Earlier this year, The Escapist covered the news that the Commodore company had been acquired by popular retro YouTuber Peri Fractic (Christian Simpson) and the company was to release the “first” Commodore 64 computer in forty years.
Anybody familiar with the story will likely know that the warzone that is the Commodore trademark has seen off many a brave warrior, but Simpson and his band of brothers have stuck to their task, despite opposition from Commodore Industries over who actually has the right to stick the old chicken lips logo on their gear.
This is clearly rumbling on in the background, but Simpson’s version of Commodore has been desperately trying to get its new hardware into people’s hands in time for the festive season so they can have a new “Commodore Christmas” and unwrap a C64 on Christmas morning, just as they may have done all those years ago as children.
It seems it will go to the wire, though, with assembly on 10,000 units set to begin on 24th November as the final parts come in. There have been a couple of manufacturing issues that have added time that was in short supply to the process, as Simpson says in a letter to purchasers, but the company has upgraded all shipping for units that would make a Santa-time delivery in an effort not to disappoint people, and that’s a nice touch.
Simpson explains all in the video below – which starts with a slightly barbed introduction where he says he is the CEO “of the only original Commodore brand”, hinting that behind the scenes the battle still rages, and ecplains he will be heading to the factory next week to help with assembly of the first units – I am sure a YouTube video will soon follow.
That’s not to knock the bloke; he has done remarkable things in a short period of time, and we can’t wait to get our hands on a unit when they start rolling off the production line.
Simpson told purchasers of the new machine in an email, “There was a preventable error by a third-party factory, which has delayed the final Founders key caps. That vendor has owned the mistake honorably. We stand with our partners, and so we own the delay with them. We are turning this setback into an upgrade, moving to a new vendor and commissioning a full PVD electroplated gold finish upgrade for the new Founders keyboards. It is a serious step up in craftsmanship and cost, as our gift to you, and the results are just byte-able.)
As for shipping, to compensate for customs and compliance delays caused by the recent US government shutdown, which also had a knock-on effect to Commodore and the whole industry, we are upgrading all orders that can make it in time for Christmas morning from sea freight to priority 3-day courier. Our Christmas gift to the community.”
Only a few more sleeps then.
Last Updated On: Nov 20, 2025 11:35 am CET