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.
Is Anbernic Gearing Up to Release An RG34XXSP?
Recently, a conversation shared via Reddit showcases someone who is believed to be Anbrnic chief engineer Max Zhou, owner of Anbernic, claiming that the company is planning to release an RG34XXSP. Within the conversation, it’s said that the new handheld will not only “revise the 35XXSP problem”. It will also house a chipset that rests somewhere between the Rockchip RK3566 and Unisoc T618.
AYANEO Pocket Micro Indiegogo and Shipping Updates
If you’ve been wondering when your AYANEO Pocket EVO, DMG, or Micro will be arriving, the wait is almost over. AYANEO confirmed on Indiegogo that shipping will resume “after the Chinese New Year,” with the team returning to work on February 6.
Pre-orders for MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ Now Live
In a completely unexpected turn of events, preorders for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ have gone live on Amazon. The listing shows a release date of February 4th, which is only a few days away! The former retails for $899, while the latter comes in at $799, but both handhelds feature the same Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip paired with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ on AmazonMSI Claw 7 AI+ on Amazon
SJGAM M20 Pro is More and Less Than a Switch Clone
SJGAM is known for its abundantly clear desire to clone popular consoles and handhelds. The SJGAM M25 is a design “clone” of the PlayStation Portal. The M21 is a clone of possibly the most cloned handheld of all time, the Game Console R36S. And now, the M20 Pro looks to copy the blueprint of the Switch while injecting numerous changes, differences, and callbacks to consoles of the past.
Other Hardware News
- Anbernic RG34XX Could Soon Come in More Colors
- MMCE Protocol Lets You Load PS2 Games Directly Off Its Memory Card
- SuiPlay0X1 is a Web3 Steam Deck Competitor
- Wacky Handhelds Are Still Alive with the ‘R36S Plus’
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.
Retro Gaming’s Digital Time Capsule: The VGHF Library
If you’re someone interested in the emulation hobby, then you have the ability to recognize the importance of remembering gaming’s past. Thanks to the VGHF Library, which saw its virtual doors open this week, you can now relive those fond memories of your childhood.
Your Odin 2 Might Soon Be Able to Run Batocera
A user on the AYN Discord has managed to port Batocera to the Odin 2, enabling support for PS3 games at near-constant 30 FPS speeds. With Batocera, newer emulators like RPCS3 are seeing increased performance due to the Odin 2’s integration of both OpenGL and Vulkan APIs. Due to this, games like the PS3 port of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas see performance enhancements that net near-constant 30FPS.
XWine1’s Rapid Development Continues to Impress
In September of last year, we first caught wind of XWine1, which is described as being “an Xbox One translation layer for Windows PCs.” At the time, six games were playable, but things have largely been quiet. That is, until recently when the XWine1 Twitter account showed off the Xbox One version of Minecraft running on a Steam Deck. More recently, the devs published a video showing off “WIP Kinect implementation” while playing Peggle 2.
“New” PS1, PS2, and PS3 Emulators
Image via liuk7071
While it seems like a new Yuzu or Ryujinx fork appears on a weekly basis, the same can’t be said when it comes to PS2 and PS3 emulators. PCSX2 and RPCS3 have around for quite some time, offering regular updates and providing an excellent experience. However, one developer has resumed work on their ChonkyStation lineup of emulators. In fact, there’s a GitHub project for the first three Sony home consoles, and we’re excited to see what could come.
Other Software News
- MAME4droid updated with a “huge performance boost”
- Steam Deck AMD FSR 3 Mod
- “Linkboy” is the Successor to My Boy! GBA Emulator on Android
- GeForce NOW Celebrates 5th Anniversary with 17 New Titles
- Multiplayer Support “Coming Soon” to Citron
- BioSensor MK-1 Driver Released
- Sony Dropping PSN Account Requirements for PC Games
- BigPEmu v1.18
- Playnite v10.35 Adds Lime3DS and shadPS4 Support
- Epic Games Store on Mobile Gets Third-Party Titles, Free Games, and More
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.
MagicX Mini Zero 28 First Impressions: Starting 2025 With a Bang
For as much grief as we gave Anbernic last year, I have to admit that it’s been a bit weird not seeing very many retro handhelds announced. Thankfully, MagicX broke the spell for me, as the Mini Zero 28 arrived in my mailbox today, so I’m here to share my first impressions.
GotX: Female Protagonist February Games Announced!
Truly enough, as day follows night, the calendar turning over into a new month indicated that a new GotX period is starting. For February, the Retro Handhelds community selected the theme of “Female Protagonist February”, a theme that has been suggested multiple times in the RH Discord in the last 6 months.
The Best Emulators on Android
But once you’re done gawking at your brand new Retroid Pocket 5 or (other relevant handheld), what should you do next? Veterans of the hobby will know all the best apps to grab, but if you’re brand new to all this (welcome!) let us guide you through the best options for your hardware.
Pigskin Playoffs: My Favorite Football Experiences Before the Big Game
As we round the corner towards another Super Bowl, it’s the time of year when everyone likes to speculate on the outcomes. How did we get here, who did what right or wrong, and how will teams fare in the big game?
PXN P5 Review: Your Budget Xbox Controller?
PXN reached out and offered to send over their PXN P5. Upon first glance of it, I thought it really looked like a mixup of an Xbox One and Series controllers. I know those two weren’t too different from one another BUT STILL. Is it as good? What other features does it bring? And is it worth your hard-earned dollars? Let’s take a look and see shall we?
RH Games: What We’re Playing This Week
No matter what life throws at you, we always recommend finding some time to take for yourself. As our old buddy Zu would say, “‘Round these parts, it’s all about GotX.” That might be the case for Zu, but others prefer to play new games that were just released, or they might manage to find a diamond in the rough. So with that, let’s dive in and take a look at what the RH team and a few community members have been playing.
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, Stubbs snaps into the Miyoo Flip, while Cowboy Zu falls head-first into the world of 3D printing.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. This time around, we have a bunch of retailers celebrating the Chinese New Year, starting off with the AlliExpress End-of-Season Sale. But some companies are offering sales of their own, as is the case with Anbernic, AYN, and others. Hit the button below to check out all of the best retro handheld deals.
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!
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