Amiga A1200 Relaunch: Modern HDMI, 25 Classic Games, Pre-Orders Open
▼ Summary
– Retro Games Ltd announced The A1200 remake, with pre-orders opening November 10 and units launching in June 2026, though the price is not yet known.
– It is a Linux single-board computer that emulates the Amiga 1200, featuring a full-sized recreation with a working keyboard but no side-loading floppy drive.
– The system includes a “tank” mouse, a CD32-style game controller, and 25 pre-installed Amiga games, with the ability to load more via USB in ADF or HDF formats.
– It comes with an integrated Workbench desktop, the original Amiga operating system, and each game has four save slots for enhanced gameplay.
– Retro Games Ltd has a history of creating retro computer remakes, including mini and full-size versions of the Commodore 64, VIC 20, and ZX Spectrum.
The highly anticipated A1200 remake from Retro Games Ltd opens for pre-orders on November 10, with the first units expected to ship in June 2026. While the final price remains under wraps, this modern reinterpretation of the classic Amiga 1200 promises to deliver a complete retro computing experience wrapped in authentic hardware.
Rather than original hardware, this system operates as a Linux-based single-board computer running Amiga emulation software, likely a version of the long-standing UAE emulator. What truly distinguishes this offering from DIY Raspberry Pi projects is its faithful, full-sized recreation of the Amiga 1200 case, complete with a fully functional keyboard. The nostalgic side-loading floppy drive, with its characteristic idle ticking sound, has been omitted, though enthusiasts will probably find ways to add this feature later.
The package includes both a durable “tank” mouse and a gamepad modeled after the CD32 controller, the console variant of the A1200. Out of the box, users get 25 pre-installed classic Amiga games, featuring legendary titles like the Turrican trilogy, the acclaimed adventure Beneath a Steel Sky, and The Settlers 2, which remarkably received an Amiga port three decades after its initial release. For those wanting to expand the library, additional games in ADF or HDF format can be loaded via USB. The potential for using WHDLoad to install games onto a virtual hard disk could transform this device into an extensive nostalgia machine.
Each game comes with four dedicated save slots, a welcome feature for titles that originally lacked save functionality, finally offering a chance to complete challenging classics like Treasure Island Dizzy.
Beyond gaming, the system includes an integrated Workbench desktop environment, the groundbreaking operating system that astonished audiences at its 1984 CES debut. The specific version of Workbench included hasn’t been confirmed, though for historical accuracy, it would likely be version 3.0 or 3.1.
The original Commodore Amiga 1200 launched in 1992, refining the Amiga 600’s design into a sleeker enclosure than the bulkier Amiga 500. Technically, it featured a Motorola 68EC020 processor running at 14 MHz, twice the speed of earlier models, alongside 2MB of Chip RAM, a side-loading floppy drive, and expansion space for an internal IDE hard drive, which was a costly upgrade at the time. Its graphical capabilities represented a significant leap forward through the Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA), supporting more on-screen colors. While previous Amigas could display up to 4,096 colors using Hold and Modify mode, this was generally practical only for static images. The A1200 became the go-to choice for budget-conscious users seeking superior Amiga graphics.
Retro Games Ltd has built its reputation on reviving beloved computing classics, beginning with a miniature version of the iconic Commodore 64. Their portfolio has since expanded to include full-sized recreations of the Commodore 64, VIC 20, and ZX Spectrum, alongside mini editions like the C64 Mini Black Edition, Atari 400, and Amiga 500. It’s plausible that these various systems share similar Linux SBC foundations with the new A1200, though this remains speculative for now.
Pre-orders for this modern Amiga 1200 begin November 10, with customer shipments commencing in June 2026.
(Source: Tom’s Hardware)
