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2026-11-10 09:19
When I was a child, I wanted to own a Game Boy, and when I grew up, I wanted to make my own Game Boy game. Unexpectedly, OpenAI was ready to realize these two wishes together.
Just now, Supply Co., a peripheral store owned by OpenAI, officially launched a handheld console jointly launched with retro gaming hardware manufacturer ModRetro, called ModRetro Chromatic Codex Edition, priced at US$200, or approximately RMB 1,344.
At first glance, this device is quite similar to Nintendo's Game Boy handheld console of that year, equipped with a retro LCD screen, cross-directional keys, physical operation buttons and a game card slot, and even retains the iconic cartridge design of traditional handheld consoles.
However, OpenAI obviously does not intend to sell products purely on emotion.
The biggest selling point of the co-branded handheld console is that it allows players to use Codex to create their own games through natural language, and then write the game to a physical cartridge and actually run it on the handheld console.
In other words, retro games that used to require learning to program, draw characters, and make maps can now be turned into a work that can be played in your hands by simply describing your ideas to AI.
In fact, this handheld console was first unveiled at the OpenAI DevDay developer conference as an event-exclusive product, and now it has re-entered the market and become the latest co-branded product released by Supply Co.
Moreover, this is not the first time that OpenAI has launched Codex co-branded hardware across borders.
Previously, OpenAI and keyboard manufacturer Work Louder jointly launched the $230 Codex Micro mini mechanical keyboard, which supports the display of the running status of AI Agent through RGB lighting effects. It can also use physical buttons, rockers and knobs to quickly call Codex functions and adjust the inference level.
From mechanical keyboards for developers to retro gaming handhelds that ordinary users can use, OpenAI is trying to bring Codex into more physical hardware scenarios.
Interestingly, while OpenAI is busy launching co-branded handheld consoles, competitor Anthropic has also released a new generation of Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 models. As a result, many netizens complained that compared to the co-branded handheld machine, GPT-6.2 Astra may be more worth looking forward to.
Jokes aside, OpenAI has carefully prepared a complete set of gameplay from AI programming to physical game cartridges this time.
According to the official introduction, in addition to the device body, the $200 handheld set also includes a programmable Codex game cartridge and an exclusive storage bag.
Currently, products are only shipped to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Direct mail from mainland China is not currently supported.
Rather than the handheld console itself, what OpenAI wants to show more is how easy Codex can make game development.
The entire creative process can be divided into four steps.
First, users need to install the ModRetro Chromatic plug-in in the Codex desktop application, and then describe their game ideas through chat, including world view, character settings and specific gameplay.
For example, you could ask Codex to create a top-down adventure game in which a pixelated beaver collects wood in the forest and builds his own hut.
After receiving the instruction, Codex can call the development tools in the plug-in to create game projects, generate character materials, build maps, and write relevant game logic.
If you are not satisfied with the generated results, users can continue to modify the game through natural language. For example, make the beaver a little fatter, add collectible resources like dirt and leaves, or adjust the obstacles in the map to make certain areas more passable.
What’s more interesting is that Codex also supports direct annotation and modification of game screens.
Users can pause the game in the browser emulator, select a character, map element, or specific area, and tell Codex how they want to adjust it. After the modification is completed, rebuild the game files and you will see the new effects.
In addition, the plug-in can also simulate key operations, continuously perform specified actions and intercept game screens, helping developers check character movement, scene interaction and other functions.
For users who want to further fine-tune their games, Codex also supports use with GB Studio.
GB Studio is a visual editing tool for Game Boy game development. Users can directly adjust the game scene, character position, collision area and event logic, and then hand it over to Codex for reconstruction.
After the game is produced, the system will generate a ROM file, which is a game program that can be run on an emulator or compatible game hardware.
Here comes the interesting part.
OpenAI has prepared three ways to run the game for this set of tools. Users can try it out on a computer, connect it to a physical handheld device for testing, and finally write the game to a real cartridge.
Among them, the computer side supports running the game directly through the browser simulator, which facilitates users to repeatedly test and modify.
If you want to experience the feel of physical buttons, you can use a USB cable to connect to Chromatic and test the game's control, display, and sound effects on the handheld console.
Once debugging is complete, the user can also write the ROM to the included Codex cartridge. After that, even if you disconnect the computer, you can insert the cartridge directly into the Chromatic and play your own works like a traditional Game Boy game.
Before using the cassette function, you need to update the handheld to a supported firmware version and enable developer mode. It should be noted that writing a new ROM will overwrite the original games on the cartridge and may also clear the archives, so important data needs to be backed up in advance.
In order to demonstrate Codex’s game production capabilities, OpenAI also provides a variety of original games for users to experience.
For example, "Seedy's Sweet Garden" is a plant-themed block elimination game. Players need to swap blocks to complete matching and challenge for higher scores.
"Into the Cave" is a dungeon exploration game. Players need to fight monsters, learn spells and upgrade equipment to gradually delve deeper into the underground world.
Another game, "Codex Dance", focuses on music rhythm gameplay. Players need to follow the arrows on the screen to follow the beat and let the Codex mascot complete the dance moves.
In addition, OpenAI has also launched a dedicated ModRetro game display page, which includes "FlapGPT", "Codex Land" and many other Game Boy Color games produced using Codex. Users can try it directly in the browser or download the ROM file.
In addition to the officially displayed works, some players have begun to try to put their own creativity on handheld consoles.
Netizen kuna showed off the popular card game "Balatro" that he ported to the Game Boy Color platform, and said that it has been successfully run on the Chromatic handheld console obtained during DevDay.
Another netizen, Moriarty, used the ModRetro Chromatic plug-in to create a "Geometry Dash" style game level for his son. There is no need to buy a co-branded handheld console, and it can also be run using Analogue Pocket.
Codex developer Kevin Whinnery also shared his experience using related tools to build games, demonstrating how to develop retro games with AI assistance.
As for the hardware itself, Chromatic still retains the design language of traditional retro handheld consoles.
The device is equipped with an LCD screen, cross-directional keys, A/B operation buttons, Start and Select buttons, and provides a 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB-C port, speakers, cable interface, and infrared port.
The back of the fuselage retains the physical game card slot and battery cover, and the overall design clearly pays homage to the classic Game Boy.
After experiencing the Chromatic, netizen @kato__tatsu commented that the body was lighter than expected and the display effect was good, but the buttons were slightly hard and the screen was smaller than the Analogue Pocket. The nearly $100 price difference between the two also made him feel the hardware quality of the Analogue Pocket again.
In addition, OpenAI also sells a $50 Codex programmable flash memory cartridge separately. It is currently out of stock and is expected to be restocked on November 19, local time.
This cartridge supports the ROM format (.gb / .gbc) of original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Players can create games through the ModRetro Chromatic plug-in and write them to the cartridge, taking their creations with them wherever they go.
Each cartridge also comes with a Codex pendant and a developer mode activation code. The activation code can be used on up to two devices, but only for ModRetro Chromatic Codex Edition.
From the perspective of product positioning, there is another change worthy of attention in this joint branding.
In the past, AI programming tools mainly served software development scenarios. Whether it was generating web pages, developing applications, or modifying existing projects, the final results mostly stayed on the computer screen.
Now, Codex is beginning to try to extend AI programming capabilities to physical consumer hardware, allowing users to complete game creation through chat and install the work into a real cartridge.
Of course, lowering the threshold for game production does not mean that everyone can easily make a good game. Level design, gameplay balance, art style and actual experience still require continuous adjustment by users.
But at least for those who have thought about making a Game Boy game of their own, but were dissuaded by the programming barrier, Codex provides a new way to try.
In 1989, Nintendo launched the Game Boy, allowing countless people to experience the joy of putting video games in their pockets for the first time.
37 years later, OpenAI adds a new layer of imagination to this classic concept. In the past, we paid to buy games made by others; now, we can even let AI make a game for ourselves and put it on a cartridge.
Technology has moved forward for 37 years, but human happiness is still so simple.
Shan Zong
Hello, World Hello, Word
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