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.
MSI Claw A8 with AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Debuts at Computex 2025
In case you weren’t aware, Computex 2025 actually kicked off last night in Taipei, starting with a Keynote presentation from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. Imagine our surprise when we saw that there actually were announcements made besides just an army of new GPUs from various OEMs. In fact, the MSI Claw A8 and MSI Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition were both announced (via GamesRadar).
Zero 40 Drops June 17: MagicX’s Most Anticipated Handheld Yet
A highly anticipated entry in the handheld gaming scene, the MagicX Touch Zero 40 is officially set to launch on June 17th, according to MagicX’s Sean on Discord. This long-awaited device has garnered significant attention since it was first revealed in 2024, with all of the retro handheld community closely following its development.
[UPDATE: Anbernic Responds] Anbernic RG34XXSP’s ‘Five-Head’ Bezel Masks a True 4:3 Screen
Just when we thought we were out of the woods with controversies, another one came out of nowhere. Initially, The Phawx posted their review of the RG34XXSP, discovering that the actual display panel is larger, helping to explain the larger forehead. A little while later, Anbernic responded, providing proof that this wasn’t the case, as the RG34XXSP does use a 3:2 720×480 display.
Rumored Plans for Microsoft’s Next-Gen Xbox
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but Microsoft will reportedly overhaul how we play Xbox games in the future. In a summary posted on Reddit, Microsoft is looking to offer deep integration with the likes of Steam and Epic Games Store with Windows. There is also speculation that the next generation of Xbox consoles will run a version of Windows, making it possible to play PC games natively on Xbox hardware.
Zotac Zone 2 Ditches Windows and SteamOS in Favor of Manjaro Linux
After debuting at Computex 2025, we’re still learning more information about the Zotac Zone 2. We already knew that it would be powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI HX 370, while sporting a 7-inch AMOLED display. However, we’ve recently learned (via Tom’s Hardware) that Zotac is implementing Manjaro Linux as opposed to Windows or even SteamOS.
Two AYANEO 3 Models Are Delayed
It seems that AYANEO’s struggles with the AYANEO 3 continue. This week, the company posted a new update on the Indiegogo page, detailing some of the issues it’s facing. The good news is that if you backed the 8840U model in Black, “production for these models is now actively underway.”
Unfortunately, those who pre-ordered the AI370 with 64GB of RAM in either Black or Retro Power will have to wait a bit longer. According to AYANEO, it’s suffering from “supply chain challenges,” which won’t be resolved until sometime in June.
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.”
SteamOS 3.7.8 Officially Supports ROG Ally, Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go
The update that many have been waiting for has finally arrived, as SteamOS 3.7.8 brings official support for the ROG Ally, Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and Legion Go S. The changelog is about a mile long, but includes a ton of new features, changes, and bug fixes. Oh, and if you have an x86 handheld with an AMD chip, you should still be able to install SteamOS without too many issues.
GNext Teaser from Gamma
GNext will enable the app drawer across apps, without needing a high DPI display. Useful for launchers such as ES-DE but works from any app. pic.twitter.com/OQR61rOsGK
— Gamma (@TheGammaSqueeze) May 24, 2025
Three things you can count on: Death, taxes, and Gamma cooking something up. Gamma announced on his Patreon that “GammaOS Next development is in full swing,” with a primary focus on Anbernic’s T820 devices. Not only that, but Gamma gave us a teaser, showing that you’ll be able to access the app drawer “without needing a high DPI display.”
Xbox Launches Retro Classics on Game Pass
Microsoft is reaching into the past to shape the future of gaming with the launch of Retro Classics, a new addition to Xbox Game Pass that lets subscribers play over 50 beloved titles from the ’80s and ’90s. Featuring classics from the extensive Activision vault, this initiative is designed to appeal to retro fans and younger players curious about the roots of gaming.
Vanilla Turns Your Steam Deck into a Wii U GamePad
It’s been about a year since this project was announced, but if you’ve ever wanted to use your Steam Deck as a Wii U GamePad, it’s now possible. Vanilla is described as being a “work-in-progress software clone of the Wii U gamepad for Linux,” and you can head over to the GitHub page to learn more.
RedMagic Set to Release Its Own Winlator Fork
Who said there’s such a thing as having too many Winlator forks? RedMagic is apparently next to release one, as the company has started teasing its upcoming phone, the RedMagic 10S Pro. This would mark the second phone company to release a Winlator fork, with Xiaomi doing the same with WinPlay earlier this year.
More Software News
- Heroic Games Launcher 2.17.0 Franky
- Space Cadet Pinball Comes to Play Store and itch.io
- OutRun GBC Demo Now Available
- ModRetro Chromatic Can Now Stream Directly to Discord
- Sonic The Fighters Decompilation (via Time Extension)
- Star Fox EX 1.11.02a ROM Hack Released
- X-Men Arcade Remake
- ProjectR Updated to Support SFR: 2049
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 RG34XXSP Review: Is This The Clam You Want?
Anbernic tends to march to its own drum. After a monthly release cycle in 2024, they surprised a lot of fans by staying largely silent in the first quarter of 2025. The anticipated release of the RG557 has come and gone, and that device certainly went in some different design directions than some people were expecting. Now we have the Anbernic RG34XXSP, following in the footsteps of the RG35XXSP, while offering a few key differences.
Helegaly Action Pi 兀: Irrationally Good
The low-end market of handhelds has been primarily dominated by one of two chips. The RK3326 and the RK3566. Both of which have been seen in handhelds dating back to 2022, or 2020 for the 3326. In that time, the most we’ve seen out of those chips is new firmware and drops in prices. Alongside that, we’ve seen the introduction of new chips that are trying to take their places. The Allwinner H700 in Anbernic’s XX line, as well as the Allwinner A133P seen in TrimUI’s latest handhelds, and the Powkiddy V90S.
Anbernic RG557 Setup Guide
It’s been a little while since the Anbernic RG557 was released, and since then, we’ve seen a few updates arrive that seemingly solved the original performance issues many were having. With that out of the way, we figured it would be a good time to put together help everyone out with the Anbernic RG557 Setup Guide. Much of this applies to pretty much any Android handheld, but we’ve included some specific tips and tricks for the RG557.
GKD Pixel 2 Setup Guide
When it comes to tiny retro handhelds that are actually practical, it doesn’t get much better than the GKD Pixel 2. This is the long-awaited successor to the original GKD Pixel, which first burst onto the scene back in January of last year. We’ve had ours for a little while now, which has given us plenty of time to tinker around and play some games. With that being said, if you just picked one up for yourself, here’s our GKD Pixel 2 setup guide to help get you started.
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, Zu checks out the new Rokid MAX 2 AR glasses, while Stubbs live-streamed an emulation showcase with the RG34XXSP.
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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