YouTuber Acquires Commodore Brand, Launches Commodore 64 Ultimate

YouTuber Christian "Peri Fractic" Simpson has acquired the Commodore brand with backing from undisclosed investors and announced the Commodore 64 Ultimate, a retrofuturistic hardware replica of the iconic 1982 computer. The device features WiFi, Ethernet, USB, and HDMI ports, and is compatible with original cartridges and software. It will be available in three versions starting at €257.39, with shipments beginning in October 2025. The original Commodore 64, named for its 64 KB of RAM, sold an estimated 12.5 to 17 million units and helped popularize home computing alongside the ZX Spectrum and NEC PC-88/98 series. Simpson's venture aims to promote "digital detox" in a society he describes as "enslaved" by technology. Previous retro consoles like TheC64 Mini and TheC64 from Retro Games and Koch Media emulated the C64 via software, but the Ultimate replicates and updates the original hardware.