Rayman is stepping back into the spotlight with a new cartridge release that looks both backward and forward. To mark the 30th anniversary of Ubisoft’s limbless hero, retro hardware company ModRetro has partnered with Ubisoft to reissue the Rayman Game Boy Color version as a physical cartridge. It is not just a celebration of the past but also a way to bring the handheld title back into circulation for collectors and retro fans.
This new edition is not a digital port or a simple emulation package. Instead, ModRetro is producing cartridges that work on original Nintendo hardware. That means if you still have a Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance, you can play this version directly from the cartridge, just as it was intended. At the same time, the reissue has been designed with ModRetro’s upcoming Chromatic handheld in mind, a device aiming to offer a modern but authentic Game Boy-style experience.
To give the package extra appeal, the new edition comes with a refreshed soundtrack and a collectible Rayman charm. The choice of version is an interesting one. Rayman on the Game Boy Color was released in 2000 and adapted the original’s side-scrolling design for Nintendo’s smaller screen. While limited compared to its console siblings, it offered a unique take on the formula that holds up surprisingly well. By choosing to revive this particular release, ModRetro and Ubisoft are acknowledging not just the hero’s origins on PlayStation and PC but also his handheld legacy.
The Chromatic handheld connection is worth watching. ModRetro has been positioning the device as a new way to experience original-style cartridges, not just as nostalgic novelties but as part of a living ecosystem. Tying the Rayman reissue to Chromatic’s launch strategy suggests this is more than a one-off. If successful, it may open the door for more classic handheld titles to get similar treatment. Even original games, specifically developed for a viable newly resurrected platform, in the same way Evercade is showing how a retro inspired cartridge based platform can be successful.
Of course, for many people, the appeal lies in the physical cartridge itself. A boxed Game Boy Color game that works on real hardware carries a different weight than a digital release or a compilation. It is about preservation through playability, ensuring the game is not just archived but accessible in the form it was originally designed for.
Rayman has appeared in many forms since his debut, from 2D platformers to 3D adventures and even the spin-off Rabbids series. This 30th anniversary reissue is less about innovation and more about honoring that long history. For fans who grew up with handheld cartridges, or for those who want to explore the franchise’s roots, the Game Boy Color edition is being given a new lease on life.
Pre-orders are expected to go live soon, and the release will be available worldwide through ModRetro’s official storefront. The package promises to combine nostalgia, collectability, and compatibility, which is a fitting way to celebrate three decades of a character who has stayed relevant across generations of hardware.
