What once seemed like a far-fetched idea has become reality. The long-dormant Commodore brand is now under new leadership—and not just anyone’s. YouTuber Perifractic, best known for the Retro Recipes channel, has stepped up with the help of angel investors to make the Commodore revival a reality. And yes, he’s now the acting CEO.
From acquisition details to future plans, his new video breaks it all down. The Commodore revival isn’t just talk—it’s happening.
A Familiar Name, a New Direction
Commodore, the company that once brought personal computing to millions through the VIC-20, C64, and Amiga, has changed hands countless times. Each iteration usually ended in disappointment or weird licensing schemes that never really connected with the original community.
That’s exactly what motivated this move.
According to Perifractic (real name Christian Simpson), the new Commodore Corporation has a simple mission: honor the legacy while building something relevant today. It’s not about nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—it’s about fixing what went wrong with modern tech, using the ideas that made Commodore appealing in the first place.
And this time, it’s structured as a Public Benefit Corporation. The bylaws include a commitment to promote retro computing and digital minimalism. In short, the Commodore revival has a moral backbone.
From Trademarks to Titles
The story begins when Simpson was approached about reviewing a Commodore 64-inspired PC. That sparked a months-long effort involving legal negotiations, Zoom calls with millionaires, and more than a few sleepless nights. Eventually, he was offered full ownership of the Commodore trademarks and brand rights.
Yes, all of them—47 trademarks dating back to the early 1980s.
With that came an obligation to protect and license the Commodore name carefully. And while this gives the new team power over the brand, Simpson is quick to stress that this isn’t about hoarding it. A licensing portal is coming for creators and developers to submit their products—so they can be officially Commodore-branded, if they meet quality expectations.
Who’s On Board?
This isn’t a solo mission. A range of former Commodore veterans are returning in official roles.
- Bill Herd – Father of the C128 and Plus/4, now a technical adviser and shareholder.
- Michael Tomczyk – The VIC-20’s original product manager, now senior adviser.
- David Pleasance – Former MD of Commodore UK, working as legacy and heritage adviser.
- Jerry Ellsworth – Creator of the C64 DTV, is back as a tech adviser.
There’s even a growing creative team with names from across the retro scene, including developers, artists, and hardware engineers. Actor and comedian Thomas Middleditch (of Silicon Valley fame) has joined too—as Commodore’s Chief Creative Officer. He credits the Amiga with sparking his childhood passion for gaming.
This isn’t a symbolic reunion. These people are involved, working, and ready to help shape what comes next.
The Commodore Future
Simpson’s vision is retrofuturism done right. That doesn’t mean mass-producing beige boxes and trying to sell them to Gen X collectors. It means applying the “user-friendly” philosophy that once defined Commodore to today’s tech frustrations.
New products will emphasize function, simplicity, and fun. Think “digital minimalism”—devices without constant notifications, no algorithmic feed clutter, and no required logins just to check your calendar. Think phones that don’t spy, computers that respect your time, and games that are just plain good.
All of this is coming to life through Retro Recipes, the YouTube channel where Simpson first teased the idea. Now rebranded as “Retro Recipes / Commodore,” it serves as a behind-the-scenes window into the company’s daily operations. From hardware builds to product announcements, fans can follow along—and even contribute.
So What’s Next?
As of now, the deal is signed, the ownership is official, and the Commodore revival is underway. Funding is still being finalized, with some capital still to be raised. But thanks to angel investors and private contributions, the first phase is moving forward.
A licensing system is coming. Community-created games and hardware can apply to carry the Commodore name. Merchandise is in development. And there are at least two new games in production. Even Compute!’s Gazette is coming back, delaying its relaunch just to coincide with the Commodore announcement.
But the biggest news? A new Commodore device is already in development.
Details are scarce, but Simpson promises a product that combines the simplicity of vintage tech with the utility of modern hardware—without the typical digital baggage.
What This Means for Fans
Skeptics will ask: can nostalgia sustain a business?
Simpson’s answer: no—but this isn’t about that.
He’s not chasing a short-term emotional payoff. He reports that he’s building infrastructure, licensing systems, new hardware, and software pipelines. The new Commodore brand isn’t clinging to the past. It’s trying to fix what went wrong with tech after the ‘90s.
And most importantly, the whole thing is transparent. Every step is explained in the video. Nothing is hidden behind corporate press releases or opaque trademarks.
That’s why this story is resonating. It’s not just about a logo or a retro computer—it’s about giving people a better way to engage with technology again.
Want to Help?
The company is still hiring. They’re looking for artists, developers, a social media manager, and anyone who owns rights to old game IP. Simpson also teases a potential crowd equity option in the future—letting fans own a piece of Commodore when legal frameworks allow it.
For now, those who want to contribute financially must be accredited investors. But supporters can also help by spreading the word, following the project, and—of course—watching the video.
Final Thoughts
There’s a refreshing honesty to how Simpson and his team are approaching this. They’re not pretending to reinvent computing. They’re reconnecting it to what made it worth having in the first place.
The Commodore revival isn’t just a brand reboot—it’s a cultural counterweight to disposable tech and invasive platforms. It’s about giving people devices they actually like using, with designs that invite curiosity instead of feeding addiction.
The video is worth watching—not just because it’s informative, but because it’s a rare thing: genuine optimism hopefully backed by actual results.
