by 
[Update: Since publication, we've updated the article with a statement from Commodore International]
Commodore International — the 'revived' version of the famous home computer and electronics manufacturer, now headed up by Christian Simpson — has revealed its next product: a modern recreation of the TAC-2 joystick.
The TAC-2 was a joystick originally released in the '80s by Suncom, compatible with a range of machines (including the Commodore 64, Atari computers, and the Commodore Amiga), and was known for being much sturdier than many of the other alternatives available on the market at the time.
Commodore International announced the revival of the joystick yesterday on social media, with this new version promising to be "faithful to everything that made the original unforgettable, while refining it with carefully engineered improvements worthy of its legacy."
According to the store page, it is said to include "1-to-1 compatibility with the original and all devices compatible with the Atari 9-pin standard" — that includes the Commodore 64 Ultimate — and is also reported to have a "new steel shaft" replacing the original's "copper tire valve shaft," making it "stronger than ever," in addition to possessing a slightly longer cable (2m in length).
The accessory is available to pre-order now from Commodore International, with five colourways being offered: BASIC Beige, C= White, Knight Black, a transparent Starlight Edition, and a Gold Starlight Edition. These are all listed on the site at £37/$49.99, except the Gold Founders Edition, which is priced slightly higher at £47.37/$64. Shipping is expected to start in October.
As with many things related to the new Commodore outfit, this new announcement has provoked something of a mixed response online. While some are welcoming the return of the old joystick, others have been slightly put out by the added costs, particularly in the UK and Europe.
With sales tax and shipping costs added, the price we were quoted for the device (given in dollars) ended up ranging from $82 to $99 (which is quite a steep markup over the original price in dollars). And this hasn't gone unnoticed by many others online, with Twitter/X and Reddit being full of people complaining about these added costs.
Replying to the announcement, one Twitter/X user, for instance, responded, "Shipping is practically the same price as the joystick. Are you insane?"
This was echoed by another, who added, "$82.79 delivery to the UK, are you having a laugh?"
It seems the price is already putting some potential customers off, with some even writing directly to Commodore International to see whether there are other options available to circumvent the high prices.
Responding to these complaints, a spokesperson for Commodore International told Time Extension, "There was a hiccup that impacted the first 83 purchases yesterday, who were overcharged for shipping. Those users were proactively refunded $11 as soon as the issue was caught. The correct amount for shipping is $19 USD no matter where you are around the globe. In the US, tariffs and related costs bring that up another $5, but we’re changing our policy effectively immediately and will absorb these additional costs for US customers. It will reduce our margin, but we just want to make things as fair as we can for folks.
"On that same note, we’ve heard the concerns about shipping prices for ordering multiple TAC-2 joysticks together, and we’re adjusting our policy on this item, too, so we can help bring the cost down for the community as best we can. Please give us some time to get the technical changes in place, but later today, customers will only be charged an additional $13 per joystick for shipping after the initial $19, so long as they’re in the same order."
What do you think? Is the price still a dealbreaker for you? Let us know!