Following the runaway success of the Commodore 64 Ultimate, Commodore International is bringing a beloved piece of gaming history back to life. More than four decades after its debut, the TAC-2 joystick, widely known as the Totally Accurate Controller, is going back into production.
What’s strange is that for the first time in a few years, I actually sat down last night and played some Commodore64 games, so I was pretty surprised to see this first thing this morning. Albeit, I played mine on an Raspberry Pi via emulation and used an Xbox Series X controller, but given I already own around 25 different controllers (…yeah), I’m tempted to pick up my 26th.
Originally launched in 1983 by Suncom Technologies, the TAC-2 earned a reputation for its durable microswitch-free design. Gamers praised its arcade-accurate ball-top handle and satisfyingly clicky dual fire buttons. I did own one back in the day, but I was still in single digit of age back then so mostly just remember the games and the tape loading system.
Still, finding a fully functional original today can be an expensive task, which has led me to build multiple retro controllers of my own (arcade stuff mostly) with surviving units often fetching upwards of $100 on the second-hand market. By reviving this classic peripheral, Commodore aims to make the controller accessible again while expanding its ecosystem of retro computing hardware. The new recreation promises to deliver the same tactile experience for half the price of a well-preserved original.
“While the Commodore 64 Ultimate was designed to support all classic C64 peripherals, getting your hands on vintage hardware like the TAC-2 is sometimes easier said than done,” said Peri Fractic, CEO, President, and Chief Joystick Waggler at Commodore. “The TAC-2 was always a personal favourite of mine, from its sleek silvery design, to its almost indestructible nature, and we’ve taken every effort to ensure the Commodore TAC-2 is a faithful re-release of the original’s tactile history, that looks, feels, and plays just like you remember.”
Engineering The Commodore TAC-2
Just like the 1983 release, movement on the modern Commodore TAC-2 is governed by an internal ball-and-contact mechanism. However, the engineering team has made a significant material upgrade to improve long-term durability. The original controller used a shaft constructed from a TR418 tyre valve and an attached brass ball. While famously tested to three million moves without failure, this multi-part assembly occasionally suffered from stress fractures after years of heavy use. To solve this, Commodore has replaced the old valve stem with a single-form, solid steel, chrome-plated shaft assembly; not unlike modern arcade sticks.
The new production run offers several aesthetic variations to suit different gaming setups. Here is a breakdown of the key features and available models:
- Upgraded single-form, solid steel, chrome-plated shaft for extreme durability.
- Authentic microswitch-free internal ball-and-contact mechanism.
- BASIC Beige: Styled to match the Commodore 64 Ultimate breadbin computer, featuring a fixed colour LED under the fire buttons.
- C= White: Styled to match the slimline C64C computer, retaining the classic non-illuminated buttons.
- Starlight Edition: A translucent casing designed to match the Starlight Commodore 64 Ultimate, complete with LED fire buttons.
- Knight Black: A stealthy option that retains the classic, non-illuminated original look.
- Founders Edition: A premium variant featuring a gold PVD coated ball and matching PVD buttons with LED illumination.
Where to Buy
The Commodore TAC-2 is currently available for pre-order direct from the manufacturer. The BASIC Beige, C= White, Knight Black, and Starlight Edition colourways are priced at $49.99. The limited Founders Edition is available for $64.
So I now I need to start telling myself why I don’t need this… uhm, and I uh… will probably just buy one anyway.
