Commodore is Back from the Dead!

The Commodore brand has a rich history and a loyal following that never really let go. What started as a line of home computers turned into something much bigger than anyone imagined at the time.

Sadly, over the years, the brand changed hands more times than fans could keep track of. Some tried to do something with it, some put out monstrosities like the Commodore shredder, the Commodore music player, and others just let it sit in their trademark portfolio.

But no matter how off-track things got, the community never let go. People kept the legacy alive by restoring old machines, building clones, writing new software, and sharing knowledge among themselves.

Now, after all these years, it finally feels like Commodore is in the right hands.

Driven by Passion, Led by Veterans

Operating as Commodore International Corporation, the brand has recently undergone a leadership and ownership change, bringing in Commodore veterans like Albert Charpentier, Bil Herd, and a few others into the fold, with Christian Simpson (YT/RetroRecipies) and Sean Donohue as cofounders of the new venture.

The purchase price for getting Commodore off the hands of its previous owners is said to be in the low seven figures, but the deal itself hasn’t been closed yet. Moreover, legal restrictions like the SEC's Rule 506c limit open investment, so they’re following Y Combinator’s SAFE framework while actively seeking angel investors.

At the same time, the Commodore team is working on ways for the community to buy shares and invest in the company, aiming to make community ownership more accessible in the future.

Want to Get a Commodore Computer?

Honouring our past, innovating the future

What you are seeing above is Commodore's new motto, which, if you ask me, perfectly captures their commitment to preserving their legacy. They already have three Commodore 64 Ultimate machines up for sale that are based on the classic Commodore 64 (C64) design.

The three variants include the BASIC Beige, which sticks closely to the original C64 look with modern internals inside a classic beige-colored shell. The Starlight Edition offers a transparent, more modern finish with a see-through shell and RGB lighting. And, finally, the Founders Edition, which is a limited-release model made for early supporters, featuring gold-plated badging, a unique serial number (00000001), and a few extra touches to show its collectible status.

Before you ask, new Commodore products are already in the pipeline, though details are still under wraps. What we do know is that PCBWay has been confirmed as a hardware partner for at least one of the upcoming projects.

All of this sounds very promising and makes it clear that Commodore is here to stay. 😀