Retro Games and Plaion Replai have announced TheQuickshot 2, a reimagined version of the iconic 1980s joystick Quickshot 2.
TheQuickshot 2 will be a USB-enabled controller, giving players the chance to experience retro gaming from their home setups. While the new rendition of the joystick stays true to the original version, there are several enhancements being made to modernize it. These include the following:
- 8 action and feature buttons (including 2 fire buttons and 6 function buttons)
- Floating ball-joint design, allowing for smooth eight-way circular movement
- An all-microswitch construction for all buttons and directional inputs, increasing accuracy and responsiveness
- More ergonomic grip
- Suction cups for a more stable setup
It will also include an auto-fire switch, which was part of the original Quickshot 2.
TheQuickshot 2 will be compatible with all of Retro Games’ machines, along with most retro gaming platforms on PCs. It also comes with a 1.8m USB-A cable.
The original joystick was widely used on a variety of systems, such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, and Commodore Amiga. This spanned an entire generation of gamers in the 80s and early 90s, as Retro Games points out, defining how they played games.
Paul Andrews, the Managing Director of Retro Games, shares more about the motivation behind TheQuickshot 2:
“The original Quickshot 2 is one of the most recognisable controllers of the home-computer era. For so many of us, it was our first taste of truly immersive gameplay, it was a controller that felt powerful, precise, and built for arcade-style action. With TheQuickshot 2, we wanted to honour that legacy while enhancing it for the modern player. This new version stays true to the spirit of the original, right down to its distinctive ergonomics, but adds the reliability and functionality expected today. It’s a piece of gaming history, reborn for the players who remember it, and for those about to discover it.”
TheQuickshot 2 is set to release on January 30, 2026. Fans can get a first look at it in the product images shared below:
For more on retro gaming, check out the revival of the retro games publisher Acclaim and our interview with Atari earlier this year at Gamescom 2025.
