News
Everything that’s happening in the retro handheld gaming world.
The Latest
MANGMI Pocket Max Price and Release Date Revealed
MANGMI Pocket Max: A $199 budget-friendly powerhouse with a 7-inch AMOLED 144Hz screen and Snapdragon 865. Is this the new king of retro handhelds?
SpruceOS Launches 4.0 For A Ton of Devices
SpruceOS 4.0 adds a new front end, one-click installer, and broader device support, with devs urging a fresh install as they “clear the decks” for future work.
MinUI Creator Shaun Inman Is Back With a DS-Only OS for the MagicX Zero40
MinUI dev Shaun Inman has launched DEDICATED OS, a single-system DS launcher for the MagicX Zero40, while also preparing to release his adventure Ratcheteer DX.
Sands of Time PC Mod Is the Remaster Ubisoft Wouldn’t Make
With Ubisoft’s Sands of Time remake canceled, a free PC “remaster” mod upgrades textures, cutscenes, and visuals, making the 2003 classic shine on modern rigs.
GOG’s Preservation Effort Continues With a Free Alone in the Dark Giveaway
GOG is giving away Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy until Feb 5 to spotlight its Preservation Program, making it easier than ever to revisit this classic series.
ScummVM 2026.1.0 Might Be Its Biggest Release
ScummVM 2026.1.0 adds 12 engines, ~194 games, and big QoL upgrades including better keymapping, TTS, SDL3 builds, and improved mobile and desktop builds.
Queen of Queens Steps Into the Ring in English on PC-FX
PC-FX oddity All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling: Queen of Queens just received an English fan patch, making its FMV-heavy wrestling finally playable.
Zuiki Resurrects Three Fatal Fury Ports for X68000 Hardware
Magical Company’s superior X68000 ports of Fatal Fury, FF2, and FF Special return in a March compilation for Japan’s X68000 Z retro computer.
Sony Patents Customizable Touchscreen Controller
Sony patented a touchscreen PlayStation controller with customizable layouts, using pressure sensors to detect intentional inputs versus resting contact.
Enhanced Lemmings Remake Coming to C64
Jörg Karwath’s Lemmings Reloaded brings enhanced graphics, full-screen scrolling, and 55+ levels to C64, surpassing the limited 1994 official port.
RetroX Gets First Update Since 2024
RetroX’s first update since 2024 adds Amstrad CPC support and search improvements to the $76.99 lifetime Android frontend after a two-year development gap.
PlayStation Portal OLED Refresh Rumored for 2026
Tired of the PS Portal LCD? An OLED model is reportedly coming this year. We also break down leaks for Sony’s next native handheld with PS5 backward compatibility.
New Analogue 3D Update Addresses Launch Issues
Analogue 3D firmware 1.2.0 fixes HDMI compatibility, adds Force Progressive Output, and introduces playtime tracking only months after the delayed launch.
‘Operation: Game Over’ Led to Jeffrey Epstein’s Permanent Xbox Live Ban
DOJ documents show Jeffrey Epstein was banned from Xbox Live in 2013 under a New York Attorney General program that removed 3,500 sex offenders from gaming.
Unofficial Turbo Core Pushes MiSTer N64 17.5 Percent Faster
A new unofficial 94MHz N64 core for MiSTer FPGA delivers a 17.5% performance boost, matching Analogue 3D speeds in some tests, but stability varies.
GPD’s Bazzite Fiasco: Bad Timing, Worse Communication
GPD’s “official” Bazzite collaboration fell apart when they unknowingly partnered with a removed team member, sparking weeks of public confusion.
FlipperMCE Brings Custom Boot Screens and Unlimited Saves to GameCube
FlipperMCE is a fully open-source GameCube memory card emulator with unlimited storage, auto-mounting, and custom graphics, with no proprietary software.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO Releases Pocket S Mini, RIP Odin 2, Major Emulator Updates, and More
This week’s Retro Handhelds rundown: AYN discontinues the Odin 2, AYANEO releases the Pocket S Mini, major emulator updates are here, and much more.
AYANEO Pocket S Mini Now Available, Begins Shipping Next Week
Is AYANEO finally changing its ways? The Pocket S Mini is officially here with direct sales and a 4:3 screen. Check out the full specs, pricing, and shipping timeline.
Virtua Racing Deluxe On 32X Has Been Fully Decompiled
A fan has fully decompiled Virtua Racing Deluxe on Sega 32X, producing a buildable disassembly that opens new possibilities for fixes, hacks, and preservation.
Classic Puzzler Nebulus Gets A Fresh Spin On GBA
Cult platformer Nebulus is getting a fully licensed new GBA cartridge and ROM release, bringing its rotating tower puzzles back for a modern handheld audience.
Sausageware Launching Two New ZX Spectrum Titles
Sausageware Games readies S.C.I.O.N and Knightmare for ZX Spectrum, mixing run‑and‑gun chaos with TV‑show dungeon crawling in 48k and 128k glory.
Invanoid Mashes Up Two Arcade Classics For One Good Time
Invanoid is a new Amiga game that fuses Arkanoid’s paddle play with Space Invaders’ alien waves, delivering a hot, replayable score-chaser for classic hardware.
Huntdown Prequel Is Happening, And It’s A Rogue-lite
Huntdown: Overtime is a roguelite prequel that sends John Sawyer through brutal, VHS‑style runs in New Detroit, heading to Steam Early Access in Q2 2026.
Azahar 2124.3 Brings Back .3DS Support
Azahar has a surprise update that is small in scope, but a very big improvement for convenience and accessibility for newcomers! Let’s dive into the “Why” and “How.”
EU Sets Deadline For Stop Killing Games Decision
The EU will issue its official response to the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative by July 27, 2026, after a meeting and public hearing in Parliament.
Landmark Visual Novel Shizuku Finally Gets An English Fan Translation
Leaf’s 1996 PC‑98 visual novel Shizuku has finally been translated into English via a fan patch, bringing a key, horror‑tinged genre milestone to new readers.
Windows 11 Update Breaks ROG Xbox Ally Controls, Here’s How to Fix It
A recent Windows 11 update flags Armoury Crate as a threat on ROG Ally and Xbox Ally handhelds. Here’s how you can disable Smart App Control and restore controls.
New Sonic R Patch Lets You Explore Levels Without The Race
Sonic R&R reworks Sonic R into an exploration-first platformer, stripping out racing pressure and refining controls to make collecting and roaming far easier.
Screw A Remake, Halo Finally Gets A Demake
Halo Zero (Unofficial Remake) delivers an early one-level preview on Amiga, Mega Drive, and Neo Geo CD, pushing classic hardware with a fan-made Halo demake.