News

PokeMMO is running a public test server for its Black 2 and White 2 expansion on 19 September. Here is what the announcement actually says, what carries over, and which handhelds run PokeMMO today.

After five years in development, Pokémon Myth 2 has hit version 1.0 with two original regions and over 100 Fakemon. Here is what is in it, and the awkward question of which handheld can run a 1GB RPG Maker game.

A free Pokémon fangame turns the series into a Vampire Survivors style roguelite with 25 playable Pokémon and an online leaderboard. It is not a ROM hack, and that changes which handhelds can run it.

Lenovo's 556g cloud handheld launches in China today with a 120Hz screen, TMR sticks and a 10ms streaming dongle. Here is why it matters and why you probably cannot buy one.

ASUS opened preorders for the ROG Xbox Ally X20. Same chip, same RAM, same storage, same battery as the $999 Ally X. The OLED screen and new sticks cost you $300 more. Here is whether that is worth it.

Heart & Soul rebuilds the Johto journey on Game Boy Advance, mixing Gold and Silver with HeartGold and SoulSilver. Version 2.0 just landed. Here is what changed and what you need to play it.

A new unofficial Decky plugin brings Nexus Mods browsing and installing into Gaming Mode. Here is what it does, the two catches, and how to set it up.

Seven DMCA notices, 400 plus GitHub repositories, one day. Here is what Nintendo actually filed, why Eden and Citron were untouched, and what changes on your handheld.

A complete FireRed hack set in a decayed 2049 Kanto, with 200 plus ghost Pokémon and an original soundtrack. Here is what it is and what you need to play it.

1440p output, true HDR10 CRT simulation and every analog input, for $230 and shipping now. Here is who the RetroTINK-6X CE is for and who should wait.

The Anbernic RG34XX SP launched with 2 GB of RAM. It was cut to 1 GB in January. Now some units are turning up with 512 MB of slower LPDDR3. Here is what is confirmed, what Anbernic said, and how to check your own device.

August 2026 brought a wave of native Nintendo 3DS ports built on decompilation work, plus one very odd Breath of the Wild demake. Here is what is real, what runs, and why the 3DS is suddenly interesting again.

Epic confirmed a native Linux client is coming soon. No date, and not in the next preview build. Here is what it actually changes for Steam Deck owners.

A Three.js layer that renders your live FireRed session in 2.5D. It is not a recomp and not a ROM hack. Here is how it works and what is not out yet.

PS3Native released its first build on 14 August. It is a fork that tracks the live RPCS3 tree instead of a snapshot, and that one detail is the whole story.

AISLPC is putting RG43H Pro internals into a shell that adults will not feel odd holding. Here is every reported spec, what carries over from our RG43H Pro review, and the two design choices worth watching.

A fan project turned Pokémon Emerald into a browser MMO with guilds, trading, and PvP. Here is what it actually is, and the awkward truth about which retro handhelds can open it.

A first person clip of Pallet Town went viral this week. Here is what Gen1Recomp really is, why it is not an emulator, and whether your handheld can run it.

shadPS4 v0.17.0 shipped on 31 July with ZArchive compression, a live ShadNet, and a Pro-era follow-up. The compression is the part that changes handheld PS4 emulation.

Dolphin release 2603 added Triforce arcade emulation and a big MMU performance win, and by July the project cleared 97.8% compatibility with 69% of Wii games rated Perfect. Here is what changed and what it means for handhelds.

Dolphin NX 1.0.0 puts a native GameCube and Wii emulator on the Nintendo Switch. It is not an official Dolphin release, it needs a modded console, and your Android handheld is probably still the better Dolphin machine. Here is the honest breakdown.

Nintendo Classics on Switch 2, the Dolphin NX homebrew port, and Dolphin on a dedicated handheld are three completely different answers to the same search. Here is what each one actually costs, needs, and gives you.

MagicX teased the Mini Dream, a 3.3 inch OLED handheld coming in Linux and Android versions from $80 to $180. An OLED screen at this price is rare. Here is everything we know so far.

GKD's GKD350H Ultra is a compact CNC aluminium handheld with a sharp 3.5 inch screen and a dedicated HiFi audio chip. Here is everything we know so far, and who should wait for it.

Retroid confirmed a dual screen handheld is coming in the second half of 2026. Here is what was actually said, what the rumors add, and how it fits the dual screen race.

shadPS4 announced ShadNet, a custom server system for online features without PlayStation Network. Here is what works today, what it means, and the RPCS3 precedent.

Anbernic's RG 55G1 is the company's first Snapdragon-powered handheld. Here is everything we know so far about the Switch Lite-style device, and who should wait for it.

AYANEO launched the Pocket Micro 2 on June 26, 2026. It packs a Snapdragon 865 into a 3.5 inch shell and starts at $239. Here are the confirmed specs, pricing, and what it runs.

Retroid opened Pocket Nova pre-orders on June 26, 2026. It pairs a 4.5 inch 4:3 AMOLED with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 class chip and starts at $229. Here are the confirmed specs, pricing, and what it runs.

ROCKNIX shipped its first new stable build in over a year on June 1, 2026, now covering around 66 devices. Here is what changed and what is supported.

Hyper Mega Tech is turning the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum into clamshell handhelds, due late 2026. Here is what they are, what they play, and who should care.

The Super Pocket Rare Edition packs Banjo-Kazooie and 13 more Rare classics into a $69.99 cartridge handheld. Here is what is on it and if it is worth it.

Our picks for the best retro handhelds of 2026 so far, awarded by category, from best budget device to best flagship and best value.

Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year for retro handhelds. Here is what to expect, which devices to target, and how to grab a real deal in 2026.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 is a great time to buy a retro handheld. Here is what usually goes on sale, which devices to target, and how to shop smart for the best price.

Computex 2026 brought a wave of new handhelds, from Panther Lake PC powerhouses to a new AYANEO retro device. Here is every big reveal and what it means for buyers.

Nintendo’s February 2026 takedown wave reshaped the Switch emulation scene, and August brought 400 more repos down. Here is what happened and what it means for you.

Steam Deck, PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 all got pricier in 2026. Here is every confirmed price hike, the memory shortage behind it, and which handhelds stay cheap.

Valve raised Steam Deck OLED prices by up to $300 on May 27, 2026. Here are the new prices, why it happened, and cheaper handhelds to buy instead.

Valve's Steam Machine is now shipping: $1,049 for 512GB, $1,349 for 2TB, about 6x the Steam Deck's power. Every confirmed spec, plus how the invitation queue works.

AMOLED went mainstream, Switch 2 emulation arrived, and the brand wars sharpened. Here is a mid-year recap of the retro handheld market in 2026.

The global memory crisis is raising prices and killing popular handhelds. Here is what happened and which devices to grab before they cost more.