Commodore expanded the Commodore 64 Ultimate family, announced in July 2025, with the new C64C Ultimate model. The new model is not a completely different device that replaces the previously released Commodore 64 Ultimate. The same performance line is maintained on the hardware side; The real difference comes with the transition from the “breadbin” case design of the 1982 period to the thinner Commodore 64C body that came in 1986.
Commodore 64C Ultimate brings the same hardware with the 1986 case. Commodore 64 Ultimate allowed the brand to reappear in official desktop computer form after many years in 2025. This model recreates the classic Commodore 64 experience with modern FPGA hardware. It combined current connections such as HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet with classic inputs such as the cartridge port, Datasette and disk drive connection. The company’s newly announced Commodore 64C Ultimate continues the same idea with a different case design.
As we mentioned, Commodore 64 Ultimate was already announced in July 2025 and is available for order. The new development is that this family has reached the C64C form. Commodore also clearly states that the C64C Ultimate will be sold side by side with the original breadbin Commodore 64 Ultimate and will offer the same performance as the previous model. The difference of the C64C Ultimate starts from the chassis. Instead of the thicker and angular appearance of the first Commodore 64, the thinner C64C design used between 1986 and 1994 was preferred.
This form is known for its simpler and horizontal body structure, representing the later period of the Commodore 64. The new C64C Ultimate combines this design with modern connections and FPGA-based hardware. The real news value of the new model is not only that it uses a case similar to the C64C. Commodore has announced that it has repurchased the injection molds used to produce the plastic body of the original Commodore 64C.
These molds were first used in production in Japan and were later incorporated into Commodore’s operations in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Found again at auction by Dallas Moore in 2014, the dies were restored, subsequently survived a factory fire, and were acquired by Individual Computers in 2015. Commodore re-acquired these molds from IComp.de. The company uses these original 1986 molds as a special method in the production of C64C Ultimate cases.
This detail distinguishes the new model from an ordinary retro case copy. According to Commodore’s statement, the new cases also feature the slight semicircular plastic flow marks seen in period production. These marks are preserved as the distinguishing mark of the pieces from the original molds. On the hardware side, Commodore 64C Ultimate is based on the same modern infrastructure as Commodore 64 Ultimate. The system has AMD Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA, 128 MB DDR2 RAM and 16 MB NOR flash.
HDMI output supports 1080p resolution at 50 Hz for PAL and 60 Hz for NTSC. On the analog side, there is CVBS, S-Video or RGB output via 8-pin DIN. On the audio side, there are two SID sockets and 6581 and 8580 chips are supported. 24-channel playback is provided via FPGA with 8 SID support. The device also has a 3.5 mm headphone output, optical S/PDIF, built-in piezo speaker for disc sounds and SID-TAP header. On the keyboard side, a 66-key mechanical structure with the original Commodore 64 layout and key shapes is used.
Connection options also remain the same as the previous Ultimate line. The device has 3 USB-A 2.0, 1 USB-C, microSD slot, 100 Mbps Ethernet, internal Wi-Fi, cartridge port, 6 pin edge connector for Datasette, 6 pin IEC DIN for disk drive and two DB-9 ports for joystick or mouse. In this way, the new model is not just a retro computer connected to modern screens; It continues to work with old peripherals. On the compatibility side, Commodore states that the system offers over 99.9 percent compatibility with the original software and peripherals.
File formats such as .D64, .D71, .D81, .G64, .T64, .TAP, .PRG, .ROM and ISO-9660 are supported. Features such as Ultimate-II functions, tape emulation, DMA loader and print to PNG also come as part of the system. C64C Ultimate is listed in three versions. The BASIC Beige edition comes in at $299.99 and is based on a 1986-inspired cream beige body. The Starlight Edition is priced at $349.99 and offers a translucent chassis, gaming-responsive LED chassis lighting, and keyboard illumination.
The Founder’s Edition, on the other hand, is distinguished by its price of $ 499.99 with PVD gold keycaps, real 24 carat gold-plated Commodore and Power badges, and a slightly translucent white case. The pre-order process for the C64C Ultimate appears to be open on Commodore’s product page. The factory release date for the BASIC Beige version is listed as September 2-15, and pre-Christmas delivery guarantee information is included.
The announcement text states that shipment will begin in late 2026.
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