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.
Powkiddy and AYN Halt Shipments to the U.S.
The hits just keep on coming, as more updates were provided from a few of our favorite retro handheld makers. Unfortunately, it’s not good news for Powkiddy and AYN fans, as both companies are not currently shipping directly to the U.S. Powkiddy doesn’t say when that might change, and AYN seems to only be pausing shipments until it figures out a different solution.
Handhelds Tariff Roundup: What to Expect
Retroid Updates Shipping Policy for U.S. Customers
In the official Retroid Discord, the company has announced that they will be shifting how they handle U.S. orders to try and keep costs low for customers. U.S. orders will see a $20 increase in shipping costs as Retroid moves to a new logistics partner to sidestep the steep 245% tariff on China to U.S. imports. While the company hasn’t disclosed who the new partner is or exactly how deliveries will be handled, the transition has already been officially announced.
Anbernic RG34XX SP May Drop Next Month
According to a screenshot shared on the Retro Handhelds Discord, Anbernic may be releasing the RG34XX SP sooner than we think. According to the screenshot, Anbernic is planning to at the very least announce the RG34XX SP during the month of May. This would make it the first handheld to be released after the many tariff changes facing U.S.-based customers would be fully enacted.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Were an Absolute Disaster
Were you like the rest of us, staying up late to try your hand at pre-ordering the Nintendo Switch 2? As little surprise, it was an absolute mess with Best Buy deciding to wait an extra half an hour, while Walmart made some wait in line, and others were able to just skip to the end. The following morning, GameStop’s website and app both crashed right when pre-orders were set to open, leaving many of us wondering how long we’ll have to wait to get a Switch 2.
Anbernic RG557 Pricing Revealed, But Good Luck Getting One
Anbernic RG557 and RG556 on counter
After unveiling the RG557 earlier in the month, the company didn’t tell anyone how much it would cost until this past week. On top of that, Anbernic confirmed that it would not be shipping from China to the U.S. due to the tariff situation, but provided some reassurance that its US warehouses would have stock.
Soooo… I did some 3DMark testing on the RG557, and it looks like the high power toggle just doesn’t work.
Normal mode: 2863
High mode: 2851The “good” news is if they can fix this, the 557 might perform significantly better. 🤷 pic.twitter.com/UjctWDQHrX
— ZuReviews (@ZuReviews) April 25, 2025
As it turns out, not only is the RG557 quite expensive, but pre-orders opened, and those here in the States were left in the wind. Oh, and it seems that the software might be holding back what the hardware is capable of.
8Bitdo Retro R8 Mouse
On the bright side, if you’ve been patiently waiting for 8Bitdo to release its Transparent Green Xbox-themed mouse, you’re in luck. It’s finally available over at Amazon, and includes a charging dock, to go along with the three connection modes, customizable controls, and that sweet, sweet design.
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.”
RomM v3.9.0
There are plenty of great ROM library managers to choose from, but RomM has been making waves in recent months. The latest update, version 3.9.0, might not bring any major changes to the UI, but that’s because all of the upgrades are behind the scenes.
In addition to the regular bug fixes, this version also includes “50+ micro-improvements to the app for easier navigation, editing, and management of games.” On top of that, performance has been improved, and load times are reduced as the “API endpoint now supports pagination.”
RPCS3 on Nintendo Switch
Did you know that the Switch is powerful enough to run RPCS3 via Linux? Me neither, but apparently it’s possible, as evidenced by the video above. This is using a modified build of RPCS3, as it’s built specifically targeting the armv8.0 platform. In the video, 16 different games are tested, ranging from Castle of Illusion and ending off with God of War HD.
Launchbox 13.21 for Windows and 1.18 for Android
RomM wasn’t the only popular ROM manager to get a major update this week, as a new update for Launchbox on Windows and Android is rolling out. With the Windows version, premium users can now “browse and download Media Packs,” offering some more options when theming how your library looks. Plus, there’s a new “Xemu Integration Plugin” that allows you to “download and set up Xemu directly from Launchbox.”
On the Android side of things, version 1.18 will soon be rolling out, adding a bunch of different platforms, including PICO-8, PS3, and even Xbox. Plus, Launchbox now adds several new emulators such as Azahar, Citron, and others.
Nintendo’s Legal Battles Against Switch Emulation Continue
Metroid Dread – Switch – 2021
Last year, Nintendo went on a spree of taking legal action against both emulators and those who showcased Switch emulation. One particular case proceeded this week, as Nintendo seeks $17,500 in damages and a “default judgment” against Every Game Guru. However, the reasoning for this is due to the defendant never actually appearing in court, with the case taking place on April 18.
NextUI Continues to Improve at a Rapid Pace
If you own the TrimUI Brick, then there’s a good chance you already know about NextUI. In the event that you don’t, we highly recommend checking it out, as this revamped take on MinUI is taking the scene by storm. Just this week, there were several updates, one of which brings improved emulation performance. Not to mention that we’re seeing more and more PAKs being developed to further enhance the experience.
More Software News
- Classic Console Themes Are Back and Here to Stay on PS5
- Breath of Fire IV Now on GOG
- Goldeneye Recomp for PC Running at 240fps
- shadPS4Plus is a Fork that restores PKG support
- NetherSX2 will soon make it easier to patch game-specific bugs
- RomVault Gets First Major Update In Almost a Year
- World of Goo 2 Comes to Play Store
- Humble Choice Will Soon Cost More In Certain Regions
Emulator Updates
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.
Anbernic RG557: Thoughts After a Week
I have been taking a little mental break from the handheld emulator scene and haven’t kept up with much besides watching an RH video. I knew very little about the RG557 release and never even used the RG556. When this showed up at my door, I was going in as blind as I could, and hopefully, this can articulate my experience after a week with the device.
Retroid Pocket Flip 2: First Impressions
Strap in for a cool handheld gaming experience
If you pre-ordered the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, you should hopefully be seeing it arrive in your mailbox any day now. I happened to be just so lucky this morning and have spent the better part of the day setting the device up and getting a feel for what it can do.
Game Console MyMini Review: Small But Mighty?
I’m going to be a bit honest with you. When it comes to talking about handhelds on the RH website, I try to focus on a couple of things: Handhelds that I think are worth talking about, and handhelds that I enjoy using. Occasionally, I’ll come in and talk about something that’s a bit trash, and I’ll dog on it, but other times I just try to stay positive because it’s something I like. But what if what I’m liking right now is just a little bit trash?
Anbernic RG557: First Impressions
The long Anbernic dry spell of 2025 is at an end. Up until a kindly delivery driver rang my doorbell this morning, it had been all quiet from the handhelds company that managed to release 12 individual SKUs in 2024. Now, the much hyped RG557 is finally here. Will this long-awaited update that the community has been asking for finally deliver?
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, as Zu and Stubbs dove into Anbernic’s first handheld of the year, while Russ decided to grace us with his presence on the podcast.
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. We know how much everyone loves a good deal, so we’ve been cooking up something to help you get the best deal possible.
Retro Handhelds Deals of the WeekHandheld.Deals
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