If you had June 16th marked in your diary for THE A1200, you’ll need to move it. Retro Games Ltd announced this week that the full-size Amiga 1200 replica has been pushed back by nearly six months, with a new launch date of December 4th 2026. The reason given: a combination of global chip shortages and rising plastic production costs that made the original schedule unworkable.
The good news is that specs and pricing are unchanged. THE A1200 will still cost £149.99 / $189.99 / €189.99, still comes with 25 preloaded games, a working keyboard, the classic tank mouse, and an 8-button gamepad modelled on the CD32 controller. Retro Games Ltd says the additional time will be used to “finesse the software” — presumably addressing any emulation accuracy or firmware issues that would have been patched post-launch anyway.
What You’re Waiting For
For anyone who hasn’t been following: THE A1200 is a full-size, 1:1 working replica of the Commodore Amiga 1200 — the 1992 home computer that represented the peak of the home computer era before the games industry shifted decisively to consoles. It’s built on a Linux single-board computer running Amiga emulation (likely UAE-based), connects to any display via HDMI, supports save states and USB sideloading for additional software, and includes a functional keyboard — the thing that the THEA500 Mini deliberately left out.
The 25 preloaded games are a strong selection. Beneath a Steel Sky, the Turrican trilogy, Defender of the Crown I & II, Lure of the Temptress, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, The Settlers II: Gold Edition — titles that defined the Amiga’s reputation for games that felt genuinely adult and ambitious compared to what the consoles were offering at the same price point.
The Chip Shortage Context
This isn’t the first time chip shortages have disrupted a retro hardware launch, and it won’t be the last. The same supply chain pressures that pushed Switch 2 and PS5 prices upward are working their way through every level of consumer electronics manufacturing, including the relatively modest components that go into a Linux SBC designed to emulate 1992 hardware.
Retro Games Ltd has navigated delays before — THE A1200 itself was originally announced ahead of the THEA500 Mini and faced legal complications before the current release window was set. The December date gives them a full production cycle to resolve the supply issues, and the timing — arriving just before Christmas — is commercially sensible regardless.
What to Do If You’ve Pre-Ordered
Pre-orders placed through Amazon and the Retro Games store remain valid. Amazon’s product page hasn’t yet been updated to reflect the December date at the time of writing, so don’t be alarmed if it still shows June 16th — the official announcement from Retro Games Ltd supersedes any retailer listing. If you’d prefer to cancel and wait to see reviews before committing, most retailers’ standard pre-order cancellation policies will apply.
The delay is frustrating, but a December launch with polished firmware is considerably better than a June launch that requires a series of day-one patches. THE A1200 is exactly the kind of hardware that benefits from getting the emulation right before it ships — the Amiga’s AGA chipset and the specific feel of the A1200’s software library are things that reviewers and enthusiasts will scrutinise closely.
THE A1200 launches December 4th 2026. Pre-orders remain open. For more on the home computer era, see our Home Computers of the 8-bit Era guide. For context on why these delays are happening, see our piece on why your next gaming hardware is going to cost more.