C64GS

C64GS, short for Commodore 64 Games System, was a proposed home video game console from Commodore International in the early 1990s. It was intended as a keyboardless, cartridge-based extension of the Commodore 64, designed to deliver a simpler, console-style gaming experience while leveraging the C64’s software library.

Design concepts envisioned a front-loading cartridge slot, built-in two-player joystick-style controllers, and standard TV output. The hardware was to be derived from the C64’s core components but configured as a dedicated game system. The plan included a library of built-in games and the ability to run additional cartridge titles, with a user-friendly interface aimed at quick, casual play rather than full computer use.

The C64GS was publicly announced around 1993 as Commodore sought to reposition the C64 in a market increasingly dominated by dedicated game consoles. Prototype units and demonstrations appeared for press and industry observers, but the project never progressed to mass production. Internal and market pressures, including Commodore’s financial difficulties and competition from next‑generation consoles, contributed to the cancellation of the venture.

Today, the C64GS is regarded as an unreleased footnote in the history of Commodore and retro computing. Only a small number of prototypes and documentation are known to exist, making it a topic of interest for collectors and historians studying Commodore’s late-era products. The project is distinct from the full keyboard-equipped C64 family and from later Commodore attempts to adapt the platform to new formats.