The Commodore TAC-2 joystick is returning as a new-build version of Suncom Technologies’ 1983 controller, more than 40 years after the original release. Commodore has opened pre-orders for five variants, priced from $49.99, aimed at machines using the Atari 9-pin controller standard.
The company is selling Knight Black, C= White, BASIC Beige and Starlight Edition models for $49.99. A limited Founders Edition costs $64 and adds a gold PVD-coated ball and buttons. Those are cosmetic and lighting distinctions in the published specifications, not different controller interfaces or control layouts.
Tom’s Hardware reports that Commodore expects shipping to begin October 20, 2026. That date is not shown in the supplied official store listing, and a YouTube creator reported a conflicting October 30 date. Buyers looking at a pre-order should treat the delivery timing as unconfirmed until Commodore publishes it directly.
What devices can the Commodore TAC-2 joystick connect to?
The new TAC-2 has an Atari 9-pin connector. Commodore says it is compatible one-to-one with the original controller and with devices that support that standard, which covers the intended classic-hardware use case.
It is not a native USB controller. Tom’s Hardware says users can obtain USB adapters separately to use a TAC-2 with modern PCs or other devices, but the evidence does not indicate that Commodore includes one in the box.
Commodore lists the joystick at 101 by 101 by 114 mm, about 300 g, with a two-metre cable. The company says that cord is 20 cm longer than the original.
What changed from the 1983 TAC-2?
Suncom’s original used a ball-and-contact system rather than microswitches, according to The Escapist. Commodore says the remake retains a direct metal-contact mechanism with no microswitches.
The mechanical change is the shaft. Commodore says it replaced the original copper tire-valve shaft with a steel version engineered to be stronger. The company’s store page describes it as a steel shaft, while The Escapist reports a single-piece, chrome-plated solid-steel assembly. That is a manufacturer durability claim, not an independent test result.
Commodore also repeats the old TAC-2 marketing claim that the original was tested to three million movements without failure. Its current listing does not say the new controller underwent that test, so the historical claim should not be read as a durability rating for the remake.
Which TAC-2 editions have LEDs?
- Knight Black and C= White have no LED fire buttons.
- BASIC Beige and Starlight Edition add LED-lit fire buttons.
- The Founders Edition has LED fire buttons plus gold PVD-coated ball and buttons.
The redesigned shaft and the extra finishes may appeal to collectors, but actual feel and longevity remain untested outside Commodore’s own claims. Pre-orders buy a reproduction with a period-correct plug, not a verified modern-PC controller.
This story draws on original reporting from Tom's Hardware.
