ModRetro
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. It also operates an independent game publishing studio, producing both newly developed titles and physical re-releases of existing games.
 Logo used since 2023 | |
 Chromatic, the company's flagship console | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | United States |
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
[edit]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
[edit]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 expressed concerns over the association with Luckey's defense technology company, Anduril Industries.[9][10][11]
Games and publishing
[edit]ModRetro also develops new titles and reissues games in physical cartridge format.[12]
| Platform | Category | Title | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromatic | Original | Dragonyhm | 17 December 2024 | [13] |
| Patchy Matchy | 25 December 2024 | [13] | ||
| In The Dark 2 | [13] | |||
| Traumatarium Penitent | 13 January 2025 | [13] | ||
| Re-release | Toki Tori - Ultimate Edition | 25 December 2024 | [14] | |
| Rayman (ModRetro Classics Edition) | [14] | |||
| Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition | [14] | |||
| Baby T-Rex | [14] | |||
| Sabrina: The Animated Series - Zapped! | 10 July 2025 | [15] |
References
[edit]- ^ Ashworth, Boone (November 20, 2025). "ModRetro's Chromatic Is an Easy Way to Play Game Boy Games—If You Look Past Its Founder". WIRED. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "The Official ModRetro Forums". The Official ModRetro Forums. January 5, 2026.
- ^ a b "The Future is Retro". ModRetro. July 9, 2025.
- ^ "MiSTer-devel". GitHub.
- ^ 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". GamesRadar+.
- ^ Hollister, Sean (December 21, 2024). "ModRetro Chromatic review: an arms dealer's Game Boy is among the best ever made". The Verge.
- ^ Cichacki, Shaun (December 9, 2024). "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". Popular Mechanics. October 21, 2025.
- ^ Extension, Time (December 19, 2025). "Site News: Why We Won't Be Covering ModRetro Products Moving Forward". Time Extension. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shepard, Kenneth (December 19, 2025). "ModRetro Sells Handheld Made Of The Same Metal As Attack Drones". Kotaku. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ "No Distractions. Just Play". ModRetro.
- ^ a b c d "ModRetro Chromatic Release Titles Bundle Impressions". GBAtemp.net - The Independent Video Game Community. March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Re-Released Classics". ModRetro.
- ^ "Modretro launches 4 new Game Boy Color games and one re-release today". GoNintendo. July 10, 2025.