Commodore fans split over C64 Ultimate FPGA firmware lockdown — firm says it wants to protect its hardware and reduce support fallout

Commodore has implemented a firmware lockdown on its C64 Ultimate computer to prevent non-official firmware from being loaded, citing the need to protect hardware and reduce support issues. The latest firmware update, version 1.1.0, includes new features and fixes but also introduces safeguards against incompatible firmware. The company emphasizes that the C64 Ultimate is an evolving product with future revisions and capabilities, necessitating control over firmware to avoid hardware damage. While some users express concerns about restrictions, Commodore clarifies that the policy is not aimed at community patches like SPIFFY but rather at unauthorized firmware that could lead to support challenges.