Company:ModRetro
 Logo used since 2023 | |
 Chromatic, the company's flagship console | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founders |
|
Key people | Torin Herndon (CEO) |
| Products | Chromatic, M64 |
| Website | https://modretro.com |
ModRetro is an American consumer electronics company founded by Palmer Luckey and Torin Herndon. The company designs and manufactures the ModRetro Chromatic, a retro handheld console inspired by the Nintendo Game Boy.[1] It also operates an independent game publishing studio, producing both newly developed titles and physical re-releases of existing games.
History
ModRetro began as an online forum founded by Palmer Luckey in 2009, where users modified and built custom video game consoles and handhelds.[2] In 2023, Luckey re-established ModRetro as a hardware company.[3]
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.[4]
In 2025, ModRetro announced the M64, an FPGA-based reinterpretation of the Nintendo 64. It is set to release in 2026[5]
Reception
ModRetro's hardware has been covered by several media outlets, including The Verge, Vice, Wired, Popular Mechanics, and GamesRadar+.[6][7][8] Some outlets have distanced themselves from the company due to the association with Luckey's defense technology company, Anduril Industries.[9]
Games and publishing
ModRetro also develops new titles and reissues games in physical cartridge format.[10]
| Platform | Category | Title | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromatic | Original | Dragonyhm | 17 December 2024 | [11] |
| Patchy Matchy | 25 December 2024 | [11] | ||
| In The Dark 2 | [11] | |||
| Traumatarium Penitent | 13 January 2025 | [11] | ||
| Re-release | Toki Tori - Ultimate Edition | 25 December 2024 | [12] | |
| Rayman (ModRetro Classics Edition) | [12] | |||
| Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition | [12] | |||
| Baby T-Rex | [12] | |||
| Sabrina: The Animated Series - Zapped! | 10 July 2025 | [13] |
References
- ↑ Ashworth, Boone (2025-11-20). "ModRetro's Chromatic Is an Easy Way to Play Game Boy Games—If You Look Past Its Founder" (in en-US). https://www.wired.com/review/modretro-chromatic/.
- ↑ "The Official ModRetro Forums". January 5, 2026. https://forums.modretro.com/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Future is Retro". July 9, 2025. https://modretro.com/blogs/blog/the-future-is-retro.
- ↑ "MiSTer-devel". https://github.com/MiSTer-devel.
- ↑ published, Phil Hayton (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". https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/inflation-isnt-nostalgic-modretros-fpga-n64-console-will-arrive-later-this-year-for-usd199-99-but-im-curbing-my-retro-console-enthusiasm/.
- ↑ Hollister, Sean (December 21, 2024). "ModRetro Chromatic review: an arms dealer's Game Boy is among the best ever made". https://www.theverge.com/24303052/modretro-chromatic-review-game-boy-color-handheld-palmer-luckey.
- ↑ Cichacki, Shaun (December 9, 2024). "The ModRetro Chromatic Is the Bespoke Game Boy We Deserve as Adults (Review)". https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-modretro-chromatic-is-the-bespoke-game-boy-we-deserve-as-adults-review/.
- ↑ "This Modern Day Game Boy Is the Best Device I've Found for Playing the Old-School Titles". October 21, 2025. https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/a69058101/modretro-chromatic-review/.
- ↑ Extension, Time (2025-12-19). "Site News: Why We Won't Be Covering ModRetro Products Moving Forward" (in en-GB). https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/12/site-news-why-we-wont-be-covering-modretro-products-moving-forward.
- ↑ "No Distractions. Just Play.". https://modretro.com/pages/no-distractions-just-play.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "ModRetro Chromatic Release Titles Bundle Impressions". March 21, 2025. https://gbatemp.net/threads/modretro-chromatic-release-titles-bundle-impressions.668660/.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Re-Released Classics". https://modretro.com/collections/re-released-classics.
- ↑ "Modretro launches 4 new Game Boy Color games and one re-release today". July 10, 2025. https://gonintendo.com/contents/50643-modretro-launches-4-new-game-boy-color-games-and-one-re-release-today.
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