The ModRetro Chromatic is now available to preorder at GameStop ahead of its release this holiday. The Chromatic is a modernized Game Boy aiming to offer an authentic experience with modern technical advancements. It plays original Game Boy and GBC cartridges as well as Chromatic-branded new releases. Funded by Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey, the Chromatic has been available to preorder in six different color schemes from ModRetro since its June reveal, but now you can order a gray model from GameStop. You won’t find the Chromatic at any other major retailer, as ModRetro partnered exclusively with GameStop.
The ModRetro Chromatic costs $199 and comes bundled with a new Tetris cartridge. According to GameStop’s listing, the Chromatic releases December 1, with preorders arriving “on or shortly after release day.”
$199
So what makes the Chromatic a potential challenger to other devices like the Analogue Pocket? Though both handhelds are FPGA devices that will accurately replicate the performance of games on original hardware, they have different design philosophies. The Chromatic is dedicated to making you feel like you’re playing your childhood Game Boy or Game Boy Color, while the Pocket takes a broader approach.
For example, the Chromatic’s goal is to mimic the pixel structure and color accuracy of the GBC. It has a 2.6-inch screen has 160 x 144p resolution–the same specs as the Game Boy Color. But no need to feel bad for your eyes, as you will actually be able to see what’s happening in your game without needing perfect lighting conditions or an accessory that unevenly illuminates your Game Boy. The Chromatic has a backlit IPS screen made of scratch-resistant, anti-glare glass.
Meanwhile, the Analogue Pocket has a 3.5-inch glass display with 1600 x 1440p resolution and 615 pixels per inch. It makes Game Boy, GBC, and GBA games look absolutely stunning with Analogue’s custom pixel perfect filter. You can change the filter to mimic specific Game Boy models, from the chunky DMG to GBC to the backlit GBA SP and more.
The Chromatic is strictly for Game Boy and GBC games, whereas the Pocket supports GB, GBC, and GBA out of the box, and adapters are sold separately for Game Gear, Atari Lynx, TurboGrafx-16, and Neo Geo Pocket Color carts. FPGA cores can be added via microSD, so you can play other platforms as well with a bit of tinkering. As a result of wider platform support, the Pocket has four face buttons and two triggers, whereas the Chromatic can get by with two face buttons and a D-pad.
Though we haven’t had a chance to try the Chromatic, the build materials for the shell and buttons sound promising. Its buttons are made of PBT, a durable thermoplastic used for keycaps on high-end mechanical keyboards. The shell is made of magnesium alloy and shaped just like the original DMG Game Boy. Even the start and select buttons mirror the diagonal design of the Game Boy. ModRetro claims the case is “virtually indestructible,” which could inspire some creative drop tests.
One pretty darn cool thing about the Chromatic is its battery versatility. It comes with three AA batteries and runs for 24 hours before you need to replace them. Rechargeable AA batteries are supported, too, and you can charge them via USB-C. If you don’t want to deal with regular batteries of any kind, you’ll also find a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack in the box.
Other notable features include video out for capturing gameplay on your PC, a link cable port for multiplayer, 3.5mm audio jack, and an IR sensor, which is used for select multiplayer features like receiving Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Gold and Silver. All multiplayer features are backwards compatible with original hardware.
ModRetro Chromatic specifications
- Price – $199 for first edition bundle with Tetris cart
- Compatibility – Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Chromatic cartridges
- Display – Backlit 2.56-inch IPS LCD (sapphire crystal glass)
- Resolution – 160 x 144p
- Size – 5.2 x 3 x 1.2-inch, 6.2oz
- Shell – Magnesium alloy thixomolded shell
- Buttons – PBT face buttons and D-pad
- Battery – 24 hours with 3 AA batteries, lithium ion rechargeable battery pack
- Audio – internal speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Ports – link cable, 3.5mm audio, USB-C with video out
- Multiplayer – via backwards compatible link cable, IR sensor
- Colors – Gray (GameStop exclusive) | Six other colors available at ModRetro
If you don’t have a Game Boy library, more Chromatic carts are available to purchase separately. Not including Tetris, seven games will be available at launch, and ModRetro plans on revealing a new cartridge each month. Chromatic cartridges use Game Boy architecture, so they should run without a hitch on original hardware and Analogue Pocket.
ModRetro Chromatic launch games
- In the Dark 2 — $40
- Chantey — $40
- Patchy Matchy — $30
- Traumatarium Penitent — $40
- Tales of Monsterland DX — $40
- Toki Tori: Ultimate Edition — $45
- Dragonyhm — $45
- Release Titles Bundle — $199
More upcoming retro hardware
The Chromatic isn’t the only new or upcoming retro handheld or console that should be on your radar.
Evercade console, handheld, and arcade machines
Blaze Entertainment just launched its new Evercade VS-R, a cartridge-based home console for only $100. A refresh of the original Evercade VS, the VS-R comes with Tomb Raider Collection, a brand-new Evercade cartridge release featuring Lara Croft’s first three adventures. Other retro cartridge compilations are sold separately for $20-$25 each, and the Evercade library now has more than 50 carts and 500-plus games. The Evercade EXP-R–the handheld sibling of the VS-R–also comes with Tomb Raider Collection and goes for $100. Originally slated to release the same day as the VS-R, the EXP-R is now launching November 29.
For those who already own an Evercade handheld and/or console, there is a brand-new piece of hardware in the pipeline, too. The Evercade Alpha arcade machine is a compact, countertop cabinet that plays all of your cartridges. It comes in two Capcom-themed models: Street Fighter II and Mega Man. Both countercades have six preloaded games and are available to preorder for $20 off–but the discount will disappear when the Evercade Alpha releases November 29.
Atari 7800+
Nostalgic Atari fans can preorder the Atari 7800+ for $130 at Amazon ahead of its November 29 release. A follow-up to last year’s Atari 2600+, the 7800+ is a modernized take on the classic console that plays your old 2600 and 7800 carts as well as the collection of new releases. It comes with a wireless version of the CX78+ Gamepad and Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, a sequel to the 1983 arcade game Crystal Castles. Additional accessories such as the CX40+ Wireless Joystick and game cartridges can be preordered separately.
Full list of Atari 7800+ games and accessories available to preorder at Amazon:
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