Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum are getting Nintendo style handhelds this year

Handheld versions of the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum are being released later this year, loaded with 25 classic games in each.

Handheld systems are all the rage at the moment, between Valve’s Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally, and the more specialist Analogue Pocket, but now systems from over 40 years ago are getting in on the action.

Retro Games, a company known for miniature and full-sized recreations of systems like the Commodore 64 and Atari 400, as well as the recently unveiled white ZX Spectrum, has joined forces with Evercade developer Blaze Entertainment for two brand new handhelds.

The C64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld are set to launch in October, priced at £109.99 each. You can also grab a collector’s edition for £129.99 from Funstock, which includes a hard shell carry case and a specially designed Crash or Zzap!64 magazine from the era, but these are limited to 2,000 units.

Each handheld sports a 4.3 inch IPS screen with 800×480 resolution, and comes complete with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB port for keyboard or joystick support. At 13.6cm wide it’s bigger than a Game Boy Advance SP but a little smaller than a Nintendo DS.

The two systems emulate their classic console counterparts via their buttons as well, with the C64 rocking plastic fuction keys while the Spectrum sports the trademark rubber.

Like other devices from Retro Games, each system comes with 25 games built in. The C64 has the likes of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe and Nebulus, while the Spectrum has Manic Miner, Head Over Heels, and Skool Daze. You can find a full list of all the games below.

Speaking about the systems, Blaze Entertainment CEO Andrew Byatt said: ‘The C64 and the Spectrum are two of the most iconic names in gaming history, with generations of players who hold them close to their hearts.

‘Bringing these experiences into a brand-new handheld form feels like a natural next step, and we’re proud to bring these to both longtime fans and a new audience discovering them for the first time. We are delighted to be working with Retro Games Ltd to make this happen.’

While be conducting an interview with Retro Game shortly, about the white Spectrum and their work in general, so we’ll be sure to bring these up then.

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