From revolutionizing virtual reality with Oculus VR to pioneering defense technology at Anduril Industries, Palmer Luckey has consistently pushed technological boundaries. Now he’s returned to his first love: retro gaming hardware. In this exclusive interview, the tech entrepreneur reveals his passion for preserving gaming history through ModRetro and explains why he’s investing millions into recreating 30-year-old technology with modern precision.
Palmer Luckey is the founder of Oculus VR and ModRetro, a tech entrepreneur who created virtual reality technology and retro gaming hardware. His journey from a teenage modder to a billionaire innovator showcases how passion projects can transform into industry-changing companies. This interview explores his unique perspective on bridging cutting-edge innovation with nostalgic preservation.
What drives someone who helped build the future of technology to obsess over recreating the past? Luckey explains that both VR and retro gaming share a common goal: creating immersive, authentic experiences that transport players to different worlds. Whether through cutting-edge headsets or meticulously crafted hardware, his focus remains on delivering the purest possible gaming experience.
In this comprehensive interview, we explore Luckey’s transition from VR to retro gaming, the technical challenges behind creating the ModRetro Chromatic, and his vision for preserving gaming history for future generations. We’ll also examine how his experience with cutting-edge technology informs his approach to retro hardware design.
Palmer Luckey’s journey into technology began in a typical suburban garage, where as a teenager he developed an obsession with modifying gaming hardware. “I was always fascinated by how things worked,” Luckey recalls. “I’d take apart everything from Game Boys to computers, trying to understand and improve them.”
This early tinkering laid the foundation for his future innovations. While other teens were focused on playing games, Luckey was already thinking about how to make them better. His bedroom became a laboratory of sorts, filled with disassembled electronics, soldering equipment, and increasingly ambitious projects.
The leap from modding existing hardware to creating entirely new systems came naturally. “I realized that if I could understand how existing systems worked, I could build better ones from scratch,” he explains. This realization would eventually lead to both Oculus VR and ModRetro, two companies that seem different on the surface but share a common philosophy of pushing technological boundaries.
What’s remarkable about Luckey’s career is how he’s repeatedly identified underserved markets and created solutions that exceed expectations. “Whether it’s VR or retro gaming, I look for areas where the current solutions don’t fully satisfy users’ needs,” he says. “Then I work backward to create something that addresses those gaps completely.”
His approach combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of user experience. “Technology is only valuable if it enhances people’s lives,” Luckey emphasizes. “With Oculus, we wanted to make VR accessible. With ModRetro, we want to make retro gaming authentic and enjoyable for modern players.”
The transition between his various ventures hasn’t been random. Each company has built on lessons learned from previous ones. “Oculus taught me about hardware development at scale. Anduril taught me about advanced manufacturing and materials science. ModRetro brings all those lessons together to create something truly special,” he notes.
ModRetro began not as a business venture but as a community project. “I started ModRetro when I was 16 as a forum for people who shared my passion for modifying and improving retro gaming hardware,” Luckey explains. “It was just a place for like-minded individuals to share projects and knowledge.”
The community grew rapidly, attracting talented modders, engineers, and retro gaming enthusiasts from around the world. “What started as a hobby project became something much bigger,” he recalls. “People were doing incredible work, creating modifications and improvements that companies weren’t offering.”
Despite its success, ModRetro went dormant as Luckey focused on building Oculus. “Oculus required my full attention,” he says. “I never forgot about ModRetro, but I had to prioritize one project at a time.”
The revival of ModRetro in 2025 represents both a return to roots and an opportunity to apply lessons learned from his other ventures. “I always planned to come back to retro gaming,” Luckey confirms. “I just needed the right timing and resources to do it properly.”
What makes the modern ModRetro different from the original community project is the scale of ambition. “We’re not just creating a community anymore—we’re creating premium hardware that preserves gaming history in the highest quality possible,” he explains. “The community is still central to what we do, but now we have the resources to bring professional-grade products to market.”
The timing of ModRetro’s revival isn’t coincidental. Luckey sees growing interest in retro gaming as a sign that people crave authentic experiences in an increasingly digital world. “There’s something special about physical media and dedicated hardware that software emulation can’t replicate,” he observes. “We’re preserving not just games, but the entire experience of gaming from that era.”
The ModRetro Chromatic represents Luckey’s vision of the ultimate tribute to Nintendo’s Game Boy line. “I wanted to create something that would make the original engineers proud while incorporating modern advances that weren’t possible 30 years ago,” he explains.
The technical specifications are impressive: an FPGA-based system that perfectly replicates the behavior of original Game Boy hardware, a display that uses the same type of LCD technology as the original, and premium materials including a sapphire crystal screen and magnesium alloy body. “We didn’t cut any corners,” Luckey emphasizes. “Every component was selected to either match or exceed the original quality.”
What sets the Chromatic apart from other retro gaming handhelds is its commitment to authenticity. “Many companies focus on adding modern features like Bluetooth or rechargeable batteries,” Luckey notes. “We focused on recreating the authentic experience, from the feel of the buttons to the way light reflects off the screen.”
The development process involved extensive research into original Game Boy hardware. “We acquired and analyzed dozens of original units, measuring everything from button actuation force to display response times,” he explains. “We even consulted with former Nintendo engineers to understand the original design decisions.”
FPGA Technology: Field-Programmable Gate Array chips that can be programmed to replicate the exact behavior of original gaming hardware, providing perfect game compatibility without software emulation.
One of the most challenging aspects was the display. “The original Game Boy used a custom twisted nematic LCD that hasn’t been manufactured in decades,” Luckey says. “We had to work with display manufacturers to recreate something with the same optical properties while improving durability and visibility.”
The attention to detail extends to aspects most users wouldn’t notice. “We replicated the exact power draw characteristics of the original hardware, the same audio processing chain, even the way the screen refreshes,” he explains. “These details combine to create an experience that’s indistinguishable from playing on original hardware.”
✅ Pro Tip: The Chromatic’s sapphire crystal screen is virtually scratch-resistant and provides the same reflective properties as the original Game Boy display while being significantly more durable.
| Feature | ModRetro Chromatic | Analogue Pocket | Original Game Boy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Technology | Custom TN LCD with sapphire crystal | LCD | Custom TN LCD |
| Body Material | Magnesium alloy | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Compatibility | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Multiple systems | Game Boy |
| Price | $199-$299 | $219 | Vintage pricing |
| Emulation Method | FPGA (hardware accurate) | FPGA | Original hardware |
Price has been a point of discussion in the retro gaming community. At $199-$299, the Chromatic occupies the premium end of the market. “We use premium materials and manufacturing processes that drive costs up, but we believe the quality justifies the price,” Luckey responds. “This is a device that will last for decades, not years.”
For Luckey, ModRetro is about more than just selling hardware—it’s about preserving gaming history. “We’re creating a living museum of gaming technology,” he explains. “Each device we produce preserves not just the ability to play games, but the physical experience of gaming from that era.”
This preservation philosophy extends beyond the hardware itself. “We’re documenting the engineering decisions, the design trade-offs, the context in which these systems were created,” Luckey says. “Future generations should be able to understand not just how these games were played, but why they were designed the way they were.”
The concept of a “living museum” is central to ModRetro’s mission. “Unlike traditional museums where artifacts sit behind glass, our hardware is meant to be used,” he emphasizes. “Gaming history should be experienced, not just observed.”
“Mod Retro is just a shell of a forum. It’s really all about the people and their projects.”
– Palmer Luckey, on the community aspect of preservation
This approach to preservation addresses what Luckey sees as a gap in how we typically preserve digital culture. “We’re good at preserving physical artifacts and good at preserving digital data, but we’re not as good at preserving interactive experiences,” he notes. “ModRetro aims to fill that gap by keeping these experiences playable in their original form.”
The company has ambitious plans for expanding preservation efforts. “We’re looking at other classic gaming systems that deserve the same treatment,” Luckey reveals. “There’s a long list of important gaming hardware that could benefit from our approach to preservation and enhancement.”
Looking ahead, ModRetro has several exciting projects in development. “We’re working on a Game Boy Advance version that’s already in the prototyping phase,” Luckey confirms. “The technical challenges are different, but our commitment to authenticity remains the same.”
Perhaps most intriguingly, ModRetro is exploring ways to bring unreleased games to life. “We’ve been approached by developers who have unfinished games from the Game Boy era,” Luckey shares. “There’s potential to complete and release these games in a way that respects the original vision while making them playable for modern audiences.”
The company is also investigating digital distribution models that complement their hardware focus. “We’re looking at ways to make rare games accessible without devaluing physical collections,” he explains. “The goal is to expand access to gaming history while maintaining the value of original artifacts.”
Community involvement remains central to these future plans. “We want ModRetro customers to be part of the preservation process,” Luckey says. “Whether through contributing to our game database, participating in beta testing, or sharing their own preservation projects, the community makes our work possible.”
⏰ Time Saver: ModRetro maintains an online database of game compatibility information, helping users quickly verify which games work with their systems.
Expansion beyond handheld systems is also on the roadmap. “While handhelds are our focus right now, we’re interested in other form factors that could benefit from our approach to preservation,” Luckey hints. “There’s no shortage of classic gaming hardware that deserves modern attention.”
The connection between Luckey’s VR work and his retro gaming passion might not be immediately obvious, but he sees clear parallels. “Both VR and retro gaming are about creating immersive experiences that transport players to different worlds,” he explains. “The technology is different, but the goal is the same: pure, unadulterated gaming experiences.”
His experience with Oculus has directly influenced his approach to ModRetro. “Working on VR taught me about the importance of latency, display quality, and user comfort,” Luckey notes. “These lessons apply equally to retro gaming, where authenticity depends on getting every detail right.”
What’s particularly interesting is how Luckey sees these two passions complementing each other. “VR represents the future of immersive gaming, while retro gaming represents its history,” he observes. “Understanding both helps create better experiences in either direction.”
The business lessons from his other ventures have also proven valuable. “Oculus taught me about hardware development at scale. Anduril taught me about advanced manufacturing. ModRetro brings all these lessons together,” he summarizes. “Each company builds on the successes and failures of the previous ones.”
Looking forward, Luckey sees potential connections between his various interests. “Could VR help preserve gaming history in new ways? Could retro gaming principles inform future VR development?” he muses. “The intersections are where interesting things happen.”
Palmer Luckey is the founder and CEO of ModRetro. He started the company as a teenager in 2008 as a community forum, then revived it in 2025 as a premium hardware company focused on retro gaming preservation.
Palmer Luckey became wealthy primarily through the sale of Oculus VR to Facebook (Meta) for $2 billion in 2014. He later founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology company valued at $14 billion, which further increased his wealth.
The ModRetro Chromatic stands out for its uncompromising commitment to authenticity. It uses FPGA technology for perfect game replication, a sapphire crystal display that matches original Game Boy optics, and premium materials like magnesium alloy construction. Unlike competitors, it focuses on recreating the exact original experience rather than adding modern features.
ModRetro Chromatic focuses exclusively on Game Boy and Game Boy Color games with perfect authenticity, using display technology that matches the original. Analogue Pocket supports multiple systems but uses a modern LCD display. ModRetro emphasizes premium materials like sapphire crystal and magnesium alloy, while targeting a pure retro experience rather than multi-system compatibility.
At $199-$299, the Chromatic is positioned as a premium product. For retro gaming enthusiasts who value authenticity and build quality, the investment includes premium materials, FPGA-based perfect compatibility, and a display that replicates the original Game Boy experience. It’s best suited for dedicated collectors and enthusiasts rather than casual players.
Yes, Palmer Luckey has confirmed that a Game Boy Advance version is already in development. While no release timeline has been announced, the project is in the prototyping phase and will apply the same commitment to authenticity and premium materials that defines the Chromatic.
The ModRetro Chromatic does not feature RGB output, as it’s designed to replicate the original Game Boy experience. The focus is on authentic play on the device itself rather than video output capabilities. This design choice maintains the purity of the original handheld gaming experience.
Yes, Palmer Luckey is actively involved as the founder and CEO of ModRetro. He oversees product development, makes key design decisions, and remains deeply engaged with the community. His hands-on approach and technical expertise drive the company’s commitment to quality and authenticity.