Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week, we saw a bunch of news in 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.
Anbernic No Longer Shipping from China to U.S.
With the May 2 deadline looming, we’re beginning to see just how the tariffs will affect various OEMs and retailers. Until now, Anbernic has been waiting to see if anything will change, but as it currently stands, the new wave of tariffs is still on the way. In response, Anbernic updated its shipping policy, stating that it is “suspending all orders shipping from China to the United States.” On the bright side, Anbernic does have a U.S. warehouse from which you can order if you’re so inclined.
Bad News for US Retroid Classic Orders
Retroid has announced that the Kiwi, Teal, and Berry colorways of the Retroid Pocket Classic are slightly delayed, effectively canceling the launch of the three colors for US-based customers. Those in the US who had ordered the Teal, Berry, or Kiwi should reach out to Retroid at sales@goretroid.com and either cancel or ask to change to one of the aforementioned available colorways as soon as possible.
Pex Labs Is Working on Physical Carts for Pex Console
We are working on publishing physical #pico8 game cartridges for the @pex_labs console! If you are a pico8 game developer, message me if you are interested in making a physical copy of your game! pic.twitter.com/sPXGGvz93Y
— Daniel Liu (@p1nosaur) April 15, 2025
Back in October 2024, we learned about a new handheld that was in development, specifically dedicated to PICO-8 games. Things have mostly been quiet, but recently, Daniel Liu of Pex Labs revealed that the team is also hoping to release a series of physical PICO-8 game cartridges.
Retroid Shows Off New Pocket Mini Screen
It’s been a tumultuous few months for Retroid, as we’ve seen the company go through the whole Pocket Mini ordeal, along with launching two new handhelds. Flying under the radar a bit, a new video published to the Retroid YouTube channel shows what the Pocket Mini looks like with the new screen installed.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-orders Start Next Week in U.S.
Today, Nintendo has announced that Switch 2 pre-orders are slated to begin on April 24. Alongside the announcement, Nintendo has also clarified that Switch 2 hardware and game pricing will remain unchanged, but accessory pricing will be shifting to adjust for market changes.
Other Hardware News
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.”
Bazzite 42 Released with Support for the MSI Claw, and More
Last week, Bazzite announced that it was officially supported on the Framework Laptop 13 powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series. This week, Bazzite 42 has been released, bringing with it a laundry list of changes, including the following:
- BETA support for the MSI Claw
- Improved HDR support under both GNOME and KDE
- Improved HTPC support
- A new Bazzite-DX Website
The team also shared that it’s on the cusp of surpassing 30,000 weekly active users, which is simply incredible.
SteamOS 3.7.3 Preview
If you’re still waiting for Valve to release SteamOS to the masses, we’re inching closer and closer. The latest SteamOS Preview update is mostly focused on ASUS and Lenovo handhelds. It adds support for the power button on both sets of handhelds, while also providing “improved input support.”
Doom (2016) Now on GOG
Normally, seeing Doom (2016) arrive on GOG would be cool, but not exactly the most noteworthy announcement. However, given the growing popularity of Winlator, Doom on GOG now means that the game is stripped of any DRM. This makes it so much easier to play on your various Android devices, without needing to jump through a bunch of hoops.
Plus, it’s currently on sale over at GOG, priced at $3.99 for the Standard Edition or $8.09 for the Doom (2016) + OST Bundle. This deal lasts until May 2, so you won’t want to wait as the game will cost $19.99 once the sale has concluded.
PicoLauncher for Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi
Are you like us and love playing PICO-8 games? What if we told you that there’s a way to do so that takes a lot of the frustration out of playing them on Windows and Linux handhelds? Thanks to the team over at Pex Labs, PicoLauncher is available to download, so grab a copy of PICO-8, your handheld, and get playing!
Xbox App Updated Making It Possible to Buy Games on the Go
A new beta update is rolling out for the official Microsoft app, which includes a few rather big changes. The first is that you can now purchase or pre-order games right from the app, removing the need to do so from a computer or your Xbox.
Next, Microsoft is introducing “Stream Your Own Game” for Game Pass Ultimate members. With this, you’re able to stream your own games using Cloud Gaming, and there are currently more than 100 supported games.
Lastly, Xbox Remote Play now makes it possible to play any game on your console, from wherever you are. Microsoft says that this is possible “on any device with a supported web browser,” while a future update will bring this functionality to more devices such as the Meta Quest headset, Amazon Fire TVs, and more.
More Software News
- PXPlay Android v6.8.0 released
- Picocraft – Warcraft III Demake
- PakUI v1.3.1
- RetroDECK 0.9.3b
- NextUI v4.0.2
- Wipeout-DC v2.0
- TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Lands on Play Store
- CloudBox Frontend Update
- Expect More Ports on Retro Handhelds
Emulator Updates
- NetherSX2 Classic v2.0a
- AzaharPlus 2120.2-C
- RPCSX-UI-Android v20250409
- Retrom v0.7.18
- Yaba Sanshiro for Android
- Kenji-NX 2.0.2
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.
R36XX Impressions: The New Budget King?
Game Console have done it. For $28, I received a handheld that is better than my beloved R36S, and it’s only right that it comes to us from the budget clone masters themselves. Behold the cheapskate’s pass to the party: the R36XX has arrived.
GKD Pixel 2: A Pocket Review
As a fan of the Playdate and the GKD Pixel, small devices seemed to be what I gravitated toward. Bring in 2025, though, and we’re suffering through a lack of Anbernic, a solid Android device in the Mini Zero 28, and eventually the successor to the GKD Pixel in what’s aptly named GKD Pixel 2.
Anbernic RG556 Setup Guide
Game Pass Streaming on the RG556
I’ve been part of the RH scene for 4 years now, and in that time, I’ve held probably close to 50 different handhelds (it sounds like a lot, but many more have held many more). One of the single most comfortable handhelds to use is the RG556, a device that also has a top-tier screen and a decent amount of power. It’s one of my favourite devices to use for Game Pass streaming (something I covered here). However, it is a device that needs a bit of love applied to it before it’s able to provide its best.
How to Watch Live TV on Retro Handhelds with IPTV and muOS
Just because something isn’t necessarily practical doesn’t mean that I am any less enthused about it. Things that are neat demand exploration, and I’m thankful for dev warriors out there making sure I can use my emulation handheld in ways likely never considered by their manufacturer. Enter Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).
Steam Deck Case Showdown: IINE vs. bibuks
I love my OLED Steam Deck, but I am in an era where I think just plain black handhelds are boring. I really wanted a nice light-pink case to change it up a little bit from my ROG Ally X. So with that, I ordered 2 different cases from Amazon to compare them. I am not confident in doing a reshell, and I do not like using skins, so I wanted to give these a shot. I noticed there wasn’t much information on them, so I wanted to compare them for anyone looking.
Powkiddy V20 Setup Guide
Booting up your V20, you’ll be presented with the Powkiddy logo, followed by a standard Batocera UI.The device comes preloaded with games, but they share the same issues common to other handhelds — low-quality rips, strange naming conventions, and occasional titles that simply don’t work..
So, this guide will at least show you how to get your bearings straight when it comes to taking full control of the device. If you wish to delete all of the games, I’ll show you where they’re stored. Want to add more? Well, same place, same answer.
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 has been packed to the gills, complete with two live streams, to go along with a few other awesome videos.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. Hit the button below to check out our favorite deals of the week.
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.