 6]
Re-release Toki Tori - Ultimate Edition 2024 [‡ 7]
Rayman 2024 [‡ 8]
Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition 2024 [‡ 9]
Baby T-Rex 2025 [27]
Project S-11 2025 [‡ 10]
Sabrina: The Animated Series - Zapped! 2025 [26]
Atari '90s Rewind Collection 2025 [‡ 11]
Croc 2: 25th Anniversary Edition 2026 [‡ 12]
Chikyū Kaihō Gun ZAS 2026 [28]

M64

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The M64 is an FPGA-based home console designed to play Nintendo 64 cartridges on modern displays.[29]

The console includes four original-style controller ports, HDMI output, three USB-C ports, and a microSD card slot.[30]

According to ModRetro, the M64 features wireless OTA updates, fanless cooling, and support for 4K output.[‡ 13]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Compatible with Game Boy Color systems.

References

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Secondary sources

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  1. ↑ Levingston, Ivan (March 7, 2026). "Palmer Luckey's $1bn pitch to reboot 1990s video game consoles". Financial Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Evangelho, Jason. "The Perfect Modern Game Boy? ModRetro Chromatic Review". Forbes. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ Cichacki, Shaun (January 10, 2025). "I Played All of the Release Titles From the ModRetro Chromatic, and the Variety Is Astounding (Review)". VICE. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ "After one month with the ModRetro M64, I'm convinced that this is going to be the best way to play your favorite N64 games in 2026". TechRadar. June 9, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ "I Dig the ModRetro 64's Nostalgic Fun, Even If It's a Few Updates Short of Greatness". PCMag UK. June 1, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Palmer Luckey's Retro Gaming Startup Nears $1B Valuation". Observer. March 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Interview: ModRetro CEO On What Makes Chromatic The Ultimate Game Boy In 2024". Time Extension. July 30, 2024.
  8. ↑ "MiSTer-devel". GitHub.
  9. ↑ Liszewski, Andrew (July 10, 2025). "The ModRetro Chromatic Game Boy is now permanently back in stock". The Verge.
  10. ↑ Liszewski, Andrew (July 10, 2025). "The ModRetro Chromatic Game Boy is now permanently back in stock". The Verge.
  11. ↑ Hayton, Phil (July 24, 2025). ""Inflation isn't nostalgic" - Modretro's FPGA N64 console will arrive later this year for $199.99, but I'm curbing my retro console enthusiasm". GamesRadar+.
  12. ↑ Ha, Anthony (March 8, 2026). "Palmer Luckey's retro gaming startup ModRetro reportedly seeks funding at $1B valuation". TechCrunch.
  13. ↑ "Palmer Luckey's $1bn pitch to reboot 1990s video game consoles". Financial Times. March 7, 2026.
  14. ↑ Hollister, Sean (December 21, 2024). "ModRetro Chromatic review: an arms dealer's Game Boy is among the best ever made". The Verge.
  15. ↑ Cichacki, Shaun (December 9, 2024). "The ModRetro Chromatic Is the Bespoke Game Boy We Deserve as Adults (Review)".
  16. ↑ "This Modern Day Game Boy Is the Best Device I've Found for Playing the Old-School Titles". Popular Mechanics. October 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Goodyear and GameStop Take Gaming to New Heights for 100th Anniversary Showdown in the Sky". Goodyear. August 7, 2025.
  18. ↑ Hinton, Christian (August 22, 2025). "Goodyear Blimp Hosts Pokémon Battle Over Los Angeles for Anniversary". Tire Review.
  19. ↑ Vjestica, Adam (August 8, 2025). "ModRetro is giving away a Goodyear Chromatic to one lucky customer". The Shortcut.
  20. ↑ McFerran, Damien (December 19, 2025). "Site News: Why We Won't Be Covering ModRetro Products Moving Forward". Time Extension. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ Martínez, Rubén (January 12, 2026). "Una Game Boy a prueba de bombas: así es la polémica ModRetro Chromatic Anduril Edition que usa materiales de drones militares". Meristation (in Spanish). Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  22. ↑ Shepard, Kenneth (December 19, 2025). "ModRetro Sells Handheld Made Of The Same Metal As Attack Drones". Kotaku. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "ModRetro Chromatic Release Titles Bundle Impressions". GBAtemp.net. March 21, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Hermano Game Boy Review". Nintendo World Report. March 31, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Chantey - DEMO by Gortyn Code". itch.io.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Modretro launches 4 new Game Boy Color games and one re-release today". GoNintendo. July 10, 2025.
  27. ↑ "ModRetro re-releases retro games Baby T-Rex and Project S-11". GBAtemp.net. March 5, 2025.
  28. ↑ "ModRetro drops two new classic titles: Croc 2 and ZAS". GamingTrend. April 7, 2026.
  29. ↑ Liszewski, Andrew (November 28, 2025). "ModRetro recreated the N64 controller for its M64 console". The Verge.
  30. ↑ Liszewski, Andrew (November 28, 2025). "ModRetro recreated the N64 controller for its M64 console". The Verge.

Primary sources

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In the text, these are preceded by "‡":

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