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.
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.
GKD Pixel 2: Everything We Know
A few days after we caught wind that the GKD Pixel 2 might soon be released, it’s finally available for pre-order. At the time of this writing, it’s only available at KeepRetro, but hopefully, it will arrive at other retailers in the near future.
MagicX Mini Zero 28 Pre-orders Are Now Live!
After months of working with the community to gauge the design of a new handheld, the MagicX Mini Zero 28 is almost here. This is the first MagicX handheld to be released since the Mini M debacle, and on paper, there’s quite a bit to be excited about.
Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced, in a Rather Unceremonious Fashion
The speculation is finally over. Nintendo surprised many of us by shadow-dropping its “First-look trailer” for the Switch 2. The video is a little under 2:30 minutes long and basically confirms all of the leaks that we’ve seen in recent weeks.
Powkiddy Starts 2025 with a Tiny X55?
Guess it didn’t take Powkiddy too long to get into the handheld release cycle this year. The X35H has just been launched on the Powkiddy website for just $59.99. And it looks a lot like a mix between the RK2023 and the X55.
AYN Odin 2 Portal Now Available Directly
Have you been excited to get your hands on the AYN Odin 2 Portal? Well, the wait is almost over, as AYN has not only started shipping pre-orders but has also added the Portal to its own digital storefront.
In traditional AYN fashion, the Shipping Dashboard is being regularly updated with rough estimates based on your order number. Just today, AYN shipped out the first batch of Portal Max models in Black, along with another set of Portal Pro orders.
MCON Demolishes Kickstarter Goal
Who knew that a controller would become one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year? If the Kickstarter campaign is anything to go by, there are actually quite a few as MCON smashed through its initial goal. At the time of this writing, the MCON campaign has raised almost $1.5 million, which is just an incredible and unbelievable show of community support.
Other Hardware News
- Powkiddy V20 Is Landing After Chinese New Year
- Ampown BattleXP G350
- OneXSugar Gameplay Testing Showcase
- Powkiddy A50 Hitbox Controller is Now Available
- 8BitDo Releases Mobile Clip for Micro / Zero 2 Gamepad
- Super Retro Champ Set to Launch Later This Year for $150
Apps and Software
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.
ROCKNIX Adds Anbernic XX Support & RPCS3 for Retroid Pocket 5
If you’re a fan of ROCKNIX, you just have to be loving what you’re seeing from the developers. With the most recent release, ROCKNIX now officially supports Anbernic’s H700 lineup of handhelds. This includes the recently released RG34XX and even the RG35XXSP.
The fun doesn’t stop there, as this update is also exciting for owners of the Retroid Pocket 5 and Pocket Mini. For one, RPCS3 support has been added, which is simply an enormous feat on its own. And for a bit of icing on top, Xemu now supports Vulkan, which is said to result in a “big performance increase.”
GammaOS Core Beta 2.5 Brings Miyoo Flip Support
While some of us are still impatiently awaiting the arrival of our Miyoo Flip, Gamma has been cooking again. GammaOS Core Beta 2.5 is now available, bringing with it support for the Miyoo Flip. This includes dual-boot functionality, while also supporting the “lid-based sleep and resume functionality.”
Nintendo Admits Emulation is Legal
There’s no denying that last year was a tumultuous one for fans of emulating Nintendo consoles. However, a recent interview with Koji Nishiura, Nintendo’s Deputy General Manager of Intellectual Property, stated that emulators are “technically, completely legal.”
Nishura goes on to say that while emulators aren’t illegal, they can be used to “direct users to pirate games or other copyrighted material.” And that’s the legal footing that Nintendo stood on when it went after Yuzu and Ryujinx in 2024.
Sudachi Updated for Windows and Linux
via @antique_codes
You couldn’t ask for a better segue. After months of seemingly being dormant, many began to wonder if the Sudachi developer had closed up shop. It turns out that wasn’t the case, as there have now been two new updates released over the course of the past week.
With v1.0.12, Sudachi introduced support for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for both Linux and Windows, while also fixing “broken audio changes.” However, v1.0.13 has since been released for Android and Windows, which “changed mm:u to be more accurate to documentation,” while adding support “for booting to QLaunch via -qlaunch” on Windows.
Russ Finds a Way to Add Boxart to MinUI
Turns out it’s pretty easy to add box art to MinUI, thanks to some code that @shauninman accidentally left in the system. It’s not officially supported and a little labor-intensive, but I added instructions here: https://t.co/xgZQ7hkKHs pic.twitter.com/kQ0khrCQ2E
— Retro Game Corps (@RetroGameCorps) January 14, 2025
Leave it to Russ to find some way to do something we didn’t think was possible. This time, the one and only Retro Game Corps found some code that was left behind in MinUI. Provided that you have a bit of time and patience, you can now add box art to your games on devices running MinUI.
Other Software News
- Nintendo Warns Against Using “Unauthorized Online Services” for Wii U
- TrimUI LED Controller App Released on GitHub
- WinDurango (Xbox One) Boots Minecraft
- Bazzite Response Following SteamOS Announcement
- GameSwitcher for MinUI in the Works
- SpruceOS v3.3 Released
- Unofficially Port UFO 50 and create an Android APK
- GOG joins the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects
- DuckStation Updated With Performance Improvements for Mali Drivers
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’ve been dutifully chipping away at my Steam backlog and this week my son and I discovered the joy that is What the Golf?. Originally released back in 2019 as an iOS and Apple Arcade title, this humorous send up of golf that starts with a familiar setup and quickly goes hard into slapstick — and it works!
What’s the Deal with Screen PWM?
Ever notice a bizarre flicker as you turn down your screen’s brightness? Do you get eyestrain staring at your 50% brightness monitor all day? Do you just want to delve into the exciting world of electronic signal regulation and why it matters? What is even the difference between PWM and a standard refresh rate?
Nyxi Flexi Review: Great or Gimmick?
When Nyxi offered to send over its new Flexi controller, I wanted to take a look to see if this “do it all” could really do it. Or if it was just a gimmick. So join in as I figure out if the Nyxi Flexi is worth your money.
1 Million and Counting: Your Guide to RetroAcheivements
When I first started getting into the handheld emulation world, I figured it was silly to worry about a device having built-in Wi-Fi. “I’m going to be playing 30-year-old games by myself. Why do I need to have internet on the device?” Or so I thought.
The Mecha Comet Was the Coolest Thing I Saw at CES 2025
Don’t get me wrong, it was incredible being able to spend time with some awesome people and check out a whirlwind of new devices. But there was one device that stood out from the pack, and it wasn’t the Legion Go S, Acer Nitro Blaze 11, or even GameSir’s upcoming controllers. Instead, it was the Mecha Comet which I managed to check out during the ShowStoppers soiree.
Ditch the RG Launcher! How to Remap Your Anbernic R Button
I’m not a fan of the RG launcher. More that than, I resent Anbernic almost feel like they’re forcing gamers into using it by making the R button on the side of the device only launch their built-in frontend, and not any other options.
The Quest for the Perfect Vertical Handheld
I love vertical handhelds. I had a Game Boy Color as a kid and the RG351V is what got me into this hobby to begin with. Plus, I have gone through a variety of different handhelds and I think I have found my favorite one…for now.
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