Blaze Entertainment, the company behind the Evercade retro gaming system, has announced handheld versions of two legendary 80s home computers: the ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64. The devices are launching this October, according to Eurogamer, and are being developed under Blaze's Hyper Mega Tech label.
For anyone who grew up around these machines, this is a significant announcement. The ZX Spectrum and C64 were titans of the home computing era, defining a generation of gaming in Europe and beyond, and their libraries are packed with titles that still hold up as genuine classics.
Pocket-sized nostalgia
Blaze knows its way around retro hardware revivals - the Evercade handheld has built a solid reputation for preserving older game libraries in a clean, cartridge-based format. Bringing that same energy to the Spectrum and C64 makes a lot of sense, targeting an audience that either lived through the 8-bit wars or has since discovered these platforms through preservation communities and emulation.
Details on the exact software libraries included in each handheld are still thin on the ground, but the October window gives Blaze a solid holiday season target. Both machines have extensive back catalogues to draw from, so the curation choices will be key to how well these land with enthusiasts.
Why this matters
The retro handheld market has exploded in recent years, with devices ranging from the official Nintendo hardware minis to open-source emulation handhelds flooding the space. Blaze is betting that officially licensed, purpose-built hardware still carries weight with collectors and nostalgic gamers - and honestly, that bet has paid off before with Evercade.
Whether you were a Spectrum loyalist or rode with the C64 crowd, having a dedicated pocket device loaded with classics from either machine is a genuinely compelling proposition. The rivalry between these two platforms was one of the defining console wars of the early gaming era, so launching both simultaneously is a smart nod to that history.
Expect more details on pricing and game libraries to drop closer to launch. Keep an eye on Blaze's Hyper Mega Tech announcements if either of these is on your radar.
