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OpenAI began selling a $200 ModRetro Chromatic: Codex Edition through its Supply Co. store on Nov. 9, 2026. The package pairs a retro handheld with a programmable cartridge and a Codex workflow for creating Game Boy-style games; the store listed it as awaiting restock on Nov. 10, with availability and sales figures still unknown.
OpenAI began selling a $200 ModRetro Chromatic: Codex Edition handheld on Nov. 9, pairing the retro gaming device with a programmable cartridge that can hold games created with its Codex coding agent. The product was marked “Restock soon” the next day, with an expected restock on Nov. 19, according to the Supply Co. product page.
The edition is sold through OpenAI’s Supply Co. store and comes in a transparent shell with one Codex Cartridge and three AA batteries. Its 2.56-inch IPS display has a resolution of 160 by 144 pixels, and the handheld also plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. The product page lists a speaker, a headphone jack and compatibility with ModRetro’s separately sold rechargeable power accessory.
OpenAI describes a workflow in which a user prompts Codex to create a game, then refines its scenes, artwork and logic in GB Studio, builds a ROM and loads that file onto the cartridge. Games can also be tested in a browser emulator or streamed from a computer to the handheld. ModRetro’s setup guide says owners must update the device firmware and use an activation code to enable Developer-Mode.
Two accessories are sold separately through Supply Co., according to OpenAI: a carrying case for $35 and an additional Codex Cartridge for $50. OpenAI says the extra cartridge’s activation code enables Developer-Mode on up to two devices and is exclusive to this edition. The store lists shipping to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom and the EU. Its terms say non-defective items cannot be returned, while warranty and support are handled by ModRetro.
The ModRetro Chromatic
Codex Edition
OpenAI pairs its Codex coding agent with a retro handheld, letting users create Game Boy-style games and play them on a cartridge.
A game from prompt to handheld
Codex helps create a game; GB Studio and the cartridge complete the path to play.
Describe a game and refine its scenes, artwork and logic.
Use GB Studio to build the game file, with browser testing also available.
Write the ROM to the Codex Cartridge and play on the Chromatic.
What comes with it
The retail bundle connects a programmable cartridge to familiar handheld hardware.
Ready to start
Transparent handheld shell, one Codex Cartridge and three AA batteries.
Classic-sized screen
A 2.56-inch IPS display with 160 by 144 pixel resolution.
Retro cartridges
Plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, as well as Chromatic cartridges.
What buyers should know
Availability and practical details matter for anyone considering the device.
- Listed as “Restock soon” on Nov. 10.
- Expected restock date may change.
- Shipping destinations include the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and the EU.
- A new ROM erases the existing game and can erase saved data.
- The installer does not back up the cartridge.
- Firmware update and an activation code enable Developer-Mode.
A Cartridge for Codex-Built Games
The release gives Codex a physical output: games made with an AI coding tool can be tested and played on a dedicated handheld, then stored on a cartridge. That connects OpenAI’s software to retro game development and offers developers and hobbyists a concrete way to experiment with short games, rather than limiting the experience to code or a browser demo.
The price and bundled hardware also make this a consumer product, not just a software demonstration. ModRetro’s store listed a transparent Chromatic bundled with Tetris for $149.99 on Nov. 10, while other Chromatic and Tetris bundles started at $199.99. The Codex Edition listing includes a programmable cartridge but does not mention Tetris, so the packages differ; the prices alone do not establish which offers better value.
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From DevDay Demo to Store
OpenAI’s Supply Co. page says the Codex Edition was first introduced as a DevDay exclusive and describes the retail version as returning with a new look. A report by GIGAZINE said the earlier edition was given to attendees at OpenAI’s developer conference on Sept. 29, 2026, the same day ModRetro announced the collaboration on X. An OpenAI developer forum post introduced the current sale with the phrase “By popular demand.”
OpenAI has also published 13 Codex-built Chromatic games that can be played in a browser or downloaded as ROMs, according to the supplied product material. Its developer blog demonstrates a prompt for a game about a beaver building a lodge and shows Codex helping generate sprite sheets, edit collision maps and run the game in an emulator. These examples show the workflow OpenAI is promoting; they do not establish how well it performs across other prompts or projects.
“The company says its FPGA hardware plays original cartridges with “100% accuracy.””
— ModRetro
Restock and Sales Figures Unknown
OpenAI’s store showed the item as awaiting restock on Nov. 10 and gave Nov. 19 as the expected date, while warning that dates may change. The supplied material does not state how many units were made, how many sold, or whether the restock date will hold. It also does not provide independent testing of the game-creation workflow or ModRetro’s accuracy claim.
OpenAI warns that writing a new ROM to a Codex Cartridge erases the existing game and can erase saved data. Its installer does not back up the cartridge, according to the developer guidance. The extent of data recovery options, if any, is not stated.
Restock Expected November 19
The next stated milestone is the expected Nov. 19 restock on Supply Co.; OpenAI says the date could change. Prospective buyers will need to check the store for current availability and confirm shipping eligibility, since the listed destinations cover seven markets or regions. OpenAI and ModRetro have not provided unit totals or further release dates in the supplied material.
Key Questions
What is the ModRetro Chromatic: Codex Edition?
It is a $200 ModRetro Chromatic handheld sold by OpenAI through Supply Co. It comes with a programmable Codex Cartridge and plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Chromatic cartridges.
How does Codex work with the cartridge?
OpenAI says users can prompt Codex to help create a game, refine it in GB Studio, build a ROM and write that game file to the Codex Cartridge. Games can also be tested in a browser or streamed from a computer.
When will it be available again?
The Supply Co. page showed “Restock soon” on Nov. 10, 2026, and listed Nov. 19 as the expected restock date. OpenAI says dates may change.
What should owners know before writing a game?
OpenAI warns that writing a new ROM erases the game already on the cartridge and can erase saved data. Its installer does not create a cartridge backup.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
