Amiga Fans Wait: Retro Games’ Full-Sized A1200 Delayed by Legal Battles

Retro gaming enthusiasts eagerly awaiting a full-sized Amiga revival will have to exercise patience. Retro Games, the company behind the popular “mini” recreations of classic computers, has announced a delay to its upcoming full-sized Amiga 1200 replica. The culprit? Ongoing legal disputes involving Hyperion Entertainment.

Known for their faithful recreations of iconic machines like the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, Retro Games has garnered a dedicated following. Their previous release, the Amiga 500 Mini, sparked significant interest, with many fans clamoring for a full-sized counterpart featuring a functional keyboard. This desire stems from the limitations of the mini versions, where keyboards are primarily decorative due to size constraints.

The A1200 is Coming, But Not Soon

In a recent statement on their Facebook page, Retro Games confirmed they are indeed developing a full-sized Amiga, specifically based on the Amiga 1200 model. However, the project is currently stalled due to legal complexities.

The primary obstacle lies in the ongoing legal battles between Hyperion Entertainment, the company behind AmigaOS 4, and other “Amiga parties.” These disputes, which have been ongoing since 2018, have directly impacted Retro Games’ ability to proceed with manufacturing.

“Unfortunately, the ongoing legal disputes between Hyperion Entertainment and the Amiga parties are preventing us from proceeding with manufacturing,” Retro Games stated.

 

The company also referenced Hyperion’s unsuccessful attempt to challenge the release of the A500 Mini in 2019, despite a 2009 settlement agreement.

Hope Remains, With Support From Key Players

Despite the setback, Retro Games emphasized their commitment to the project and expressed gratitude to Amiga and Cloanto, who have been supporting their development efforts. These partners are reportedly working diligently to resolve the legal issues.

“Our friends at Amiga and Cloanto, who have supported us throughout the development of The C64, The Vic 20 and The A500 Mini, have been working tirelessly to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible,” the company explained.

However, manufacturing and retail partners have opted to postpone the release until the legal situation is fully resolved.

What to Expect When it Arrives

While a revised release date is pending, Retro Games has promised to share more details about the A1200 in the near future. This will include images, features, and the software lineup, including a brand-new game debuting on the machine.

The company understands the frustration caused by these delays and reiterated that the legal issues are beyond their control. They also wanted to be transparent with their fans by revealing the machine’s name, “The A1200”.

A Waiting Game

For Amiga enthusiasts, the delay is undoubtedly disappointing. However, the confirmation of a full-sized A1200, coupled with the promise of more information, offers a glimmer of hope. In the meantime, fans will have to wait patiently for the legal dust to settle before they can get their hands on this highly anticipated retro revival.