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.
The Next Miyoo Retro Handheld Might Be a Miyoo Mini Plus with Sticks
Miyoo has yet to formally launch its upcoming Miyoo Flip despite numerous leaks over the past few months. However, it seems Miyoo is already working on their follow-up, tentatively named the Miyoo 321. Like Anbernic’s RGXX line, Miyoo typically uses these naming schemes to denote the screen size and chipset generation, respectively.
MagicX Touch Zero40 Could Be the Perfect DS Handheld
Exclusively on the Retro Handhelds Discord, @magicxsean has shared a video of a prototype of an upcoming handheld that seems to be form fit for DS emulation. The video shows a device with a similar form factor as the shortlived Nintendo 2DS The 2DS is still regarded as one of the most satisfying handhelds to use today due to its wedge-style design leading to a more comfortable hand feel for many gamers.
RG35XX SP and RG34XX Capable of 120Hz/BFI
But wait, there’s more! RG35XXSP is capable of 120Hz/BFI too.https://t.co/r1X8tx4DXd https://t.co/4Qr1Xjkfoi pic.twitter.com/mF6faSj560
— Gamma (@TheGammaSqueeze) December 19, 2024
Shortly after the RG34XX started arriving, it was discovered that Anbernic’s latest handheld suffers from a bit of micro-stutters. With this, Gamma also found that both the RG34XX and the RG35XX SP actually feature screens with a 120Hz refresh rate. As such, Gamma created and released “modded boot_packages” for these handhelds, which should solve any problems while letting you take advantage of the faster refresh rates.
Report Suggests Either Microsoft or Sony Consoles Will Fall
With all eyes on Nintendo ahead of the Switch 2 announcement, some have wondered whether the console space is still a three-horse race. A recent report suggests that either Microsoft or Sony will struggle to keep up with Nintendo. According to the report, “Sony or Microsoft will struggle mightily in a distant third place – largely depending on which of those companies can gain early momentum.”
However, the report also notes that we might not begin seeing larger issues until Sony and Microsoft release its next-generation consoles.
Qualcomm Wins Major Legal Battle Over Arm
This might seem like an odd inclusion, but it’s for good reason. Last week, Qualcomm was awarded the decision in a lawsuit that was filed by Arm back in 2022. This is related to a breach of an agreement following Qualcomm’s acquisition of Nuvia. However, the reason why the decision is so important is that if it had fallen Arm’s way, Qualcomm would have had to halt sales of its latest Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon 8 Elite processors.
Other Hardware News
- Alldocube Palm Mini 2 Ultra Launches with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
- SEGA Won’t Be Releasing a Saturn or Dreamcast Mini
- 8BitDo Ultimate Mini Wired Controller for Xbox
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.
OnionOS Gets Two New Beta Updates
It’s been more than six months since the last update to OnionOS was released, but that’s no longer the case. Just yesterday, Onion v4.4-beta arrived on GitHub, and since then, there have been a few updates to the update. With this beta, there are a number of new features, such as utilizing the gpSP core as the default, RTC detection for the Miyoo Mini+, and much more.
You can download the latest OnionOS release via the button below.
Starship (Star Fox 64) PC Port Now Available
About a month ago, we learned that the Harbour Masters 64 development team was working on a new PC port, this time for Star Fox 64. It’s officially here, as Starship is now available for download over at GitHub. Currently, it’s only available for Windows, but with three rendering APIs supported, macOS and Linux users won’t have much longer to wait.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, there’s already a version of Starship for PortMaster.
KNULLI Will Soon Support the RG34XX
Now that the Anbernic RG34XX is arriving in more hands, it is only a matter of time before the CFW world makes this handheld even better. Mr. Retro Game Corps himself got his hands on an alpha build of KNULLI and gave us a look at how to truly turn the RG34XX into the ultimate GBA.
Other Software News
- CrossMix-OS v1.3.0 Released; Still Doesn’t Support the Brick
- Sega Rumored to Launch Game Subscription Service
- Star Wars Battlefront 3 for Wii Build Leaks
- NVIDIA App Causes Gaming Performance Degradation
- Steam Winter Sale Is Under Way
- DREDGE is Coming to Android
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.
RH Games: What We’re Playing This Week
I finally beat Metaphor and needed a break from games for a few days since that engulfed the last 3 months of my life. I recently got back into guitar and decided to sell all my old guitars and amp so I could start new with a setup I wanted. I got this new pedal, axe, and practice amp and it’s been great getting back into it!
5 More Current Games with N64 Graphics
The N64 didn’t have many games, but people loved it still. I have so much nostalgia for it and have been playing a ton of games from it lately. I have stumbled upon a lot of current games that are heavily inspired by the console. I wanted to let the world know to check these out!
Why Did I Buy an Atari VCS in 2024?
Releasing in 2021 as a community-funded project, the Atari VCS promised a modern take on the nostalgia you held for the 2600. The problem is, I’m not sure who is holding on to that nostalgia. As someone in my early 40s, I was around Atari consoles as a kid and played them plenty at various friends’ and relative’s houses, but the experience was nothing compared to the NES. I wasn’t part of the group that grew up with the 2600 as THE home video gaming experience, and I think those that were, have largely had their fix.
Modders Turn Canceled GBA Game into Reality
In our article discussing how to play the entire Mega Man franchise on one handheld, the existence of DX ROM hacks that colorize the original black-and-white Mega Man Game Boy titles was briefly mentioned.
Today, modders have released the newest in a line of DX ROM hacks for the Mega Man Game Boy games (often referred to as Rockman or Mega Man World) for the 4th title, Mega Man IV.
Retroid Pocket 5 (and Mini) Tips and Tricks!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! This device took our writing team by storm and has been a part of my daily use since it was delivered to me a month ago. Spoiler alert: It’s easily my handheld of the year (you can check out our full thoughts here, in our official review).
Furious X SU-10: Gone Too Far
Usually, when I talk about handhelds here, I have at least something good to say. And I’m going to try that here too. But if you’re looking for true e-waste you can usually find those articles from Nick, like his cheap controller roundups.
Ayaneo Pocket DMG Review: How Much Game Boy Do You Need?
When you’re spending a lot of money on a handheld, I really recommend trying to get something that fits your needs and does most, if not everything, you’re looking for in that category. You wouldn’t want to buy more than one $500 handheld, right?
The Redemption Arc: Giving a Second Chance to the RG-Arc
At the time of writing Anbernic have just announced a flash sale, where one of the most visible price reductions is on the RG-Arc. A device which was recently rumoured to be the basis for the next H700 device. I felt this was a good time to revisit this unloved child of the RK3566 series, explain why it’s one of my favourites and why we don’t need a new version.
Retro Handhelds Holiday Gift Guide 2024
With just days 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.
5 Retro Christmas Games to Play This Year
Christmas time is here. The hot chocolate is flowing, the crazy shoppers are raging, and Hallmark is playing an impressive array of movies that are all basically the same. It is also time to get your handheld and check out these five Christmas games!
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. With the holiday rapidly approaching, it was a pretty quiet week for Stubbs and Zu. That being said, the RH duo dropped a banger as they shared their favorite gaming handhelds of the year.
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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