Biography:Torin Herndon
Torin Herndon | |
|---|---|
| File:Torin Herndon.jpg Herndon in 2025 | |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Occupation | Engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder and CEO of ModRetro |
Torin Herndon is an American engineer and entrepreneur who serves as the chief executive officer and co-founder of ModRetro, a consumer electronics company focused on retro-inspired hardware and software. He previously worked at Oculus VR and Anduril Industries before co-founding ModRetro with Palmer Luckey in 2023.
Early life and education
Herndon studied mechanical engineering and product design at Stanford University.[1] According to Digital Trends, his interest in video games and interactive technology influenced both his academic studies and later work in consumer electronics.[1]
Career
Oculus VR
Following his studies at Stanford, Herndon joined Oculus VR as a product designer. During his time at Oculus, he worked on virtual reality hardware and product development as the company expanded following its acquisition by Facebook.[2]
Anduril Industries
In 2017, Herndon joined Anduril Industries, the defense technology company co-founded by Palmer Luckey. He worked on engineering and hardware development projects during the company's early growth period.[3][2]
ModRetro
In 2023, Herndon and Palmer Luckey incorporated ModRetro as a consumer electronics company focused on retro-inspired gaming hardware.[4]
As chief executive officer and lead engineer, Herndon oversaw development of the ModRetro Chromatic, a handheld console designed to play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges using FPGA technology.[5]
In interviews, Herndon has stated that repairability, long-term hardware support, and physical game ownership were major goals behind the company's products.[6]
Under Herndon's leadership, ModRetro expanded into game publishing, releasing original cartridge titles and re-releases of classic games for the Chromatic platform.[7]
In 2025, ModRetro announced the M64, an FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo 64. Herndon stated that the project was intended to provide compatibility with original cartridges and controllers while supporting modern display technology.[8]
Public profile
Herndon has represented ModRetro in interviews with gaming and technology publications, discussing hardware design, FPGA technology, manufacturing, and preservation of legacy gaming systems.[6][5]
In 2025, Herndon participated in a promotional event organized by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and GameStop to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp. The event featured a Pokémon battle played aboard the blimp and included Palmer Luckey and YouTuber Casey Neistat.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "35 years later, the Game Boy still shapes how we play games". August 13, 2024. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/game-boy-35-year-anniversary-retrospective/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Palmer Luckey's Retro Gaming Startup Nears $1B Valuation". March 9, 2026. https://observer.com/2026/03/palmer-luckey-gaming-startup-funding/.
- ↑ "Palmer Luckey's new defense company Anduril looks to build a border wall". October 19, 2017. https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/19/anduril-trae-stephens-battlefield-vr-ar/.
- ↑ "How ModRetro Built a Screen Nobody Wanted to Make". https://www.hyperlific.com/articles/how-modretro-built-a-screen-nobody-wanted-to-make/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The ModRetro Chromatic Is a Game Boy Fit for Your Apocalypse Bunker". July 10, 2025. https://www.wired.com/story/the-modretro-chromatic-is-a-game-boy-fit-for-your-apocalypse-bunker/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Interview: ModRetro CEO On What Makes Chromatic The Ultimate Game Boy In 2024". July 30, 2024. https://www.timeextension.com/features/interview-modretro-ceo-on-what-makes-chromatic-the-ultimate-game-boy-in-2024.
- ↑ "Games". https://modretro.com/collections/games.
- ↑ "ModRetro Is "Contributing To" The MiSTer FPGA Project And Not Looking To Replace It With The M64, Says CEO". September 19, 2025. https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/09/modretro-is-contributing-to-the-mister-fpga-project-and-not-looking-to-replace-it-with-the-m64-says-ceo.
- ↑ "Goodyear and GameStop Take Gaming to New Heights for 100th Anniversary Showdown in the Sky". August 7, 2025. https://news.goodyear.com/2025-08-07-Goodyear-and-GameStop-Take-Gaming-to-New-Heights-for-100th-Anniversary-Showdown-in-the-Sky.
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