Latest news with #Chromatic
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Hello New ModRetro Chromatic Color, Goodbye Limited Stock
Chromatic Credit: ModRetro ModRetro's M64, an FPGA ode to the Nintendo 64, is supposedly on the way, though who knows when that will ship, or even go on sale, for that matter. In the meantime, however, we've got ourselves what seems to be a permanent restock of the retro revival company's premium Game Boy and Game Boy Color-compatible handheld. After selling out months ago, you can now buy the coveted Chromatic yet again, and in a new colorway, too, one that's simply dubbed Cloud (which is different than the GameStop variant). The fresh hue brings to mind the North American Super Nintendo motif, although if you'd rather have something a little bolder, the original rainbow options are still available, but they won't sport the notable '1st Edition' stamp found on units from the initial Chromatic production run. Since its inception, one of the big selling points of the Chromatic has been its extremely durable sapphire display, and interestingly enough, this restock arrives with an additional, cheaper screen option: Gorilla Glass. Chromatics with sapphire displays are priced at $299.99 ($100 more than they were at launch, by the way), while Chromatics with a less desirable Gorilla Glass offering will set you back $199.99. Both handhelds still come bundled with a physical cartridge of Tetris . Cloud Chromatic Credit: ModRetro Full disclosure: ModRetro kindly sent me a Chromatic months back for testing and I've only just gotten around to actually using it. I can honestly say it's a very solid Game Boy homage, if a little on the small side for my massive hands. The display quality is fantastic, and so are the springy buttons—I really like how they feel. The unit build-quality gives off tiny tank energy (did anyone ever play that weird PS1 title?) and I think it's worth the asking price, maybe even the increased $300. In many ways, I'd say I prefer it to the Analogue Pocket, although I do wish it played Game Boy Advance titles as well, even though that would go against the Chromatic's 'purest' design philosophy, as it were. I wouldn't doubt if ModRetro is working on a specific GBA follow-up for the future, though. Something with a horizontal hand-feel, no doubt. There's also a new rechargeable battery available on ModRetro's website, alongside a branded link cable and a mod kit that will allow you to change out d-pads and other inputs. I might have to check out that Power Core, because while AA batteries are nostalgic, they're sort of a pain to keep replacing. The link cable seems intriguing, too. I always loved playing head-to-head Pokémon with friends and siblings on my old Atomic Purple Game Boy Color. That said, let's just hope ModRetro isn't bringing back the Worm Light. Let's collectively shudder at such a thought. I wouldn't doubt if translucent Chromatic colors are on the way at some point, especially since Analogue has dabbled in this type of variant with its own Pocket handheld. But the Cloud option is good for the time being, and I'm excited about putting my Inferno review unit to the test over the next few weeks. If only I could grab a second Chromatic and try out the link cable. I guess I'd need a friend, too. Perhaps ModRetro could supply this as well? Stay tuned.
Engadget
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Palmer Luckey's ModRetro Chromatic portable console is now a thing you can actually buy
There's a new (ish) retro console on the block. The ModRetro Chromatic had a soft launch last year but is now "permanently in stock" for consumers. This is another machine that runs Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, like the beloved Analogue Pocket and others. The Chromatic features a magnesium alloy build, so it should take a licking. It also features a backlit screen — something the original Game Boy lacked. As a matter of fact, Nintendo didn't fully embrace backlighting technology until midway through the life of the Game Boy Advance. The console was designed by Palmer Luckey and was originally sold in a limited run last year. Today's release includes a new colorway and the choice of a sapphire glass display for increased durability. There are also a bunch of new accessories, like a rechargeable power bank, and some nifty software features. It can now natively stream to Discord, Mac or PC, without any additional hardware and there's a new firmware tool to update games. The Chromatic runs proprietary cartridges, in addition to Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. There are a handful of new games arriving with this release, including a metroidvania called Dark Plague . Each console ships with Tetris , just like the original Game Boy. The standard release costs $200, but the model with the sapphire glass display costs $300. New games price out at $40 and old-school Game Boy carts are available on eBay, at garage sales and maybe buried in ancient couch cushions. There are a couple of caveats here. First of all, this doesn't emulate games, as cartridges are required. It only handles Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. The Analogue Pocket, for instance, can also play Game Boy Advance titles and a separate adapter brings other consoles into the mix. — Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) May 1, 2025 There's also the creator himself. Palmer Luckey is a controversial figure. He founded Oculus and helped bring VR to the masses, sure, but recent years has found him running a military defense contracting firm called Anduril Industries. This company has been involved with designing a "virtual" border wall complete with hundreds of surveillance towers, building AI tools for military use and, most recently, making wearables that allow soldiers to interact with AI-powered weapon systems. He's become a big player in the defense space, securing $6 billion in global government contracts. You'll have to decide if you want to indirectly contribute to that cause by giving him $200 or $300 to pick up a portable console. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
The Verge
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
The Chromatic Game Boy is getting native Discord streaming support.
ModRetro is releasing a firmware update for its high-end Nintendo Game Boy remake that adds the ability to stream gameplay to Discord without the need for any additional software such as OBS. Once connected to either a Windows or macOS PC the Chromatic can be selected as a video input device in Discord and will function as a webcam outputting video at a resolution of 160x144 pixels — the same as the original Game Boy and Color.
Android Authority
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
This retro gaming handheld can now livestream directly to Discord
ModRetro TL;DR The ModRetro Chromatic can now stream directly to Discord with a simple USB-C cable. A firmware update with the new feature is rolling out today. It's part of ModRetro's broader push to make retro gaming more social and accessible. When it comes to FPGA handhelds, the ModRetro Chromatic is by far one of the most popular. The colorful handheld can play Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges on a much brighter, backlit IPS screen, and now you can also share your live gameplay with your friends without any extra adapters or software. The new feature comes from a firmware update being pushed out today. Once updated, Chromatic handhelds will have native plug-and-play compatibility with Discord. Just plug the device into your computer via the USB-C port at the bottom, and it will appear in the app's Devices list to share. Stream original Game Boy cartridges with a single device on Discord. This makes connecting with your friends for co-op sessions or casual hangouts easier than ever. This is the first retro gaming handheld with native streaming support on Discord, and it's part of ModRetro's wider efforts to make retro gaming more social and accessible. Currently, the device can connect to a PC to record or stream gameplay via OBS, with Windows machines registering it as a webcam. Linux and macOS support is still in the works, although the new native Discord streaming will work on all platforms. The ModRetro Chromatic ($199.99 at Manufacturer site) was first released in December 2024, but its immense popularity has made the retro gaming handheld difficult to find. All colorways are currently sold out on the ModRetro website, although GameStop still has a few of its exclusive gray units available. The company also publishes new retro-style games, complete with a colorful cartridge and box. Currently, ten titles are available, including brand-new games and re-released classics like Toki Tori. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
