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| The newest Chromatic from ModRetro is made of the same metal as is used in attack drones. |
The retro gaming world is embroiled in a heated debate over a new piece of hardware that is as much a statement as it is a gaming device. ModRetro, the company behind the critically acclaimed Chromatic handheld, has unveiled a new "Anduril Edition" crafted from the same magnesium aluminum alloy used in autonomous attack drones. This direct crossover with the defense industry has led major gaming outlets to boycott the brand and forced the community to confront a difficult question: where does one draw the line between a passion for retro gaming and personal ethics?
The Ultimate Game Boy Clone, Re-forged for War
At its core, the Anduril Edition Chromatic is a feat of extreme engineering for a niche audience. The company pitches it as the ultimate portable for "performance and reliability under any and all conditions".
The handheld’s body isn't just any metal; it's the same magnesium aluminum alloy used in the attack drones manufactured by Anduril Industries. Its coating is the "same ultra durable ceramic-polymer formulation that protects Ghost," Anduril's flagship autonomous air vehicle. Every screw is treated with a Titanium Nitride finish—a process typically reserved for high-performance industrial tooling—and the screen is protected by a sapphire crystal cover.
You can see the full specifications and order details for this unique bundle on the official product page: Anduril Chromatic + Porta Pro Bundle.
The bundle, priced at $449.99, includes a limited edition pair of Koss Porta Pro headphones and is available for pre-order until Christmas Day, with shipping not expected until summer 2026.
The Controversial Figure Behind the Console
The connection between a retro Game Boy clone and military hardware is not coincidental. It stems directly from the companies' shared founder: Palmer Luckey.
Luckey is a legendary and divisive figure in tech. He pioneered the modern VR industry by founding Oculus, which he later sold to Facebook. After a controversial departure, he pivoted to national defense, founding Anduril Industries. Anduril is a major defense technology contractor for the U.S. military, producing autonomous systems, surveillance technology, and AI-powered weapons platforms.
Luckey has been vocal about his views, stating he believes societies "need people like me who are sick in that way and who don’t lose any sleep making tools of violence in order to preserve freedom". In a recent interview, he defended the use of AI in warfare, arguing, "There's no moral high ground in using inferior technology" when lives are at stake.
ModRetro is his passion project, a return to his roots named after a forum he ran as a teenager. With the Chromatic, Luckey aimed to create a "portal into the past that is going to live on forever," built with a philosophy of repairability and defiance against planned obsolescence. The Anduril Edition, however, merges these two seemingly disparate worlds of nostalgic gaming and modern defense tech.
The Retro Gaming Community Draws a Line
The announcement of the Anduril Edition has acted as a catalyst, crystallizing simmering unease within the community into outright action.
Time Extension, a major outlet in the retro gaming space, published a clear statement: "The 'Anduril Chromatic' is the final straw." The site announced it will no longer cover any ModRetro products moving forward. They acknowledged they were rightly criticized for not making Luckey's ties to Anduril clearer in past coverage and decided this collaboration was "a step too far".
RetroDodo, another influential publication, also expressed deep discomfort. While detailing the product's specs, they stated the news felt like an "overstep" and was "pretty f'ed up". They announced that their editorial team is "reconsidering how we cover controversial" news like this moving forward.
The backlash extends beyond media. For many gamers, the issue is clear-cut: buying this product directly funnels money to a manufacturer of autonomous weapons. Social media discussions are filled with potential buyers stating they love the Chromatic but cannot support Luckey's defense work, feeling forced to choose between their hobby and their principles.
Caught in the Middle: The Game Developers
The controversy creates a complex dilemma for the independent developers who have partnered with ModRetro to publish physical cartridges for the Chromatic. For them, ModRetro has been an unprecedented boon, offering professional manufacturing, marketing, and access to a dedicated community of players.
Developers like Tom Lockwood (artist for Grimace's Birthday) describe a "two minds" feeling: "The idea of being attached to the same person who co-founded the defence tech company Anduril is certainly an uncomfortable one," he says. However, he credits ModRetro with "vastly increasing the chances of Game Boy homebrew developers being able to financially support themselves".
Other developers, particularly those outside the U.S., were less aware of the political baggage. Horatiu Radoiu of Eligos Games stated plainly, "I had no idea who he was," while Joel Jarman of Joel J Games felt it wasn't his "place to comment on someone else's democracy".
Most report overwhelmingly positive feedback from players, with any negative reactions being a small minority. As Tom Sutton of Malamute puts it, the Chromatic is "an entertainment product... so I wouldn't expect anyone to partake if it didn't vibe with them for any reason".
A Product That Tests Values
The ModRetro Anduril Edition Chromatic sits at a strange crossroads. Technically, it is arguably the most durable and over-engineered retro handheld ever conceived. Ethically, it is a litmus test for the values of the retro community.
For collectors and tech enthusiasts fascinated by extreme materials and manufacturing, it is a unique artifact. For others, the explicit branding partnership with a defense contractor transforms a nostalgic toy into a symbol they want no part of.
As pre-orders open for this $450 bundle that won't ship for over a year, the debate it has sparked is already very much present. It questions whether the tools of play can—or should—be separated from the tools of war, and whether funding one inevitably supports the other. In the niche world of retro gaming hardware, this drone-metal Game Boy has started a battle of ideas with no easy game-over screen in sight.