The Commodore Rebirth Sparks Debate
The Commodore rebirth is gaining momentum—and raising eyebrows. A recent video from projectCD.Chronicles dives into Commodore Industries, a company based in Italy that’s been using the famous name since 2015. But with Perifractic’s Commodore International Corporation also claiming rights, people are asking: who’s telling the real story?
Perifractic, known for his Retro Recipes YouTube channel, announced the acquisition of Commodore-related patents and select IP in late June. Meanwhile, Commodore Industries has been operating quietly but publicly, building branded laptops and launching multiple software divisions. This dual presence has set the stage for confusion—and competition.
Commodore Industries: An Active Player Since 2015
Founded by CEO Luigi Simonetti, Commodore Industries operates out of Rome and London. The company claims over 100 employees and a mission to preserve the Commodore legacy.
Simonetti’s story is personal. As a child, he lost his sight in an accident. Two years later, he regained his vision—and one of the first things he saw was his Commodore PET. That moment shaped his dream of reviving the brand that sparked his passion for computing.
Today, Commodore Industries includes several divisions:
- Commodore Engineering (hardware)
- Commodore Sinapsy (game development)
- Commodore Digital (AI and software)
- Commodore Academy (training and education)
Their website lists laptops bearing the Commodore name. However, it’s unclear whether these are original designs or generic PCs with rebranded shells.
Expanding into Software and Mobile Gaming
Commodore Industries is also involved in game publishing. Some titles run on Android, Windows, and even Amiga systems. While the scale appears small, the ambition is clear.
The company’s digital division recently made headlines by appointing Luca Tomassini as President and Partner of Commodore Digital. Tomassini brings expertise in AI, machine learning, and interactive design. Under his leadership, the group hopes to reshape how users interact with digital content.
Game Development with Commodore Sinapsy
The Commodore rebirth includes new games with strong cultural ties. Commodore Sinapsy is working on a title based on Grisù, the popular Italian cartoon dragon. The team also plans to reinterpret classics like The NewZealand Story with updated mechanics and visuals.
The focus here is clear: pay tribute to the past while exploring new ideas. Whether these efforts find a wide audience remains to be seen—but they show genuine intent to create.
Introducing Starcade: A New Gaming Platform
On July 1st, Commodore Industries announced Starcade, a new online platform for games, updates, and social features. Set to launch later this year, Starcade will offer two options:
- A subscription plan with access to a full game library
- A free account for individual game purchases
Starcade will include:
- A desktop launcher
- Online progress tracking
- Community features
- Tournaments and live events
It’s an ambitious attempt to bring players together under one roof. Whether it succeeds will depend on execution—and support from users.
Who Owns the Commodore Name?
The big question remains: who owns what?
Perifractic’s Commodore International appears to hold some trademarks and patents, but not the original Commodore operating systems. Commodore Industries, on the other hand, has been publicly using the name for years without any clear licensing connection.
Are they working together behind the scenes? Or are they rivals staking different claims? The video doesn’t give a definite answer, but it presents the facts with clarity and fairness.
Watch the Full projectCD.Chronicles Breakdown
The projectCD.Chronicles video provides much-needed context. It doesn’t pick sides. Instead, it explains how both groups came to claim the Commodore name and what they’re doing with it.
If you care about the future of retro computing—or just want to understand the Commodore rebirth—this is worth your time. The details are complex, but the video makes them accessible without hype or speculation.
Stay tuned. This story is still developing.