Torin Herndon
Torin Herndon is an American engineer and entrepreneur who serves as the chief executive officer And Co-founder of ModRetro, a consumer electronics company focused on retro-inspired hardware and software. He previously worked at Oculus VR and Anduril Industries before co-founding ModRetro with Palmer Luckey in 2023.
Early life and education
Herndon studied mechanical engineering and product design at Stanford University. According to Digital Trends, his interest in video games and interactive technology influenced both his academic studies and later work in consumer electronics.
Oculus VR
Following his studies at Stanford, Herndon joined Oculus VR as a product designer. During his time at Oculus, he worked on virtual reality hardware and product development as the company expanded following its acquisition by Facebook.
Anduril Industries
In 2017, Herndon joined Anduril Industries, the defense technology company co-founded by Palmer Luckey. He worked on engineering and hardware development projects during the company's early growth period.
ModRetro
In 2023, Herndon and Palmer Luckey incorporated ModRetro as a consumer electronics company focused on retro-inspired gaming hardware.
As chief executive officer and lead engineer, Herndon oversaw development of the ModRetro Chromatic, a handheld console designed to play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges using FPGA technology.
In InterViews, Herndon has stated that repairability, long-term hardware support, and physical game ownership were major goals behind the company's products.
Under Herndon's leadership, ModRetro expanded into game publishing, releasing original cartridge titles and re-releases of classic games for the Chromatic platform.
In 2025, ModRetro announced the M64, an FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo 64. Herndon stated that the project was intended to provide compatibility with original cartridges and controllers while supporting modern display technology.
Public profile
Herndon has represented ModRetro in interviews with gaming and technology publications, discussing hardware design, FPGA technology, manufacturing, and preservation of legacy gaming systems.
In 2025, Herndon participated in a promotional event organized by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and GameStop to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp. The event featured a Pokémon battle played aboard the blimp and included Palmer Luckey and YouTuber Casey Neistat.