The ModRetro Chromatic is now available for pre-order at GameStop ahead of its holiday release this year. Chromatic is a modern Game Boy designed to deliver an authentic experience through modern technological advancements. It can play original Game Boy and GBC cartridges as well as newer versions from the Chromatic brand. Chromatic, funded by Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey, has been available to pre-order from ModRetro in six different color schemes since its release in June, but now you can order a gray model from GameStop. You won’t find the Chromatic at any other major retailer, as ModRetro partners exclusively with GameStop.
ModRetro Chromatic sells for $199 and comes with the new Tetris cartridge. According to the GameStop listing, the Chromatic will release on December 1, with pre-orders arriving “on or shortly after launch day.”
$199
So what makes the Chromatic a potential challenger to other devices like the Analogue Pocket? While both handheld devices are FPGA devices that can accurately replicate gaming performance on the original hardware, they have different design philosophies. Where the Chromatic aims to make you feel like you’re playing on a Game Boy or Game Boy Color as a kid, the Pocket takes a broader approach.
For example, Chromatic aims to mimic the pixel structure and color accuracy of GBC. It has a 2.6-inch screen with a resolution of 160 x 144p, the same specifications as the Game Boy Color. But there’s no need to feel sorry for your eyes, because you’ll actually be able to see what’s going on in the game without perfect lighting conditions or accessories that unevenly illuminate your Game Boy. The Chromatic features a backlit IPS screen made of scratch-resistant, anti-glare glass.
At the same time, Analogue Pocket is equipped with a 3.5-inch glass display with a resolution of 1600 x 1440p and 615 pixels per inch. With Analogue’s custom pixel-perfect filters, it makes Game Boy, GBC and GBA games look absolutely stunning. You can change the filter to emulate a specific Game Boy model, from chunky DMG to GBC to backlit GBA SP and more.
Chromatic is strictly for Game Boy and GBC games, while Pocket supports GB, GBC, and The GBA works out of the box, and adapters for Game Gear, Atari Lynx, TurboGrafx-16, and Neo Geo Pocket Color carts are sold separately. FPGA cores can be added via microSD, so you can also play on other platforms with some modifications. Due to wider platform support, the Pocket has four front buttons and two triggers, while the Chromatic can use two front buttons and a D-pad.
While we haven’t had a chance to try out the Chromatic yet, the build materials for the casing and buttons sound promising. Its buttons are made of PBT, a durable thermoplastic used in the keycaps of high-end mechanical keyboards. The casing is made of magnesium alloy and has a similar shape to the original DMG Game Boy. Even the start and select buttons reflect the Game Boy’s diagonal design. ModRetro claims the case is “nearly indestructible,” which might inspire some creative drop testing.
One really cool thing about the Chromatic is its battery versatility. It comes with three AA batteries that can run for 24 hours before you need to replace them. It also supports AA rechargeable batteries, which you can charge via USB-C. If you don’t want to use any kind of regular battery, you’ll also find a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack in the box.
Other notable features include a video output for capturing gameplay on PC, a connection cable port for multiplayer gaming, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an IR sensor for select multiplayer features such as Receive mysterious gifts in Pokemon Gold and Silver. All multiplayer features are backwards compatible with original hardware.
ModRetro Chromatic Specifications
- price – First Edition bundled with Tetris Car $199
- compatibility – Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Chromatic cartridges
- exhibit – Backlit 2.56-inch IPS LCD (sapphire crystal)
- solve – 160x144p
- size – 5.2 x 3 x 1.2 inches, 6.2 ounces
- shell – Magnesium alloy thixoformed shell
- button – PBT face buttons and D-pad
- Battery – 24-hour use of 3 AA batteries, lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack
- vocal – Built-in speakers, 3.5mm headphones
- port – Cable, 3.5mm audio, USB-C with video output
- Multiplayer – Via backward compatible link cable, infrared sensor
- color – Gray (GameStop exclusive) | Six other colors available on ModRetro
If you don’t have a Game Boy library, you can purchase additional Chromatic carts separately. Not including Tetris, there will be seven games available at launch, with ModRetro planning to release a new cartridge every month. Color cartridges use the Game Boy architecture, so they should run smoothly on both the original hardware and the Analogue Pocket.
ModRetro Chromatic launches game
- In the Dark 2 – $40
- Shanti – $40
- Dappled Match – $30
- Trauma Confessor — $40
- Monsterland Legends DX – $40
- Toki Tori: Ultimate Edition – $45
- Dragonyhm – $45
- Release Game Bundle – $199
More retro hardware coming soon
Chromatic isn’t the only new or upcoming retro handheld or console you should keep an eye on.
Evercade consoles, handhelds and arcades
Blaze Entertainment just launched a new game Evercade VS-R, a cartridge-style home game console for just $100. VS-R is an updated version of the original Evercade VS and comes with The Tomb Raider Collection, a new Evercade cassette version that collects Lara Croft’s first three adventures. Other retro cartridge collections are sold individually for $20-$25 each, and the Evercade library now has over 50 cartridges and over 500 games. this Evercade EXP-R— the VS-R’s handheld sibling — also comes with the Tomb Raider series, priced at $100. The EXP-R was originally planned to be released on the same day as the VS-R, but will now be released on November 29th.
For those of you who already own an Evercade handheld and/or console, there’s also a brand new piece of hardware in the works. this Evercade Alpha Arcade is a compact countertop cabinet that plays all your tapes. It features two Capcom-themed models: Street Fighter II and Mega Man. Both counters come pre-installed with six games and can be pre-ordered at a $20 discount, but that discount will disappear when Evercade Alpha launches on November 29.
Atari 7800+
Nostalgic Atari fans can pre-order the Atari 7800+ on Amazon ahead of its release on November 29 for $130. The follow-up to last year’s Atari 2600+, the 7800+ is a modern take on the classic console that can play old 2600 and 7800 games as well as a range of new releases. It comes with a wireless version of the CX78+ gaming controller and Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, the sequel to the 1983 arcade game Crystal Castles. Additional accessories such as the CX40+ wireless joystick and game cartridge can be pre-ordered separately.
Full list of Atari 7800+ games and accessories available for pre-order on Amazon:
