When Palmer Luckey announced his financial backing for a premium re-creation of Nintendo’s Game Boy Color, the retro gaming community was largely indifferent. Luckey, a polarizing figure known for founding Oculus VR and later leaving Meta under contentious circumstances, also established Anduril, a company that produces drones for the U.S. military. So, what prompted his interest in Game Boys? It appears he simply desired a new high-end device to play classic games and assigned a company he founded, ModRetro, to create it. Despite its unusual origins, the Modretro Chromatic has proven to be quite impressive.
Utilizing an FPGA, a specialized chip that can emulate existing systems at a hardware level and has gained popularity in retro gaming, the Chromatic is a $330 alternative to the 1998 Game Boy Color, designed to play only Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. It is slightly larger than the original but features a superior screen, perfectly showcasing your retro gaming passion. The first edition of the Chromatic includes a new official version of Tetris.
Nintendo is renowned for the durability of its ’80s and ’90s consoles, many of which continue to function after decades of use, a quality that ModRetro has clearly embraced. With a magnesium alloy shell and sapphire glass lens, the Chromatic feels exceptionally sturdy, and I anticipate it will remain intact for 30 years.
The decision to use traditional AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable battery reflects a commitment to heirloom quality; integrated batteries degrade over time and can be difficult to replace, while most old Game Boys can be revived with a fresh set of AAs. The estimated playtime on three AAs is six hours, although I’ve experienced slightly longer usage with Pale Blue rechargeables. ModRetro also intends to offer a custom battery pack that can be installed in place of the AAs and charged via the Chromatic’s USB-C port.
The design draws inspiration from Nintendo’s earliest handhelds, featuring bright, vibrant color schemes reminiscent of the original Game Boy, along with large, satisfying buttons and a tactile power switch. Like the Game Boy Color, it includes an IR blaster and Link Cable port for multiplayer gaming, compatible with both Chromatics and original Game Boys, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack and attachment points for charms.
The standout feature of the entire hardware package is the display. Unlike other modern Game Boy replicas or replacement screens for Nintendo’s classic devices, the Chromatic offers a unique visual experience.