A new range of European keyboard layouts is coming to the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard range.
I’ve never really taken to mechanical keyboards. In fact, until the last few years, I didn’t even know they were actually a thing.
As a kid my mum had a typewriter. That’s probably the nearest thing I can approximate to what is referred to as mechanical keyboard. It certainly doesn’t bear any resemblance to the keyboards I used as a kid.
While the BBC Micro, the C64, and the Amiga all had pretty clunky keys, I don’t believe any of them were mechanical.
So I look upon the whole mechanical keyboard movement with a touch of bemusement. So unsurprisingly, I was tickled to find news of 8BitDo’s EU keyboard layout range.
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboards, EU-style
Said to blend classic design with modern functionality, these five layouts cater to a wider European audience with QWERTZ (German), AZERTY (French), Spanish (ES), and Nordic (NORD) options, alongside the existing UK layout. These QWERTZ, AZERTY, ES, and NORD versions sport a retro grey and red color scheme (dubbed the “N” design), while the UK edition emulates the Commodore 64’s aesthetic (“C64” design).
The keyboards feature 80s-inspired fonts and include a separate, oversized 8BitDo Dual Super Button Unit.
“Following the successful launch of the Retro Mechanical Keyboard in Europe last year, we saw a strong demand for region-specific layouts,” says David Karlsson, CEO of GOE. “We’re now pleased to offer European customers a keyboard tailored to their needs, combining practical functionality with a distinctive retro aesthetic.”
The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is officially compatible with Windows PCs and Android devices, offering connectivity via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (using a provided USB dongle), and wired USB. The keyboard features programmable buttons, n-key rollover, and customization options through the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2.
Built for precision and durability, the keyboard utilizes an 87-key layout with top-mounted styling and mechanical Kailh Box switches. The dye-sublimation PBT keycaps have an MDA-like height. The included Dual Super Button Unit provides two oversized programmable buttons for custom commands and shortcuts.
The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is distributed by Game Outlet Europe and is available for a suggested retail price of €99.99 / £85.99. You can find 8BitDo Mechanical Keyboards on Amazon.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.