The Commodore 128 Redesign is the focus of The 8-Bit Guy’s latest “What If” video, where he reimagines how a single hardware change could have altered the legacy of this well-loved machine. Despite selling around five million units, the C128 was underused in its native mode. Most owners booted into C64 compatibility for software support. Murray proposes that by integrating a 1581 3.5-inch disk drive into the system, Commodore might have encouraged developers to take the machine’s native capabilities more seriously.
The Software Problem
While the C128 was powerful on paper, software companies stuck with the C64 baseline. They avoided features like CP/M mode, 80-column graphics, or even expanded RAM because they wanted their programs to run on the lowest common denominator. This left the C128 underutilized. Developers rarely embraced hardware beyond the 1541 drive, which created limits in both storage and speed.
Why the 1581 Matters
Murray argues that shipping every C128 with a built-in 1581 would have made a dramatic difference. That drive offered 800K storage per disk compared to the 170K of the 1541, while also providing far quicker access. Suddenly, games like Maniac Mansion or Zak McKracken would have loaded faster and required fewer disk swaps. Ultima V, notorious for its flipping and swapping, could have been streamlined onto far fewer disks. Developers would have been less hesitant to create bigger and more ambitious software if every machine had the same higher baseline.
Games That Could Have Existed
The video speculates about games that might have made their way to the platform. With the extra RAM and storage, Sierra adventures like King’s Quest or Space Quest would have been realistic ports. Even Monkey Island, Populous, and Prince of Persia seem feasible. Modern examples show C64 ports of these games with expansions, but a stock C128 with a 1581 could have supported them decades earlier. Murray also points to titles like Eye of the Beholder, Another World, and even Worms as possibilities.
Existing Games Improved
Some existing games had native C128 versions, such as Ultima V, which already benefitted from faster disk access and added music. With integrated 1581 support, those advantages could have gone further by eliminating excessive swapping. Ghostbusters, Spy vs. Spy, and Murray’s own PETSCII Robots are raised as examples where more RAM and disk space would have meant richer soundtracks and more detailed graphics.
Beyond Games
It was not just entertainment software that stood to gain. Productivity applications like GEOS 128 showed how the machine’s architecture could provide real benefits. Murray imagines a scenario where a Workbench-style environment could have been possible, even offering pre-emptive multitasking. Had Commodore taken this direction instead of pushing resources to the Amiga, the 128 might have become a more compelling upgrade path with longer commercial viability.
Cost Considerations
One counterargument is cost. At launch, the C128 retailed for $299, while the 1581 debuted at $399 before dropping in price. Murray speculates a combined system would have sold for around $399–$450. Given that most U.S. customers bought disk drives anyway, the higher price may not have been a deterrent. Commodore themselves explored prototypes that combined these two devices, suggesting the idea was not far-fetched.
The Alternate Timeline
Had every Commodore 128 shipped with a built-in 1581, software developers might have embraced the native mode more readily. This could have encouraged the creation of larger games, more advanced productivity suites, and even a more competitive graphical environment. Instead, the machine’s promise was left unfulfilled as attention shifted toward the Amiga and eventually to IBM compatibles. Murray closes by suggesting that perhaps one day a modern reimagining of this “should have been” system might finally appear.
