ZX Spectrum Next Issue 3 Kickstarter Launches: Final Crowdfunding Campaign Goes Live July 2025
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Published on: July 19, 2025
Description
The ZX Spectrum Next Issue 3 Kickstarter campaign officially goes live on July 19, 2025, marking a major milestone in the ongoing effort to revive and modernize the legendary Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer line.
Designed around powerful FPGA technology to support both classic and next-generation Spectrum software, the ZX Spectrum Next has become a key player in retro gaming hardware—a device beloved by enthusiasts but often challenging to obtain due to its limited production runs.
Originally conceptualized by a dedicated team of fans and engineers, the ZX Spectrum Next boasts a heritage linked to some of the most iconic names in consumer computer history.
The first successful Kickstarter, launched in 2016, raised an impressive £723,390, followed by a second campaign in 2020 that shattered records with £1,847,106 in pledged support.
Despite these successes, limited manufacturing means the hardware remains rare, with only around 16,000 units—including clones—in the hands of users so far.
Henrique Olifiers, a driving force behind the ZX Spectrum Next project, shared insights on the campaign’s goals: "With the third—potentially final—Kickstarter, our intention is to grow the community even further.
The more people who own the Next, the more opportunities there are for developers to be recognized and rewarded for their work.
Expanding the user base directly contributes to more games and apps being created for everyone’s benefit."
While other alternatives like the N-Go and X-Berry Pi boards exist, Olifiers emphasized the ongoing demand for a complete, boxed, and professionally packaged ZX Spectrum Next, stating, "If it takes another campaign to put a proper, cased Next into the hands of fans worldwide, then we're ready to do it again to foster our burgeoning community."
The ZX Spectrum Next Issue 3 campaign arrives with exciting technical updates, including compatibility with new FPGA cores—such as one for the Commodore 64—further enhancing its appeal and versatility.
This broad support shows the system’s adaptability in the contemporary retro hardware landscape and its value for both seasoned developers and newcomers to homebrew programming.
The ZX Spectrum Next’s case pays tribute to its groundbreaking roots, featuring a design by the late Rick Dickinson, famed designer behind the ZX81 and the ZX Spectrum’s instantly recognizable rubber-keyed chassis.
This design continuity ensures that the nostalgia factor remains strong for longtime Sinclair fans while offering new opportunities for game and application developers vying for recognition from a growing user base.
With the Issue 3 Kickstarter campaign set for July 19, 2025, the ZX Spectrum Next continues to build on its impressive legacy.
The project serves both as a tribute to Sinclair’s pioneering spirit and as ongoing inspiration for hardware and software innovation within retro gaming and the broader independent development community.
For those seeking an officially packaged and robust compatible experience, this campaign may represent the last and best chance to join the expanding ZX Spectrum Next ecosystem.
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