Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on what’s happened this week in the world of Retro Handhelds.
Table of Contents
Hardware
If there’s one thing we know about retro handhelds, it’s that there is always something new around the corner. Seriously, it’s “worse” than smartphones, as some companies release new handhelds every other week. On the bright side, at least there’s no shortage of options.
Legion Go 2 Leak: Lenovo’s Move to OLED and Possibly SteamOS?
Although we’ve already seen renders of the Legion Go S, new renders surfaced today, revealing even more details. Notably, the latest renders seem to confirm that the Go S will be available in two different colors, but that’s not the fun part. What is fun is that this could be the first third-party handheld to be running SteamOS out of the box.
Dbrand Gives Us a Glimpse at the Nintendo Switch 2
This latest “leak” comes via dbrand, as the company published a new landing page for its Killswitch 2 case for the Switch 2. The page doesn’t show anything other than a render of Nintendo’s next supposed gaming handheld housed within a case. But, does reveal a few things about the Switch 2.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ Pre-orders Now Open
Are you excited about the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and can’t wait to enjoy what this upcoming handheld has to offer? Well, you might be able to pre-order MSI’s next Claw, as we’ve seen it going in and out of stock over at Amazon. However, at one point the Amazon listing stated it wouldn’t be available until February, despite our initial expectations being that it would be released on December 26.
Valve Starts Selling Refurbished Steam Deck OLED
There’s little denying that the Steam Deck offers one of the best values in gaming, with pricing already being extremely affordable. Until recently, we already had the option to pick up a “Valve Certified Refurbished” Steam Deck LCD. But now, Valve has started selling Certified Refurbished Steam Deck OLED models. The only downside is that all of the LCD and OLED refurb models are out of stock.
Other Hardware News
- AYN is Offering an Ergonomic Grip Shell for the Odin 2 Portal
- Powkiddy X35H Could Be Right Around the Corner
Software and Custom Firmware
Don’t get me wrong, hardware is definitely fun and exciting to talk about. But what good is an awesome handheld if it doesn’t even work? That’s where software and custom firmware come into play, so here’s everything you might’ve missed this week.
Some Major Changes Are In Store for Azahar
One of the most anticipated emulators, Azahar, is still being developed and has yet to be released. However, PabloMK7 is back with another update about what to expect, and this is a big one. In a blog post, PabloMK7 explained that Azahar will be “removing encrypted game support,” which is being done to “limit the circumvention of TPM (technological protection measures.)” Additionally, Azahar will not support any 3DS ROMs that feature the “.3ds” file extension.
muOS 2410.2 Big Banana Released
If you own an Anbernic RGXX handheld and haven’t tried out muOS, you’re missing out. The developers continue to blow us away with every release, and as such, muOS Big Banana 2410.2 is now available. There are so many changes in this release that it would take up the entire article, so head over to the release page to check it out and download the update.
GammaOS Core Beta 2 Release
GammaOS Welcome Screen
We’ve been wondering when GammaOS Core Beta 2 would be released, and we finally have an answer. It’s available now (if you’re a Patreon subscriber.) The latest update introduces support for the Powkiddy X55, RGB20 Pro, and even the GKD Bubble. Gamma packed a bunch of changes into this latest update, such as setting Daijisho as the default launcher and adding a variety of emulators such as PPSSPP, Fake-08, and more.
RPCS3 and Xemu running on Android Handhelds via Linux
After it was announced that RPCS3 would finally support arm64 architecture, many wondered if Android support was in the cards. Unfortunately, the developers confirmed that we won’t be seeing the popular PS3 emulator come to Android. However, that hasn’t stopped people from trying, as we’ve seen some get RPCS3 running on Android through a Linux container. And if you check out the video above, you can see that BrooksyTech managed to play some Demon’s Souls via RPCS3 through ROCKNIX on the Retroid Pocket 5.
Other Software News
- The Game Awards
- ES-DE V3.1.1 is Here
- Spruce 3.2.0 Released
- Majora’s Mask Decompilation Project Reaches 100%
- Steam Winter Sale Begins December 19
From the Writers
While there’s always a lot of news to cover and talk about, we also try to take a step back and give everyone something a bit different to enjoy. These are the more editorial-styled articles and reviews that you might have missed over the course of this week.
Help Us Pick the Best Handheld of the Year!
We’ve reached the final round of voting, and have ended with a few surprises as we try to pick the best handheld of the year! Now is where the fun really begins. In the sections below, you’ll find the different categories that remain, which obviously include the best of the year. However, this is where you come in.
RH Games: What We’re Playing This Week
Playing TetraChroma on the AYANEO Air 1S. It’s literally just Tetris with a color-shifting mechanic but with cool music and art design. They also have a few bonus modes whether that’s wild blocks or double wide blocks. It’s just a solid experience, and for $5 how could I say no?
Anbernic RG34XX Review: The Ultimate GBA
Anbernic has been making so many nostalgic Nintendo-looking devices that may as well steal Sega’s old slogan of, “Anbernic does what Nintendon’t” while they’re at it. When the announcement of the Anbernic RG34XX was made, every kid that had a GBA audibly sighed, pulled out their wallet, and came up with an excuse to their spouse for their latest $70 purchase. Even the box uses the GBA font! Is this the best GBA device on the market?
AYN Odin 2: One Year Later
In a hobby where the hottest newly hyped device is always around the corner, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up with what’s coming next. Incremental improvements and hardware changes are all well and good, but I think we could use a reminder that these devices should be lasting us for years. We can get lost in what came before when we’re all collectively salivating about what comes next.
Fantech EOS Pro Review: Worth Exploring
If you had asked me about Fantech towards the beginning of the year, I would have known them for their mice, but not much else. The Helios Go XD5 and the Aria are two mice that seemed to get a lot of positive reception from smaller brand mice makers. But fast forward to now, and I know Fantech produces all sorts of peripherals and gear when it comes to gaming. But today I’m taking a look at the EOS Pro WGP15.
Let’s Play Every Mega Man Game
The Mega Man series expands across the past six generations of gaming. With a dedicated retro handheld, you can play the entire franchise in the best possible way. Minimal lag, all the extras, and it is consolidated and easy to find. Below, I run through the bulk of the games in the franchise while showcasing how you may already have the best handheld for these games.
Anbernic RG34XX First Impressions: The GBA I Never Had
As someone who never owned a Game Boy Advance, I didn’t really have the same level of excitement as my contemporaries when the Anbernic RG34XX was announced. Instead, it was more of an “Oh, Anbernic actually went 12/12 this year,” followed by a “That’s neat.” After a surprise package delivery, I’ve only had a few hours to mess around with the RG34XX, but I’ve already come to a few conclusions.
5 Current Games with N64 Graphics
I had a N64 growing up and I played the crud out of it. Well, I still have that N64, but now it is in the closet and I play on a handheld with upscaled graphics. The point is, I, and many people my age, have a ton of nostalgia for this console. I was listening to the Get Played podcast and they had a guest talking about current games with a N64 platformer feel. So I went down a rabbit hole and I am bringing you my findings!
The Handhelds I Actually Used in 2024
2024 was a big year in handhelds. I played with and used more than I ever have in my life thanks to RH and my position to review them. I thought it would be good to look back and see which ones I actually used to play games on when I had some spare time. I sold most of my collection and these (plus a 3DS and Vita) that survived the chopping block.
On the YouTubes
Don’t think that the writers are the only ones getting things done. the RH video team is constantly working on new videos, and now’s the best time to subscribe. This week, the RG34XX shows up on Zu’s doorstep, Stubbs compares two of the latest Android handhelds, and Zu shares some of his gripes with the Retroid Pocket 5.
Looking for Dills?
With less than two weeks left before Christmas, you might be scrambling trying to figure out what to get to put under the tree or in a stocking. Especially if you know that they’re into the world of retro handhelds and gaming, but you don’t exactly know where to start. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite devices, controllers, and accessories that will hopefully help you find the perfect gift to surprise them with.
Retro Handhelds Holiday Gift Guide 2024
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