1984 · Commodore Business Machines · US · computer
Commodore Plus/4 and C16
Conceived by Jack Tramiel as an inexpensive business and entry-level home computer to combat Sinclair in Europe.
Also called Commodore 16
A curiosity Trivial to run Needs a keyboard ▶ Watch on YouTube ↗
Conceived by Jack Tramiel as an inexpensive business and entry-level home computer to combat Sinclair in Europe. The "Plus/4" featured four built-in productivity programs in ROM (word processor, spreadsheet, database, graphing).
Because it was incompatible with C64 software and lacked the SID chip, it struggled in the US. However, Commodore sold huge batches in Hungary, where creative coders pushed the TED chip’s 121-color palette to its absolute limits.
Under the hood
- CPU
- MOS 7501/8501 @ 1.77 MHz (PAL) / 1.79 MHz (NTSC)
- Sound chip
- TED 7360 (2 tone channels + white noise; no SID filters)
- Graphics
- TED 7360, 320 × 200 with 121 distinct colors (No hardware sprites)
- Media
- Datasette & 1551 Fast Floppy Disk Drive
What it cost
about a quarter of a month’s pay in 1984 · about $903 today
| US Plus/4 launch price ($299 with built-in 3-plus-1 office suite) |
$299 (1984)
TED chip delivering 121 colors. |
|---|---|
| Typical street price | — No verified mass-market street price recorded yet. |
| Units sold | ≈1,000,000 estimate Over 1 million units sold across the C16 and Plus/4 family. |
Why it mattered
Because it was incompatible with C64 software and lacked the SID chip, it struggled in the US. However, Commodore sold huge batches in Hungary, where creative coders pushed the TED chip’s 121-color palette to its absolute limits.
Emulating it today
| Emulators | VICE (xplus4) |
|---|---|
| Setup effort | Trivial to run (1 on this site's scale) |
| Controls | The original software assumes a keyboard. A desktop setup feels natural; on a handheld, map common keys and keep an on-screen keyboard available. |
| Runs on a handheld | Yes |
Uses RetroArch VICE (xplus4) core. C16 (16 KB) games run on Plus/4, but 64 KB Plus/4 software requires the 64 KB mode. The emulator names above are starting points, not a promise that every title or accessory behaves identically. Computer platforms usually add model selection, disk handling and keyboard setup even when CPU emulation itself is mature.
Firmware
This system needs no firmware file. Install an emulator, open a game, and it runs.
How many files you need: none to go and find. No separate firmware file is needed for an ordinary setup.
Firmware details checked 2026-08. Emulator requirements change — see Libretro documentation for the current list.
Where the software is
TOSEC catalogues computer disks and tapes broadly, including many revisions. It is useful for preservation, while a smaller curated selection is usually easier to play.
Copyright: Commercial software remains copyrighted unless its owner explicitly released or relicensed it. Homebrew, public-domain programs and current reissues should be treated separately from abandoned commercial titles.
This site names preservation projects and explains what they are. It does not link to ROM downloads.
Where to start
- Treasure Island Platform Adventure
Rich colors and smooth platforming showcasing the 121-color palette.
- Pets Rescue Modern Homebrew Platformer
Proof of what skilled coders can coax out of the TED chip.
- Squirm Maze Action
Fast-paced arcade action dodging monsters.
- Kikstart C16 Motorcycle Trials
Shaun Southern’s obstacle course trials game.
- Majesty of Sprites Modern Platformer
Implements software sprites with breathtaking fluidity.
The verdict
Has 121 colors and faster BASIC 3.5, but lacks the C64’s SID chip and hardware sprites. Flourished in Hungary and Eastern Europe with an impressive niche demo and homebrew scene.
The strongest software can be rewarding, but original controls and setup assumptions may matter more than screenshots suggest.
- Worth it if
- Players curious about commodore 8-bit home computers and willing to learn how the original machine worked.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants a large, instantly accessible library and no model, firmware or control decisions.
Scored 2/5 for fun today and 3/5 for historical importance. Those two scores decide the label at the top — a machine can matter enormously and still be no fun.
Read more & watch
This page is 50% complete against the facts we try to record for every system. Gaps are shown as gaps.