A new anniversary edition of the ZX Spectrum is being released.
Today marks the 44th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum, one of the most important and fondly remembered home computers of the 80s and home to all manner of classic video games, such as Manic Miner and Chuckie Egg.
Although a white Spectrum was never officially released at the time, fan rumours have always believed that one was made in order to celebrate 1 million units sold.
Whether or not this was ever true, the white ZX Spectrum is now a reality, thanks to a collaboration between Retro Games and Plaion Replai, which specialises in releasing updated versions of retro hardware, like The C64 Mini and The A500 Mini.
Officially titled the Spectrum White ZX Spectrum, this isn’t being billed as a miniature version like some retro re-releases but a full-sized recreation, complete with rubber keyboard and 48 built-in games.
Some examples include the aforementioned Manic Miner, as well as the classic Head Over Heels, The Great Escape, Saboteur! Remastered, and text adventure The Hobbit – the very first video game based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.
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The hardware has a number of modern touches, such as HDMI output, so you can hook it up to your TV or PC monitor; USB ports for your controllers; and a rewind feature much like the Nintendo Switch Online’s retro library.
The white ZX Spectrum is already available for purchase on Plaion’s website and is just £129, which seems fairly reasonable considering what it is.
It also comes with an old school joystick, that looks very much like a Competition Pro 5000, and a reprint of beloved Spectrum magazine Crash. Plus, there’s a USB Microdrive for storing games on. So, you can use the ROMs of any other games and run them on the white ZX Spectrum too.
Retro Games and Plaion are selling a matching gamepad as well, which also works with their other retro hardware, but it’s a separate purchase for £19.99.
For ZX Spectrum diehards, there’s a collector’s edition that includes the aforementioned gamepad, plus a plug-in printer so you can ‘capture your gaming moments or BASIC code in beautiful monochrome.’
This edition is more expensive, at £199.99, and it’s only available for pre-order, with shipments aiming to be sent out from June 26. It also sounds like it’ll be a limited item, since Plaion’s website states, ‘Once it’s gone, it’s gone.’
‘Releasing The Spectrum White Edition on the anniversary of the original ZX Spectrum feels incredibly special for us,’ says Retro Games managing director Paul Andrews.
‘That machine changed everything for so many people, not just as players, but as creators. The White Edition celebrates that legacy while giving fans a new way to experience it today, whether they’re playing, collecting, or simply reconnecting with something that meant a lot to them.’
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