📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

A New Retroid Handheld Could Be Right Around the Corner

https://retrohandhelds.gg/a-new-retroid-handheld-could-be-right-around-the-corner/

Hold onto your AA batteries, because the Retroid rumor mill is officially spinning.

After a bit of radio silence since March, the retro gaming community is buzzing. A recent leak over on the Retroid Handhelds Discord suggests a big announcement could be dropping as early as tomorrow. While it could be anything (including the dreaded “more price hikes” announcement), the community is bracing for a new piece of hardware.

So, what are we actually expecting? The speculation is split into two main camps:

• The Mini Revival: Fans are desperate for an updated Pocket Mini. Since the original was discontinued, competitors have been eating Retroid’s lunch with their own small-form, 4:3 aspect ratio devices.
• The Flip Evolution: There’s massive hype for a “Pocket Flip 3.” People are dreaming of beefier specs—think Snapdragon 8 Gen 2—or even a dual-screen setup that would make us all weep with joy.

Whether it’s a spec bump or a total design overhaul, it’s high time Retroid gave us something new to play with. We’ll be watching the announcement closely to see if they’ve delivered a masterpiece or just more “wait and see” teasers.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Tech Industry Warns of Piracy Blocking Risks as FIFA World Cup Kicks Off

https://torrentfreak.com/tech-industry-warns-of-piracy-blocking-risks-as-fifa-world-cup-kicks-off/

The World Cup has officially kicked off, and while fans are focused on the pitch, the tech industry is bracing for a different kind of battle: the war on piracy.

With $4 billion in broadcasting rights on the line, rights holders are pulling out all the stops to block illegal streams. But there’s a catch. Major tech players like Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare are sounding the alarm, warning that these “anti-piracy” measures might be a bit too heavy-handed.

The problem? The methods being used—like blocking specific IP addresses or DNS servers—are incredibly blunt instruments. Because a single IP can host thousands of legitimate services, the “search and destroy” mission for pirates often results in massive collateral damage.

The risks include:

• Accidental Blackouts: We’ve already seen legal services and payment platforms get caught in the crossfire.
• Private Censorship: Tech groups warn that we are essentially handing the keys of internet infrastructure over to private companies acting as “de facto regulators.”
• Privacy Erosion: Forcing VPN providers to comply with these blocks could undermine the very security they were built to provide.

In short: fighting pirates is one thing, but we shouldn’t have to break the internet to watch a football match.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

MiSTer FPGA News – CPS3 Beta, GUI, Media Casting, Arcade Cores & More

https://retrorgb.com/mister-fpga-news-cps3-beta-gui-media-casting-arcade-cores-more.html

If you thought your MiSTer FPGA was already a powerhouse, grab a coffee—the latest updates are about to make it even more versatile. We’re seeing everything from high-end arcade cores to some pretty ingenious “life hack” software.

The biggest headline? Jotego is dropping a CPS3 beta core this Friday (June 12). If you’re a Patreon supporter, you can jump in early; everyone else gets the full version once it moves out of beta. For the Sega fans, the Megadrive core now supports MD+, meaning you can finally experience those cartridge games with glorious CD-quality soundtracks.

Here’s a quick hit list of what else is making waves:

The Ultimate Media Bridge: A new project called MiSTer GroovyRelay* lets you “cast” content from Plex, YouTube, or Twitch directly to your MiSTer, turning your CRT setup into a high-end media center.

• Macintosh Nostalgia: A test version of the Macintosh LC core is officially available, booting MacOS 6.0.8!

Arcade Gains: Developer rmonic79 is on a roll, releasing stable versions of D-Con and Blood Brothers*, with more arcade goodness on the way.

• Hardware Tweaks: The Steam Controller Wrapper just got an update, adding rumble support and making that trackpad usable as a mouse.

Whether you want to relive the arcade glory days or just watch YouTube on a beautiful 15kHz CRT, there’s something new to tinker with this week.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

EposVox Launches JAMPACK’d Magazine

https://retrorgb.com/eposvox-launches-jampackd-magazine.html

In a world where your news feed is a chaotic cocktail of AI-generated sludge and rage-baiting headlines, sometimes you just want something you can actually hold.

Enter EposVox (the “Stream Professor”), who is officially ditching the digital noise to launch JAMPACK’d—a physical magazine dedicated to the pure joy of gaming. Whether you’re a retro enthusiast or a modern player, this isn’t just another thin pamphlet; the first issue packs over 60 pages of human-made, high-quality content.

The best part? It’s a “no-drama zone.” The magazine is intentionally steering clear of the toxic culture wars and clickbait nonsense that makes social media such a headache. Instead, you’ll find:

• Deep dives: Reviews of both modern hits and forgotten retro gems.
• Practical loot: Budget gaming tips, game-ripping guides, and evergreen news.
• Interactive fun: A Summer Gaming Challenge where players can earn free pins and stickers.

Pre-orders are live now for about $20, with the first batch expected to land on doorsteps this July. It’s a refreshing bet on the return of traditional, thoughtful media.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

All Aboard the SS Anne: Pokémon Stadium is the Latest N64 Classic Ported to the PC

https://retrohandhelds.gg/all-aboard-the-ss-anne-pokemon-stadium-is-the-latest-n64-classic-ported-to-the-pc/

Dust off your Transfer Pak and grab your favorite handheld; the N64 glory days are officially moving to your PC. Thanks to the ongoing N64Recomp project, Pokémon Stadium has finally received a high-quality native port, and it’s looking surprisingly polished.

While this project has been quietly brewing since May, the latest beta update (v0.4.2) is where the magic really happens. It’s not just a simple emulator; it’s a recompilation that feels like a modern reimagining of the original experience.

Here is why this version is a total game-changer:

• Transfer Pak Support: You can actually “read” Pokémon parties from your own Game Boy cartridges, just like the real hardware did.
• Visual Upgrades: It comes with supersampling and MSAA out of the box, so those 3D Pokémon models look crisp rather than a pixelated mess.
• Bug Fixes: They’ve finally sorted out the multiplayer controller chaos, ensuring one pad actually controls one player.

Setting it up is a breeze: just grab the Recomp build from GitHub, toss in your Pokémon Stadium ROM, and you’re ready to battle. It’s a massive win for anyone looking to relive the era of 3D Pokémon without hunting down ancient, finicky hardware.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Court Holds New York IPTV Box Seller Liable, Millions of Damages at Stake

https://torrentfreak.com/court-holds-new-york-iptv-box-seller-liable-millions-of-damages-at-stake/

### The Cost of “Just Following Orders”

If you think you can dodge a copyright lawsuit by claiming your supplier told you everything was fine, the legal system has some bad news for you.

A New York court just handed down a stinging rebuke to a small electronics retailer, Massive Wireless, and its owner. DISH Network successfully argued that the store was willfully helping customers access pirate IPTV services by selling preloaded “Glo TV” boxes. The store’s defense? The wholesaler allegedly told them the legal threats were just a “scam” and to keep selling.

Judge Orelia Merchant wasn’t buying it. She ruled that ignoring multiple cease-and-desist letters constitutes “willful blindness,” which is legally just as bad as knowing you’re breaking the law.

The fallout is massive:

• The Order: The store must stop all infringing activities and destroy every pirate device in their possession.
• The Bill: While the shop only made about $5,000 from these sales, they are now staring down a potential $25 million in statutory damages.

DISH is playing the long game, waiting to fold this victory into a larger judgment against the actual wholesalers. The takeaway? In the eyes of the law, “my supplier said it was okay” is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO’s First Phone Looks Real, Big, and Complicated

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneos-first-phone-looks-real-big-and-complicated/

Is it a phone? Is it a handheld gaming console? Is it a brick? Well, the AYANEO Pocket Play is definitely all three.

While AYANEO is usually the star of the show in the handheld scene, their first foray into the smartphone world made a somewhat “incognito” appearance at Computex via their manufacturer, AMobile. It turns out AYANEO didn’t design this one from scratch—they essentially teamed up with AMobile and MediaTek to bring this beast to life.

Here’s the lowdown on what to expect:

• The Good: It boasts a massive 6.8-inch OLED screen and a beefy MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset.
• The Weird: Instead of standard navigation, it features dual touchpads that act more like old-school trackpoints.
• The Bad: It’s definitely not “pocket-sized.” It’s bulky, lacks front-firing stereo speakers, and the camera setup looks like it belongs in 2012.

The biggest bummer? This appears to be a China-only release. So, unless you have a very specific niche for a chunky, gaming-first phone and a way to navigate Chinese regulatory hurdles, you might want to keep your current smartphone right where it is.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Legend of Zelda Port Roundup

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-legend-of-zelda-port-roundup/

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📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

TrimUI Drops Another Teaser for Its Upcoming Brick Pro and Hammer Pro U Handhelds

https://retrohandhelds.gg/trimui-drops-another-teaser-for-its-upcoming-brick-pro-and-hammer-pro-u-handhelds/

If you thought the retro handheld scene was going to be a snooze-fest of endless clones, TrimUI just threw a massive wrench in that theory. After months of radio silence, the company finally dropped a teaser video that confirms they aren’t just releasing one new device—they’re releasing two.

Meet the Brick Pro and the Brick Hammer Pro U.

While they look like siblings, they are definitely not twins. The Brick Pro is the “keep it classic” option, running a Linux-based OS and powered by the Allwinner A133 Plus. It’s basically a beefed-up version of the original Brick, now sporting dual joysticks and a crisp 3.95-inch display.

The Hammer Pro U, however, is the real powerhouse. In a surprising move, TrimUI is ditching Linux for Android and packing in a Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 chip, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

We still don’t have a release date or a price tag, but with the handheld market feeling a bit stale lately, these two are definitely worth keeping on your radar. Just don’t expect them to stay in stock for long if they price them right.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Steam Controller Review: This is The New Standard for ‘Pro’

https://retrohandhelds.gg/steam-controller-review/

### Valve’s New “Batarang” is Here

Valve is back at it again. The company that usually wins by doing absolutely nothing—unless they’re dropping a new piece of hardware—has finally released the Steam Controller. It’s a bit of a chunky, “big fat batarang” of a device, but at a $100 price point, it’s making a serious case for itself.

So, is it worth your cash, or is it just more expensive plastic?

The short answer: It’s a feature powerhouse. While it doesn’t feel “premium” (think gritty, functional plastic rather than luxury), the specs are punching way above their weight class. We’re talking TMR joysticks, dual trackpads, and a gyro that actually works for aiming.

The highlights:

• The Layout: If you’re a D-pad lover or a DualShock devotee, the ergonomics are surprisingly dialed in.
• The “Mouse” Mode: It doubles as a pseudo-mouse/keyboard, making navigating Steam without a desktop setup a breeze.
• Customization: Thanks to Steam Input, the level of per-game control is unmatched.

It might not be your “everything” controller—racing games might still feel better on a traditional layout—but if you live in Steam Big Picture mode, this is the new pro standard.