Hyperion Entertainment just released the third-ever update for AmigaOS 3.2. This update, available to registered customers, introduces a mess of bugfixes and cosmetic improvements for compatible systems.
Released in 2021, AmigaOS 3.2 is a upgraded take on 1991’s AmigaOS 3.1. It’s designed for classic 68K Amiga hardware and, unlike the “Amiga-like: AROS or MorphOS platforms, it utilizes original AmigaOS source code.
The 3.2.3 update introduces an improved ReAction toolkit and enhanced TextEditor customization, plus bugfixes for DiskDoctor and HDToolbox, among other things. However, this update will primarily appeal to hobbyists withPiStorm-upgraded systems that can take advantage of improved high-color and high-resolution settings in AmigaOS.
As for why this ancient operating system still receives updates—well, people still use it. AmigaOS is popular among hobbyists, retro game enthusiasts, and digital artists. Developers may also use classic Amiga hardware to build and test the accuracy of modern emulation solutions, which are essential for Amiga game and software preservation.
For reference, there are actually two versions of AmigaOS available today. AmigaOS 3.2 runs on classic hardware, whileAmigaOS 4.1 Final Editionis designed for PowerPC systems. (The latter OS version was developed by Hyperion Entertainment through a wonky contract deal, though it does contain origainal Amiga source code.)
Hyperion Entertainment gained the perpetual rights to develop and market AmigaOS in 2009 following abizarre legal battlewith Amiga Inc, which had been separated from Commodore some years earlier. Itsells individual AmigaOS licensesfor about $30, and it provides occasional updates for AmigaOS on an extremely irregular basis. As noted byThe Register, this new AmigaOS 3.2.3 update was unexpected, as Hyperion recently lost its largest shareholder andfell under new ownership. Of course, AmigaOS updates always come as a surprise because it’s an obsolete operating system, but that’s besides the point.
There are also two popular “Amiga-like” operating systems—AROSandMorphOS. The open-source AROS works on a bunch of CPU architectures, including x86 (32 and 64-bit), PowerPC, 680x0 (classic Amiga hardware), and ARM (although the ARM port is still in an experimental state—skip it if you aren’t a developer). MorphOS, on the other hand, is closed-source, only works on PowerPC systems, and costs €79, but it’s extremely polished and arguably offers the best Amiga software experience.
It’s worth noting that 2025 is the 40th anniversary of Amiga. We’ll probably see a lot of interesting Amiga-focused YouTube videos, blog posts, essays, and projects this year, particularly during the VCF West show on August 1st and 2nd, asAMIGA/040 Silicon Valleyis the central theme this year. There’s already some neat stuff floating around, such as a proof-of-conceptTomb Raiderport for Amigaand a new Amiga soundcard calledAmiGUS.
You can purchase an AmigaOS licensedirectly from Hyperion Entertainmentor through selectdealers. If you don’t own compatible hardware for AmigaOS 3.2 or 4.1, tryAROS, which is x86 compatible—you can spin up an AROS VM on an x86 machine throughVirtualBox. Of course, all of these operating systems will work in an emulator likeWinUAEorFS-UAE. Just know that a lot of classic Amiga software (and the Amiga Kickstart firmware, which is required for system startup) are protected under copyright law.
