Blaze pushes its C64 and ZX Spectrum handhelds to April over build quality
The clamshell TheC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld were due on October 15. Blaze Entertainment has moved both to April 22, 2027, saying the product construction was not meeting its standards.
Two retro handhelds that were two weeks from release are now six months away. Blaze Entertainment has delayed TheC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld, the clamshell devices it is making with Retro Games, from October 15 this year to April 22, 2027.
What Blaze said
In a statement reported by VGC, the company said: "During production, we identified areas where the product construction was not meeting our high standards. While we could address some issues quickly and release the products in 2026, we believe taking this additional time is the right decision to give you the best experience possible."
The new date applies to both the standard and collector's editions. Blaze added that it knows the news "will be disappointing" and thanked buyers for their patience.
What they are
Each handheld is a clamshell built around one of the two great British and American 8-bit home computers, with 25 games installed, priced at £109.99 or $129.99. They are separate from the Evercade line's cartridge approach, and Blaze has confirmed that the Evercade Nexus is not affected by this delay and still arrives on October 30.
Hardware specifications and the built-in game lists are unchanged. This is a delay rather than a reworking, and nothing in the statement suggests the devices are in trouble beyond the finish on the units themselves.
Why it matters
Retro handhelds live or die on how they feel in your hands, and a manufacturer willing to eat six months rather than ship units it is unhappy with is a better sign than a launch that arrives creaking on time.