The Final Cartridge III just got a serious glow-up, and it’s ready to plug straight into your Commodore 64 or 128. Shareware PLUS and efrog5’s team have pulled off a thoughtful redesign, bringing this utility-packed classic into 2025 with style—and over 60 new functions.
At its core, the Final Cartridge III offers a visual desktop interface, turbo-charged loading and saving, and hardware buttons for reset and freeze operations. There’s even a handy LED that shows whether the cartridge is active. And if a game refuses to play nice with fast-loaders? Hit “Final Kill” to switch back to standard C64 mode—no need to yank out the cart mid-session.
This updated Final Cartridge III works hand-in-glove with SD2IEC devices. The fast-loader remains active in popular file browsers like CBM or SD2BRWSE, and the built-in F-key commands let you zip through directories and launch programs without ever touching the keyboard. That makes the pairing of FC3 and SD2IEC a seamless, practical combo for modern retro users.
But it’s the bonus tools that tip this release over the edge. From diagnostics like 64 DOCTOR and 1541 ALPS TEST to productivity boosters like DISK WIZARD, MONITOR TEST, and LOGO EDITOR—there’s plenty to explore in the drop-down menu. You even get a built-in version of Simons’ BASIC, a rare treat for coding tinkerers. And yes, it still includes TURBO 250 for speedy tape duplication.
Housed in a clear cartridge shell and priced at just £28 plus postage, it’s available now by emailing [email protected]. For anyone looking to get more out of their C64 without the hassle, this update to the Final Cartridge III might be one of the easiest upgrades around.
