Technology

Commodore backs down over FPGA firmware lockdown — it won’t now try and block third-party firmware installs but will stand firm against bricked modded units

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Apr 26, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Commodore has reversed its decision to block third-party firmware installs on the C64 Ultimate computer, allowing users to experiment freely. However, the company will not provide support or replacements for modded units that become bricked. The initial plan to restrict non-Commodore FPGA firmware caused a divide among fans, leading to heated discussions on social media and forums. Commodore now emphasizes user freedom but warns that using community-installed firmware is at the owner's risk, with no free support or warranty service provided for damaged units.

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Commodore backs down over FPGA firmware lockdown — it won’t now try and block third-party firmware installs but will stand firm against bricked modded units

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Commodore backs down over FPGA firmware lockdown — it won’t now try and block third-party firmware installs but will stand firm against bricked modded units

TL;DR

Similar Articles

Aviation enthusiast uses Raspberry Pi and ADS-B radio to create viral real-time airport tracker — open-source 'Skylight' intercepts aircraft signals and projects flight paths onto your ceiling

Github Copilot customers report up to 100-fold price hikes — AI sticker shock bites as Microsoft switches to usage-based pricing

Linux prepares to axe legacy x32 hybrid mode — hybrid 32-bit/64-bit mode faces complete removal by 2027 due to low adoption

Millions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package