Palmer Luckey, founder of defense contractor Anduril and virtual reality pioneer, has made his own CES comeback in Las Vegas this week. Plus, the fact that — as we all know — he first took this stage at the precociously young age of 16. Luckey, who has made his mark in both the technology and defense sectors, recounted his journey. He shared deep insights about those new ventures in an entertaining keynote address at TED@State.
Luckey’s company, Anduril, now has a mindboggling $30.5 billion valuation, proof of his successful pivot from gaming to war tech. He stressed the need to comprehend global strategic currents—especially those between the United States and China.
Luckey explained that the United States and China are currently going through a very public and ugly divorce in the geopolitical arena. He said that people who hope for reconciliation are being foolish, it just will not come. This comment underscores his sincere alarm for the geopolitical situation and what it means for any hope of bringing tech manufacturing home.
Along with unpacking current U.S. foreign policy, Luckey unveiled his new creation, the ModRetro Chromatic, which is scheduled to release in 2024. This cutting-edge device, shaped somewhat like a Game Boy, sells for just $199. It gives you a chance to explore some retro gems from the 90s! On his event day presentation, he revealed one of ModRetro’s units to a captivated audience.
“It’s not just about nostalgia for the old; it’s about the fact that it’s just objectively better,” – Alexis Ohanian
Luckey’s enthusiasm for old technology is more than just a love of the past. He said that legacy technology provides better design and superior features than many new products. He acknowledged the role he had played in creating the current state of manufacturing reliance on foreign nations, especially China.
I took the easy way out and made all my products in China,” he explained. Those were historic decisions to make in production and sourcing, and he thought back on them.
He was a wonderful, inspiring source of retro media enthusiasm. Listening to him talk about it, you could feel his appreciation for that art of curating music libraries and mixtapes. Luckey’s old man yells at clouds perspective is a bellwether for a new consumer reluctance to embrace newer technologies and media formats.
Why do they think it’s good They’re not simply pining for their own youths or wishing for a history that never was. They understand that some of this outdated stuff is actually better, Luckey said, pointing to the real value he sees in old technology.
Luckey’s distinctive style caught attention at CES, sporting an ’80s mullet that reflects his appreciation for retro culture. His return to CES is a particularly personal milestone. Beyond that, it points to a larger trend in technology — where nostalgia meets cutting-edge innovation.
Luckey’s tightrope act between his roles as an avatar of defense and vintage tech. He is still committed to building the bridge between the past and future. He wants to light a creative spark in a new generation of gamers through projects like ModRetro Chromatic. Alongside this, he seeks to demystify some of today’s most essential global conversations.
