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TL;DR
OpenAI began selling the ModRetro Chromatic: Codex Edition for $200 on November 9, pairing ModRetro’s handheld with one programmable cartridge for games made using OpenAI’s Codex coding agent. On November 10, the product page said “Restock soon” and listed November 19 as the expected restock date; sales numbers and stock levels were not disclosed.
OpenAI and ModRetro began selling the ModRetro Chromatic: Codex Edition, a $200 retro handheld bundled with a programmable cartridge for playing games built with OpenAI’s Codex coding agent. The product went on sale November 9 through OpenAI’s Supply Co. store; as of November 10, the listing said “Restock soon” and gave November 19 as the expected restock date.
The bundle includes a transparent Chromatic handheld, one programmable Codex Cartridge and three AA batteries. The device has a 2.56-inch, 160-by-144-pixel backlit display and supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, according to the Supply Co. product page. ModRetro describes the Chromatic as using FPGA hardware to play original cartridges; that performance claim comes from the company.
OpenAI’s pitch is a workflow for making and playing games, rather than a new console platform. Users can describe a game, use Codex with the ModRetro Chromatic plugin to generate and revise it in GB Studio, then build a ROM. The finished game can be tried in a browser emulator, streamed from a computer to the handheld for testing, or written to the Codex Cartridge for play on the device.
Getting started requires updating the handheld’s firmware, entering an activation code to enable Developer-Mode, installing Codex and adding the plugin, according to ModRetro’s quickstart guide. OpenAI’s instructions warn that writing a new ROM erases the existing game on the cartridge and can erase saved data; the installer does not back up the cartridge.
Codex meets a retro handheld Create games, then play them
OpenAI and ModRetro paired a $200 Chromatic handheld with a programmable cartridge. Making games for it requires Codex, a computer and several setup steps.
What buyers get
The bundle brings cartridge play and game creation together in one handheld offer.
Handheld and cartridge
The bundle includes a transparent Chromatic, one programmable Codex Cartridge and three AA batteries.
Classic cartridges
It supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, as well as ROMs made through the Codex workflow.
Extra items cost more
A carrying case is listed at $35 and an additional Codex Cartridge at $50.
From prompt to playable game
The creation workflow connects Codex to GB Studio, then moves the finished ROM onto the handheld.
Use Codex with the ModRetro Chromatic plugin to create and edit a game in GB Studio.
Build a ROM, then test it in a browser emulator or stream it from a computer to the handheld.
Enable Developer-Mode and write the ROM to the Codex Cartridge to play on the device.
Availability and support
The listing gives buyers a restock estimate, while leaving supply and sales unreported.
- On November 10, the page said “Restock soon” and listed November 19 as expected.
- Restock dates may change; sales and stock figures were not disclosed.
- Shipping areas listed include the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and the EU.
- Setup requires firmware updates, an activation code, Codex and the plugin.
- Writing a new ROM can erase the existing game and saved data; the installer does not back up the cartridge.
- ModRetro handles warranty and support. Non-defective items cannot be returned.
A Physical Gateway to Codex
The bundle gives OpenAI a physical product tied directly to its coding software. Buyers who want to create their own cartridge games must use Codex and the ModRetro plugin, making the handheld both a gaming device and a demonstration of the company’s coding tools. OpenAI says its developer blog shows Codex generating and editing game assets and logic, including sprite sheets and collision maps.
For players, the offer combines a familiar cartridge-based format with a new creation process, but it requires a computer and several software setup steps to make games. The $200 price also sits above the $149.99 price listed November 10 for ModRetro’s transparent Chromatic bundle with a Tetris cartridge. The Codex Edition includes a programmable cartridge, and its listing does not mention Tetris, so the bundles differ in what they offer.
The release is also a test of how far OpenAI’s Supply Co. can extend beyond employee merchandise into collaborations and physical products. The source material does not establish whether this is a broad retail strategy or a limited experiment.
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From DevDay Giveaway to Store
OpenAI’s Supply Co. listing says the Codex Edition was first introduced as a DevDay exclusive and describes the retail version as returning “with a new look.” The source reports that the DevDay edition was distributed to conference attendees on September 29, 2026, when ModRetro announced the collaboration on X. OpenAI’s developer forum introduced the sale with the words “By popular demand.”
The Codex Edition is sold through OpenAI Supply Co., while ModRetro provides the product warranty and support, according to the listing. The handheld uses three AA batteries and can also work with ModRetro’s Rechargeable Power Core. Separately sold accessories include a $35 carrying case and a $50 additional Codex Cartridge. The extra cartridge comes with an activation code for Chromatic Developer-Mode, which the listing says is limited to two devices and exclusive to the Codex Edition.
OpenAI’s developer materials also list 13 Codex-built games available to play in a browser or download as ROMs. The product page highlights a tile-matching puzzle, a dungeon crawler and a rhythm game featuring the Codex mascot. These examples show the kinds of games the company is promoting, but do not establish how well the creation workflow works for buyers generally.
Stock, Sales and Setup Questions
OpenAI has not disclosed how many units were made or sold, and the “Restock soon” message does not show whether the initial supply sold out or was temporarily unavailable for another reason. The store listed November 19 as the expected restock date but cautioned that restock dates may change.
It is also not clear how much coding experience buyers will need to use Codex, GB Studio and the plugin successfully, or whether the workflow will work consistently across different game ideas. The source material contains company demonstrations and product instructions, but no independent testing or user reports. The product ships to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union; availability beyond those markets is not stated.
Supply Co. says non-defective items cannot be returned, while warranty and support are handled by ModRetro rather than OpenAI. The precise terms and process for warranty claims are not detailed in the supplied material.
The November Restock Window
The next listed milestone is the expected November 19 restock. OpenAI says dates can change, so buyers will need to check the Supply Co. listing for current availability. No further production schedule or additional sales channels have been announced in the supplied information.
After purchase, owners can follow ModRetro’s setup instructions to enable Developer-Mode, install Codex and add the Chromatic plugin. Before flashing a new ROM, they should account for the warning that existing game data and saves may be erased. OpenAI has not said whether it will publish further games, expand the device’s availability or make the workflow available for other hardware.
Key Questions
What is the OpenAI and ModRetro Codex Edition?
It is a $200 ModRetro Chromatic handheld sold through OpenAI Supply Co. with one programmable Codex Cartridge. The device plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges and can also run ROMs made through the Codex workflow.
How do users put a Codex-made game on the cartridge?
OpenAI describes a process using Codex and the ModRetro Chromatic plugin to create and refine a game in GB Studio, then build a ROM and write it to the cartridge. Setup requires firmware updates and activation of Developer-Mode. Writing a ROM can erase the cartridge’s existing game and saves.
When will the handheld be available again?
As of November 10, 2026, Supply Co. showed “Restock soon” and listed November 19 as the expected date. OpenAI says restock dates may change, and it has not published stock or sales figures.
What comes in the box, and what costs extra?
The listed bundle includes the handheld, one programmable cartridge and three AA batteries. A Codex Edition case is listed separately for $35 and an extra Codex Cartridge for $50.
Where does it ship, and who handles support?
The listed shipping areas are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The listing says ModRetro handles warranty and support; it also says non-defective items cannot be returned.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
