The retro gaming world is buzzing with exciting news as ModRetro, the company founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, has confirmed a major partnership with Ubisoft to bring classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles back to life. ModRetro’s Ubisoft partnership represents one of the most significant developments in authentic game preservation, starting with the re-release of Rayman for their Chromatic handheld device.
What makes this announcement particularly exciting is ModRetro’s commitment to authentic reproduction using FPGA technology rather than software emulation. This means these Ubisoft classics will run exactly as they did on original Game Boy hardware, preserving the authentic gaming experience that made these titles beloved classics.
The partnership signals a major vote of confidence in ModRetro’s approach to game preservation from one of the industry’s biggest publishers. For retro gaming enthusiasts who value authentic experiences over digital emulation, this development opens the door to playing classic Ubisoft titles on modern hardware without sacrificing the original gameplay experience.
The partnership was officially announced by Palmer Luckey on September 24, 2025, via Twitter/X, where he confirmed ModRetro had teamed up with Ubisoft to “rerelease some of their greatest classics.” The announcement specifically mentioned Rayman as the first confirmed title, which Luckey noted has “some of the best graphics of any Game Boy Color title” and was released when “late-cycle developers truly mastered the hardware.”
Luckey’s announcement emphasized the significance of Rayman’s timing – it shipped months after the Game Boy Advance was announced, representing the pinnacle of Game Boy Color development. This attention to detail and historical context demonstrates ModRetro’s commitment to not just preserving games, but celebrating the technical achievements of original developers who pushed these handheld systems to their limits.
The partnership announcement also hinted at additional Ubisoft titles beyond Rayman, though specific games weren’t confirmed. Luckey’s post generated significant excitement in the retro gaming community, with many fans speculating about which other Ubisoft classics might receive the authentic reproduction treatment.
Ubisoft’s extensive Game Boy and Game Boy Color catalog offers numerous possibilities for future ModRetro releases. The publisher’s history with Nintendo’s handheld systems spans the entire lifespan of the Game Boy family, with titles ranging from early 1990s releases to late-generation Game Boy Color exclusives.
Among the most likely candidates for re-release are:
Earlier Game Boy titles present more complex licensing challenges but could include:
The most likely initial releases will probably focus on Ubisoft’s original properties and simpler licensed titles from the Game Boy Color era, when the company had more experience with handheld development and the technical achievements were more impressive.
ModRetro’s approach to game preservation centers on FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) technology, which allows the Chromatic hardware to authentically replicate the behavior of original Game Boy and Game Boy Color systems. Unlike software emulation, which attempts to mimic hardware behavior through code, FPGA-based recreation reproduces the original hardware at the circuit level.
This technical approach means that Ubisoft games re-released by ModRetro will run exactly as they did on original hardware, preserving every nuance of the original gaming experience. The company also focuses on physical cartridge reproduction, maintaining the authentic feel of inserting a game cartridge and powering on the system.
The ModRetro Chromatic itself represents a premium approach to retro gaming hardware, featuring a sunlight-readable LCD screen, authentic button layouts, and high-quality construction materials. At $199, it’s positioned as a premium product for dedicated retro gaming enthusiasts who value authenticity over convenience.
For Ubisoft, partnering with ModRetro offers a way to monetize their classic Game Boy catalog while maintaining the integrity of these beloved titles. It’s a approach that respects both the original developers’ work and the authentic gaming experience that made these titles classics.
The ModRetro-Ubisoft partnership represents a significant milestone in the game preservation movement. For years, retro gaming enthusiasts have relied on software emulation to access classic titles, but this approach often compromises authenticity and can introduce bugs, input lag, or other issues that alter the original experience.
Major publisher partnerships like this one validate the market for authentic game preservation and could pave the way for similar collaborations with other publishers. If Ubisoft’s Game Boy titles prove successful on the ModRetro platform, we might see similar partnerships with companies like Nintendo, Capcom, Square Enix, or Konami.
The partnership also highlights the growing market for premium retro gaming hardware. While software emulation remains popular, there’s clearly a substantial audience willing to pay for authentic experiences that preserve gaming history in its original form.
For ModRetro, the Ubisoft partnership provides credibility and access to popular franchises that could drive adoption of their Chromatic hardware. It’s a strategic move that benefits both companies while serving the retro gaming community’s desire for authentic preservation of classic titles.
Yes, ModRetro is a legitimate company founded by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR. The company focuses on authentic game preservation using FPGA technology to recreate original gaming hardware experiences.
ModRetro games are designed specifically for the ModRetro Chromatic hardware and will not work on original Game Boy or Game Boy Color systems. The company creates authentic reproductions that run on their FPGA-based hardware.
Yes, the ModRetro Chromatic features a modern LCD screen that is backlit and sunlight-readable, providing better visibility than original Game Boy screens while maintaining the authentic gameplay experience.
ModRetro focuses on authentic Game Boy and Game Boy Color reproduction using FPGA technology, while the Analogue Pocket supports multiple retro gaming platforms. ModRetro emphasizes physical cartridge support and authenticity, while Analogue offers broader compatibility.
Rayman for Game Boy Color is the first confirmed Ubisoft title for ModRetro. Other potential games include Disney’s Aladdin, Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, though Ubisoft hasn’t officially announced additional titles beyond Rayman.
The ModRetro-Ubisoft partnership represents an exciting development for retro gaming enthusiasts who value authentic preservation over digital convenience. By combining Ubisoft’s classic Game Boy catalog with ModRetro’s commitment to authentic hardware reproduction, this collaboration could set a new standard for how classic games are preserved and made accessible to new generations.
As the retro gaming market continues to grow, partnerships like this one suggest a future where classic titles can be enjoyed authentically without relying on aging original hardware or compromising the experience through software emulation. For now, Rayman serves as an impressive first example of what’s possible when major publishers commit to authentic game preservation.
The coming months will reveal which additional Ubisoft titles join Rayman on the ModRetro platform, but this partnership has already established ModRetro as a serious player in the game preservation space and demonstrated that there’s a viable market for premium, authentic retro gaming experiences.