DragoonDorise, the main developer behind EmuDeck has announced that they’re gearing up to release a retro-focused console of their own.
For Steam Deck owners looking to run emulators on their own devices, EmuDeck has been the de facto choice since its initial introduction. The scripts install the emulators, set their paths correctly, make it easy to find and add games to the Steam Deck library, and do so with an intuitive design. Now, the creator of EmuDeck is launching their first piece of hardware under the name EmuDeck Machines.
On the Indiegogo page created for the project, dragoonDorise has shared their ambitions of creating two iterations of an entire Linux-based console powered by Bazzite, the custom OS for the Steam Deck, and a separate docking station that can add more graphical power to the base unit.
The aim is to launch two separate versions of the EmuDeck Machine, one with noticeably less power than the other.
EmuDeck Machine Specs
The EM1 model is being powered off of an Intel N97, but the chosen games mentioned showcase only one as playable on the processor — Hades. In comparison, the EM2 model, powered by AMD’s Ryzen 8600G and Radeon 760M, lists games like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Grand Theft Auto V hitting or exceeding 60 FPS.
The EM1 is listed as being able to hit 60FPS in 3DS emulator Cemu, PS2 emulator PCSX2, and Wii and GameCube emulator Dolphin.
Proposed EM1 and EM2 Specs
On that same point, the EM2, which is clearly the more powerful of the two, can be user upgradeable, but to what extent is currently not known.
With the EM1 and EM2 come plans to release what they brand as a docking station that seems to be a shelled external GPU, the AMD Radeon 7600 originally released in 2023. As far as other accessories and attachments, DragoonDorise hopes to deliver the consoles with the GameSir Nova Lite as its main controller.
EM Docking Station
The proposed shell of the console will borrow a lot of its hardware design from the Dreamcast but will feature USB ports where the Dreamcast would house its controller ports. While the original Dreamcast allowed for an ethernet adapter to be used, the Em1 and EM2 will support 2.5 gigabit ethernet directly on board.
EmuDeck Machine Availability
As with most things shared through Indiegogo, the campaign is to gauge interest, and once the campaign goal of $69,780 USD is met, development of the consoles will begin. The timeline below shows digital prototyping is planned to last until the end of October, with manufacturing and assembly beginning at the end of November with shipments starting a month afterward.
EmuDeck Console Timeline
The EM1 and EM2 consoles are pledge perks on the Indiegogo page currently going for $331 and $676 respectively.
Conclusion
While the focus is clearly on retro gaming, the console is still, at its core, a small Linux computer. We’ve detailed the process of building an emulation console using a mini PC and Batocera over on our YouTube channel, but it seems EmuDeck plans to slightly separate itself from others by creating an all-in-one solution.
EmuDeck is a revered tool in the Steam Deck community. It simplifies an otherwise complicated process and does so with ease. It’s typically the first download users will make when looking to install emulators on their Steam Deck, but these consoles are clearly in a different lane than anything the EmuDeck team has offered before.
Are you excited for an EmuDeck console? Do you already use a Mini PC with Batocera? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
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