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
- Software
- Nintendo Confirms the Switch 2 Will Be Backwards Compatible
- Nintendo’s Latest Lawsuit Could Have Massive Emulation Implications
- Yaba Sanshiro is Getting a Windows Version to Celebrate Saturn’s 30th anniversary
- Select SEGA Classics Games Will Soon Be Delisted from Steam
- Spruce v3.0 Released for Miyoo A30
- Other Software News
- From the Writers
- On the YouTubes
- Looking for Dills?
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 Anbernic RG406H Looks Like a Stretched RG Cube
Thanks to NITTRX, new hi-res images show off the RG406H, confirming much of what we were hoping to see. It seems that the RG406H is basically an RG Cube that’s been stretched out a bit. Instead of the 1:1 display, it’s likely that this is the same 4:3 screen found in the RG406V.
Miyoo Flip Shows Up on Miyoo’s Website
Can you believe that it’s been almost eight months since we first caught wind of the Miyoo Flip? In that time, Anbernic has released enough devices to last you a lifetime, which include two waves of RG35XXSP releases. It seems that we’re getting ever closer to the actual launch of the Miyoo Flip, as a new infographic appeared on the website, showing off the design and some of the features.
Adding insult to injury, simply because we’ve been waiting a long time for this, a new image has appeared on the Miyoo Amazon storefront. All the image does is confirm that it’s “coming soon,” but clicking the button just takes you to a listing for the Miyoo Mini Plus.
Valve Announces Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White
Valve is back with a surprise announcement as the company revealed the Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White. This new version goes on sale starting on November 18 at 3 PM PST (12 PM EST) and is available in all of the same regions as the current Steam Deck OLED model. Pricing comes in at $679, and Valve states that it “will only be available in limited quantities,” and that the company “will not be making more of this particular design.”
SZDiiER Announces Three New Handhelds Under New Brand
SZDiiER has announced three new devices to join their product lineup, but under a different brand name, Diium. The company will be using the Diium brand for these releases; the same brand as the one used for their D-R35 Plus. The three new handhelds are the D008, D-28S, and D50 Plus.
OnyXFly F1 Pro Available for Pre-order
At the end of October, OneXPlayer announced its latest Windows handheld with the OneXFly F1 Pro. Since then, the company showed off some performance, which also gave us a look at the 7-inch OLED panel. And now, you can head over to OneXPlayer’s website and pre-order one of these bad boys for yourself.
Ayaneo 3 is Officially Announced and Coming Soon
A few weeks after dropping its first teaser, the Ayaneo 3 was shown off in a new video, showing its design, in addition to some key specs and features. The Ayaneo 3 will be available in multiple configurations, with both options featuring a 7-inch display. However, we will have the opportunity to choose between an OLED HDR panel with “high refresh,” or an LCD screen that uses a “native horizontal” panel.
Other Hardware News
- Horipad Steam Controller Coming to US for $60
- Microsoft Could Announce Xbox Handheld in 2025
- Tech By Matt Turned Wii into a Gaming PC
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.
Nintendo Confirms the Switch 2 Will Be Backwards Compatible
The President of Nintendo, Shuntaro Furukawa, has announced that the successor to the Nintendo Switch will indeed feature backward compatibility. Little information about the successor to the Nintendo Switch is known. Every day seems to populate new rumors and discussions about what may or may not happen when the device is fully revealed.
Nintendo’s Latest Lawsuit Could Have Massive Emulation Implications
At this point, we wonder whether Nintendo will end up being involved with more lawsuits than there are first-party Switch games. Nintendo is back in the headlines, as it has filed a civil suit against online streamer, EveryGameGuru. According to the documents, Nintendo is suing the streamer, alleging they streamed numerous Nintendo games before they were released.
In addition to those claims, Nintendo is also going after EveryGameGuru for promoting the use of pirated ROMs and emulators, such as Yuzu, Ryujinx, and Sudachi. Shortly after the filing went public, 404 Media revealed that Nintendo is seeking damages of up to “$150,000 per infringement.” If successful, this would mean that the streamer would be on the hook for $7.5 million.
Yaba Sanshiro is Getting a New Windows Update
As 30th anniversary, I am going to release a windows version of YabaSanshiro.
Changes are
* From VS2017 to VS2022
* From QT5 to QT6
* Simplfy setting menu
* Add the Game list view
* Many bug fixes. pic.twitter.com/3i9OZYK5DO— devMiyax (@miyaxdev) November 7, 2024
In less than two weeks, the SEGA Saturn will turn 30, as it was originally released on November 22, 1994. To celebrate, the developer of Yaba Sanshiro announced that a new Windows version of the popular emulator will be released. This is surprising when you consider that the last Windows update was released back in August of 2022.
Select SEGA Classic Games Will Soon Be Delisted from Steam
Less than a week ago, it was revealed that SEGA would be removing many of the games and bundles that fall under the “SEGA Classics” brand. This includes games listed across every major platform, including individual titles on Steam, along with the SEGA Genesis Classics bundle on the Switch and PlayStation.
SEGA states that its games “will be delisted and unavailable for new purchases starting December 6th at 11:59pm PST.” However, if you’ve already purchased those games or bundles, then they will “still be available in your library.”
Spruce v3.0 Released for Miyoo A30
Spruce running on the A30
Do you love the Miyoo A30 but just aren’t a fan of the half-baked software experience? Well, you’re not alone, as this remains a common complaint from those who pick up the A30 for themselves. Thankfully, we have custom firmware to save our bacon, and the most popular option for the Miyoo A30, Spruce, recently received an update to version 3.0.
This update is simply dubbed “GameSwitcher,” bringing with it the ability to quickly switch between games “by holding the home key while using a game.” However, there are actually quite a few additions and features packed into this latest release.
Other Software News
- Update to Nintendo’s Lawsuit Against Palworld
- System Crash Removes Last Connected 3DS Nintendo Network Player
- RetroDECK Website Redesign and custom ES-DE theme
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Fan Remake is On the Way
- Stardew Valley 1.6 Update is Now Available on Android
- Steam Game Recording Now Available
- Death Stranding Director’s Cut Comes to Xbox
- Rust Mobile Announced
- Hogwarts Legacy 2 is Confirmed
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 am now over the 30-hour threshold on Metaphor: ReFantazio and it still rocks. To give myself some instant gratification, I have been playing some short 3D platformers that look like they could have been released on the N64.
Help Us Pick the Best Handheld of the Year!
As the days get shorter and the nights grow colder, it’s clear that the end of the year is nigh. 2024 has been an absolute roller coaster, not just in the emulation space, but with retro handhelds on the whole. With so many different options to choose from, it would be impossible for us to just pick our favorite handheld of the year. So we’re instead looking to get some input from you!
Really Rad Weekend 2024 Recap
Gaming conventions have become a weirdly regular part of my life over the last decade or more. I was first introduced to them through the mega-event that is MAGfest in Washington D.C. I quickly began seeking out other conventions across the country. When offered the opportunity to trade November in Chicago for a Gulf Coast beach for a long weekend, and attend a gaming convention, it was a no-brainer.
Best Handhelds Under $50: Late 2024
Fifty Dollars; you could buy a lot with that. You could grab an 8BitDo Ultimate controller, a copy of Sonic X Shadow: Generations, or even 25 Cheesy Bean and Rice burritos from Taco Bell.
Save Time with This Easy Hack to Install Batocera on Your Retroid Pocket 5!
Much like a sizable portion of the Retro Handheld community, my gateway was the Retro Game Corps channel. One thing I noticed, both on Russ’ recent video showcasing Linux on the RP Mini and in our own Team Retrogue’s written guide, is the expectations are that the only way to transfer ROMs onto the Batocera SD card is over the network.
Why I Bought a Switch Lite in 2024
In the meantime, I’m still playing on the Switch. Why? WHY?! In the advent of “better” consoles like the Odin 2 and the Steam Deck, What place does the Switch hardware have in the hands of any sane being in the year of our lord 2024? How about the Switch Lite?
5 Games We Wish We Could Try the Food In
Here in the U.S., we are reaching Thanksgiving. It is a holiday to be thankful for what we have, but also to enjoy eating delicious food with your loved ones. Do you ever wish you could experience living in a game world? What if just to eat the cuisine? I have and I have collected some of the ones I wouldn’t mind trying.
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, there’s a whole lot of CubeXX, meanwhile, Zu gives us his take on the RetroRealms game for the Steam Deck.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. However, with November officially underway, it’s that time of the year when you can save a boatload of money thanks to different promotions. That includes the 11.11 sale, which is currently taking place over at AliExpress and even Anbernic is hosting an 11.11 sale of its own. Along with the various discounts already available, you can save even more when using one of the codes below!
- RHH9: $9 off $30
- RHH15: $15 off $60
- RHH25: $25 off $100
- RHH60: $60 off $200
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
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