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Despite being a filthy Atari 800 / ST user back in the day, I really loved the recent Commodore C64 Ultimate.
An FPGA-powered rebirth of the original 1982 home computer, it boasts modern features while maintaining compatibility with all your existing C64 games and accessories, and it ranks among the most robust recreations of classic hardware we've seen so far.
The revived Commodore International quickly followed up with a second edition, this time based on the Commodore C64C, a streamlined version of the computer that launched in 1986.
Based on the same design language as the best-selling Amiga, the C64C might not have the same iconic look as the 'breadbin' original (Commodore is even using the 1982 model as the template for a new Cyberpunk 2077 edition, which is one of the most gorgeous pieces of gaming hardware I think I've ever seen in my life), but it will have been the entry point for many C64 fans – so it's nice to see it get some recognition in the 'new era' of the company.
What makes this revision truly remarkable is that it has been moulded from the same injection tooling used to produce the original cases back in the '80s. Commodore recently managed to track down the tooling 40 years after it was made, which means these new variants carry an important part of the company's DNA – right down to the "period-correct 2-point flow pattern that creates the same subtle flow marks seen on thousands of vintage C64Cs," according to Commodore.
Commodore kindly sent me one of the new C64C Ultimate systems to check out, and while the underlying hardware remains identical to that inside the C64 Ultimate, I can certainly appreciate the slimline design of the revised case.
The unit I was sent is the 'Starlight' edition, which boasts a bank of LEDs inside the case that can be configured to respond to on-screen activity (it's also available in classic beige, if you're a purist, and a golden-encrusted, strictly limited Founders edition).
On a purely functional level, the C64C Ultimate does exactly what the original C64 Ultimate does – so, if you're wondering what the fuss is all about, check out my review. Aside from the different case design, the only other thing that stood out to me was that the C64C's keyboard has slightly less flex than the one on the C64 Ultimate – this is a characteristic that appears to be unique to the transparent Starlight editions of the hardware.
The C64C Ultimate starts at $299.99 and can be ordered directly from Commodore now.