2026's most eagerly-anticipated retro gaming handhelds have been delayed until next year, but for good reason

The Spectrum and C64 Handheld games consoles on a blue background — (Image credit: Blaze Entertainment)

Quick Summary

Blaze has been forced to delay its forthcoming retro gaming clamshells to next year after admitting production quality has so far not been up to scratch.

The Spectrum and The C64 Handhelds will now release on 22 April 2027.

Like most retro gaming fans, I was looking forward to getting my hands on Blaze's first clamshell devices – The Spectrum Handheld and The C64 Handheld. Both were due on 15 October, so my excitement was ramping up.

However, the company has announced that both have been delayed to next spring, and for good reason. It didn't want to release inferior products.

"During production, we identified areas where the product construction was not meeting our high standards," said Blaze in an official statement.

Does this affect my pre-order?

Some retailers, such as Amazon UK, are still listing the handhelds for pre-order for their original 15 October release date, but we expect that to change soon. You'll need to contact the retailer if you want to cancel your order.

Personally, I'm happy to wait a bit longer. I'd much rather have a better device than one rushed through the production process – flaws and all. And especially so when it comes to The C64 and The Spectrum Handhelds.

First announced in May, each retro gaming handheld comes preinstalled with a collection of 25 classic games specific to their original 80s system. For The Spectrum Handheld, that includes Manic Miner (of course), Head Over Heels, and Skool Daze.

The C64 Handheld sports a selection including Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, Paradroid, and Nebulus.

You can also add your own ZX Spectrum and C64 games respectively through each device's microSD card slot. Even the buttons on the lower half of each clamshell are designed around original hardware, while at the top you get a 4:3, 4.3-inch IPS display that's protected when closed.

Each is priced at £109.99 in the UK, $129.99 in the US. The Collector's Editions, which include a travel case and exclusive copy of Crash or Zzap!64 magazines, now seem to have sold out.

Sadly, The Spectrum Handheld and The C64 Handheld are not the first retro gaming consoles to have been delayed in recent times. We also learned recently that the NeoGeo AES+ has also been put back – to next September in this case.

"We didn't have a choice," said manufacturer and distributor, Plaion Replai.

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.

Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.