TL;DR
At CES, Palmer Luckey and Alexis Ohanian argued that older consumer tech designs and physical media offer qualities missing from modern devices, and that those aesthetics could influence future products. Luckey, now head of defense firm Anduril, highlighted nostalgia-driven projects like the ModRetro handheld while also touching on geopolitics and manufacturing shifts.
What happened
During a CES panel on tech nostalgia, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian promoted the idea that many older consumer products are superior in design and experience to many modern equivalents. They distinguished their critique as aesthetic rather than technological—Luckey explicitly expressed support for AI and its workflow benefits while praising retro gaming and the intentionality of building music libraries or mixtapes. Both speakers noted younger people’s appetite for eras they never lived through, citing the rise in interest in physical formats such as cassettes and vinyl and retro-styled devices shown at the show. Ohanian brought a ModRetro Chromatic handheld onstage, and Luckey described his company’s 2024 Game Boy–like device that plays 1990s cartridges. The talk also included personal anecdotes from Luckey about attending CES as a teen and a brief pivot to U.S.-China manufacturing tensions and his work in defense.
Why it matters
- Nostalgia is influencing product design and could create new consumer segments for retro-styled hardware.
- Physical media and low-tech formats are resurging as alternatives to constant streaming and downloads.
- Tech leaders are blending consumer nostalgia projects with larger corporate and geopolitical concerns.
- Manufacturing and geopolitical shifts cited by Luckey may affect supply chains and where devices are produced.
Key facts
- Palmer Luckey and Alexis Ohanian gave a joint talk at CES focused on tech nostalgia.
- Both argued that older tech aesthetics and experiences can be objectively better than some modern equivalents.
- Luckey said he supports AI and believes it improves workflows, distinguishing aesthetic critique from opposition to new technology.
- Luckey praised old-school gaming (including Quake: Arena) and the intentionality of building music libraries and mixtapes.
- The ModRetro Chromatic is a Game Boy–like handheld launched in 2024 that plays 1990s cartridges and retails for $199.
- Ohanian brought a ModRetro unit onstage and has expressed interest in creating a vintage-style game.
- Luckey shared an anecdote about attending CES at 16 using a fake ID to get in.
- Luckey’s company Anduril has focused on defense since 2017 and reached a $30.5 billion valuation after a Series G round; it has collaborated with Meta on headsets for the U.S. military.
What to watch next
- Whether more companies will introduce retro-styled hardware to meet rising consumer interest in physical media and low-tech devices.
- Developments in Anduril’s military projects and its collaboration with Meta on headsets for the U.S. military.
- Not confirmed in the source: any forthcoming consumer products or games from Luckey or Ohanian beyond the ModRetro that were discussed at CES.
Quick glossary
- Tech nostalgia: A cultural trend in which design elements, products, or experiences from earlier technological eras are revived or celebrated.
- ModRetro Chromatic: A handheld gaming device styled after older portable consoles that plays cartridge-based games; launched in 2024 and marketed as a retro gaming product.
- CES: An annual global trade show for consumer electronics where companies and founders often unveil products and discuss industry trends.
- Physical media: Tangible formats for storing and playing content—such as vinyl records, cassettes, and cartridges—rather than streaming or downloading.
- Anduril: A defense technology company led by Palmer Luckey that focuses on military and national security systems.
Reader FAQ
Did Luckey and Ohanian say technology itself is worse now?
They framed their critique around aesthetics and user experience of devices, not a wholesale rejection of new technologies; Luckey said he supports AI.
What is the ModRetro Chromatic?
A 2024 Game Boy–like handheld that plays 1990s cartridges and has been sold for $199.
Are Luckey and Ohanian launching a new retro game together?
Not confirmed in the source; Ohanian has said he’s interested in creating a vintage-style game, but no joint project was announced.
Is Anduril involved in military headset development?
Yes; the company has collaborated with Meta on headsets intended for the U.S. military, according to comments in the coverage.
You might think it’s pretty weird to hear the founders of a VR company and a social media platform publicly complaining about how things used to be better back in…
Sources
- Anduril’s Palmer Luckey thinks the future of tech is in the past
- CES 2026 Highlights Nostalgia as Key to Future Technology …
- Back to the Future: Tech's Nostalgic Revolution
- Masters Of Doom How Two Guys Created An Empire And …
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