Author: taternews

📰 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.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #517

https://retrorgb.com/week517.html

If you’re anything like me, your “to-do” list is mostly just a list of cool retro hardware you want to buy. Well, the latest RetroRGB roundup is here to feed that addiction—and give you plenty of technical goodness to chew on.

The big news this week is all about the MiSTer community. We’re seeing major updates across many cores, plus some fresh progress from Lu’s MiSTer updates. If you’re looking to fine-tune your FPGA experience, now is the time to dive in.

For the hardware geeks, there’s a lot to unpack:

• RetroTink 4K updates: New firmware brings more modelines to the party, and there’s now a way to control your RT4K via USB from your PC.
• Dreamcast enthusiasts: The Universal Dreamcast Patcher has undergone a complete rewrite, making it better (and hopefully easier) than ever.
• New Gear: Check out the Morph 2K review and the Fightbox R10 arcade stick if you’re looking to upgrade your fighting game setup.

Whether you want to watch the breakdown or listen to it like a podcast during your commute, Bob has you covered. Grab a coffee and get caught up!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Nintendo Direct 6/9/2026: Everything Announced!

https://retrohandhelds.gg/nintendo-direct-6-9-2026-everything-announced/

Nintendo just dropped a bombshell.

If you thought the hype around the Switch 2 was cooling off, think again. Nintendo’s latest Direct wasn’t just a routine update; it was a full-blown victory lap that leaned heavily into third-party powerhouses and some seriously nostalgic heavy hitters.

The headline shocker? To celebrate the Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, Nintendo confirmed Ocarina of Time is coming in 2026. Yes, you read that right. It’s a “canon event” that has the entire community reeling.

But the news didn’t stop at Hyrule. Here’s the quick breakdown of the heavy hitters:

The Switch 2 Push: We’re seeing massive third-party support with Stellar Blade, Dragon’s Dogma II, and even a native Kingdom Hearts* collection coming to the new hardware.

RPG Overload: Between Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Xenoblade Chronicles enhanced ports, and a brand new HD-2D Final Fantasy*, gamers are going to need a lot more storage.

Indie & Fan Favorites: Deltarune Chapter 5 is finally on the horizon, and Rhythm Heaven Groove* is returning to keep our hands busy.

Whether you’re a hardcore RPG nerd or just waiting for the next big Nintendo hardware leap, one thing is clear: the next generation is looking incredibly “zesty.”

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Fightbox R10 Pro Arcade Stick

https://retrorgb.com/fightbox-r10-pro-arcade-stick.html

If you’ve ever been halfway through a fighting game combo only to realize your controller is lagging behind your brain, you know the pain. Enter the Fightbox R10 Pro—a powerhouse arcade stick that promises to make that frustration a thing of the past.

The big headline here is the speed. Built on the GP2040-CE firmware, the R10 Pro clocked in at a blistering 0.8ms of lag over USB. In the world of competitive gaming, that is essentially instantaneous. It’s a high-performance beast that stays under the $200 mark, offering incredible value for the price.

Here’s the quick breakdown of what’s under the hood:

• Precision Control: It features a Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT joystick, widely considered the gold standard.
• Customizable Layouts: You can grab a 6-button version (great for traditional fighters) or an 8-button version.
• Versatile Inputs: It includes a spinner and trackball that work beautifully, provided you aren’t skimping on your power supply.

While the reviewer noted some quirks with Fightbox’s separate wheel controller, the R10 Pro arcade stick itself is a winner. If you want pro-level response times without a pro-level price tag, this is a serious contender for your setup.