The Arduboy FX-C has officially landed, but the credit-card-sized console has already sold out of its most basic edition.
For those unfamiliar, the Arduboy started life as a DIY-friendly, black-and-white handheld powered by Arduino hardware. Designed by Kevin Bates, it’s been the go-to device for tinkerers who love making — and playing — tiny retro games that feel like they’ve jumped straight out of the Game Boy era.
Portable, programmable, and proudly open-source
The new model sports a 160×128 white pixel display, 32 MB of onboard storage, and a transparent shell that showcases its open hardware design. Despite the upgrade, it retains the classic D-pad and two-button layout — simple, clean, and unmistakably Arduboy.
More than 300 built-in games come preloaded via the FX chip, covering everything from puzzle games and shooters to 8-bit platformers.
The FX-C is optimized not just for playing games, but making them too. Like previous models, it’s fully programmable using the Arduino IDE, letting anyone dive into coding and upload their own creations. As it looks like a credit card, it’s also compact enough to fit in a wallet, with a rechargeable battery and USB-C charging for quick top-ups between coding sessions or commutes.
Arduboy FX-C pricing and availability
The initial $79 Standard Edition of the Arduboy FX-C has already sold out, but two versions remain available:
- Founders Edition – $99 USD
- Multiplayer Edition (Two-Pack) – $178 USD (discounted from $199)
Both editions are available now from the official Arduboy store.
How it fits in today’s retro handheld scene
The FX-C arrives in a growing wave of minimalist handhelds like Panic’s Playdate, the Thumby, and ahead of the similarly-compact GamerCard.
But where the Playdate leans on quirky design and the Thumby on novelty, the Arduboy FX-C stands out as a genuine developer’s playground — an open, hackable platform that’s as much about creating games as it is about playing them.
If you’ve ever wanted to carry an entire retro gaming community in your pocket — or design your own 8-bit hits — the Arduboy FX-C might be the most charming way to do it.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
