Author: taternews

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

C64-Live Wants to Take Commodore 64 Multiplayer Online, No Setup Required

https://retrohandhelds.gg/c64-live-wants-to-take-commodore-64-multiplayer-online-no-setup-required/

Remember those glory days of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a beanbag chair, fighting over the same joystick? It was great, but it required your friends to actually be in the same room.

Enter C64-Live, a new platform from developer Andrew Hayes that’s bringing the Commodore 64 into the modern era of streaming. While browser-based emulation has been around for a while, it’s usually a lonely experience. C64-Live changes the math by using a “shared machine” approach. Instead of two people running separate emulators and hoping they stay in sync, one person hosts a session on a server, and everyone else jumps into that same virtual machine to play or spectate.

The magic here is the lack of friction:

• No installs required: Just a browser and a link.
• True multiplayer: Players interact on the exact same emulated hardware.
• Massive library support: It works with cartridges, disks, and snapshots.

Hayes’s goal is to bring C64 multiplayer “to the masses,” making it possible to challenge a friend halfway across the world without needing a degree in network engineering. For a console that’s well over four decades old, this is a pretty slick way to keep the nostalgia alive.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

PixelFX “Morph 2K” Announced

https://retrorgb.com/pixelfx-morph-2k-announced.html

If you’ve been eyeing the PixelFX Morph scaler but felt your wallet crying at that 4K price tag, we have some good news for your budget (and your retro setup).

PixelFX just announced the Morph 2K, a streamlined 1080p version of their powerhouse scaler. It hits the sweet spot for anyone who wants crisp, high-def retro gaming without the overkill—or the massive bill. For $200, you’re getting built-in analog video inputs including SCART, S-Video, and Component. It even looks like it can handle Composite via a little bit of clever routing.

But the hardware news doesn’t stop at the scaler. They’re also dropping some handy new adapters:

• VGA2SCART & SCART2VGA: These $20 dongles are game-changers for those using Analog Bridge modules, allowing you to swap between signals easily.
• Expanded Compatibility: If you already own sync combiners or HD15-to-SCART cables, you’re likely good to go.

Mark your calendars: pre-orders kick off June 1st, with shipping expected to roll out before the fall. It’s a massive win for making high-end upscaling accessible to the rest of us.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MSI Claw A8 Review: Pretty Great With One Major Flaw

https://retrohandhelds.gg/msi-claw-a8-review/

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📰 New article from RetroRGB

USB Remote Control for Kodi / MiSTer

https://retrorgb.com/usb-remote-control-for-kodi-mister.html

If you’ve ever found yourself frantically fumbling with a wireless keyboard just to navigate a menu, this one is for you.

A new “minimalist” 2.4GHz wireless remote has surfaced that might be the low-cost hero your media center needs. Unlike traditional remotes, this little gadget skips the IR sensor entirely in favor of a USB receiver. While that means you can’t use it to control your TV’s volume or power, it works flawlessly as a direct input for Kodi on everything from Windows to Raspberry Pi.

The real win here is for MiSTer FPGA enthusiasts. If you’re using SNAC controllers, navigating the MiSTer UI can be a chore; this remote makes accessing menus seamless without needing a bulky keyboard nearby.

The quick breakdown:

• The Pro: It’s cheap, tiny, and controls Kodi/MiSTer volume levels perfectly (essential for those accidental “jump scare” moments).
• The Con: No IR means no controlling your actual television hardware.

If you move between different displays often, this is a total game-changer. If you’re strictly a one-TV setup, you might still prefer a remote with a built-in keyboard. Either way, it’s a much better feeling than hunting for a lost keyboard in the couch cushions.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

GammaOS Next Comes to the Anbernic RG Vita Pro

https://retrohandhelds.gg/gammaos-next-comes-to-the-anbernic-rg-vita-pro/

If you’ve ever tried using Anbernic’s stock Android experience, you know it can feel a bit like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—clunky, slow, and generally unoptimized. But there’s good news for RG Vita Pro owners: the experts at GammaOS have officially stepped in to fix the vibe.

The new GammaOS Next v1.3 is now available, and it’s bringing some serious muscle to your handheld. The standout feature? The debut of “GammaOS Nano.” This is a “boot-to-game” mode designed to skip the Android loading screens entirely. Instead of waiting for the OS to wake up, you can boot straight into RetroArch or DraStic in seconds. It’s basically the “instant gratification” mode every gamer dreams of.

Beyond the speed boost, this update packs a punch with:

• Factory Overclocking: A massive 33.6% throughput boost under load.
• GammaPad & Toolbox: Low-latency controls and an all-in-one app for shaders and profiles.
• Polished Performance: Fixes for Bluetooth stability, WiFi, and even reactive LED lighting that matches your on-screen colors.

The best part? Unlike previous versions that were locked behind a Patreon wall, this release is available to everyone right now via GitHub. Time to ditch the lag and start playing.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Sflix, Myflixerz, HDtoday, and other Pirate Sites Go Dark as Backend Infrastructure Fails

https://torrentfreak.com/sflix-myflixerz-hdtoday-and-other-pirate-sites-go-dark-as-backend-infrastructure-fails/

If you were planning a movie marathon on one of the internet’s favorite “zombie” streaming sites this week, you might have been met with a rude awakening.

Heavyweights like Sflix, HDtoday, and Myflixerz have suddenly gone dark, leaving users staring at the dreaded Cloudflare 521 error. While it’s tempting to assume a massive copyright crackdown just wiped them off the map, the technical details tell a slightly more interesting story: the “backend” is likely what’s broken.

It turns out these sites don’t actually host their own movies; they rely on something called “Piracy-as-a-Service” (PaaS). Think of it as a shared plumbing system for illegal streams. When the central pipes—services like MegaCloud or VidCloud—stop responding, dozens of seemingly unrelated websites all go thirsty at once.

Whether this is a mysterious technical glitch or a surgical strike by anti-piracy groups like the MPA remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: while these brands might vanish for a few days, they have a habit of resurrecting themselves under new names. Grab your popcorn—the digital cat-and-mouse game continues.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Saturn Fighter Ninku Gets a Fan Translation!

https://retrorgb.com/saturn-fighter-ninku-gets-a-fan-translation.html

If you’ve ever looked at a frog-like warrior and thought, “I wish I could understand exactly what he’s yelling at me in Japanese,” then today is your lucky day.

A new fan translation for the Sega Saturn fighter Ninku has just shadow-dropped, courtesy of developer Exxistance. Based on the classic anime and manga series, the game follows Fūsuke—a powerhouse from the Ninku school—as he battles evil corporations named after the Chinese Zodiac. He’s… certainly a unique protagonist.

While you don’t need English to enjoy the high-octane combat, this patch brings some much-needed quality-of-life upgrades. We’re talking:

• Translated title screens and menus
• Localized character names
• English subtitles for opening movies and victory FMVs
• Updated in-game UI elements

The game plays like a charming, cel-shaded sibling to the 3DO’s Yu Yu Hakusho, making it a must-play for fans of quirky 90s fighters. While there’s a whisper that AI might have assisted with the heavy lifting on the translation, the end result is a polished experience that breathes new life into this Saturn gem.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Miniloong Pocket One Review

https://retrohandhelds.gg/miniloong-pocket-one-review/

### A Premium Feel with a Dated Heart

If you’re hunting for a retro handheld that feels like a luxury item without the luxury price tag, the Miniloong Pocket One is making a very loud entrance. While most of the industry has moved on to newer chips, Miniloong is doubling down on the reliable (but older) RK3566 processor, aiming to dominate the sub-$100 market with sheer build quality.

And honestly? The build is impressive. For anywhere between $65 and $100, you’re getting a device that feels remarkably solid, featuring great ergonomics, stacked shoulder buttons, and a beautiful 4-inch screen that makes PS1 and Game Boy Advance games look crisp. It even features a modular design that lets you swap out parts—though, for now, finding replacements might be a bit of a scavenger hunt.

However, there is a catch: the “muscle” is starting to show its age.

• The Good: Stunning display, premium tactile controls, and a user-friendly (if slightly laggy) custom OS.
• The Bad: The RK3566 chip struggles once you move past PlayStation 1 era games.

If you want a high-end experience for classic handheld titles, this is a winner. But if you’re looking to push N64, Dreamcast, or PSP, you might find yourself hitting a performance wall that newer, Android-based competitors simply don’t have.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #510

https://retrorgb.com/week510.html

If your idea of a good time involves hunting for rare hardware and tinkering with signal converters, grab a coffee—the latest RetroRGB roundup is officially here.

It’s a packed episode this week, starting with some heavy-hitting news for Neo Geo fans regarding a new AES announcement. If you’re into the technical side of things, there’s plenty to geek out over: Nicole is diving into a review of the OSSC RF-In, and we’ve got a deep dive into the “Lumacode” setup guide for getting that NES picture looking crisp on your OSSC.

The updates don’t stop at retro consoles. We’re also looking at:

• RePlayOS: New touchscreen support is officially live.
• MiSTer News: Lu brings the latest FPGA updates, including some Mortal Kombat goodness.

Hidden Gems: A look at the Retrobit re-releases for Arcus Odyssey and Psycho Dream*.

And because RetroRGB loves a good “useful life hack,” there’s even a brief detour into some handy Jeep/Truck DIY tips for antenna replacements and dash trays. Whether you’re here for the code dissections or just looking for a $5 HDMI fix, this week has it all.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Paramount Faces DMCA Whack-a-Mole as Leaked Avatar: Aang Movie Thrives on Pirate Sites

https://torrentfreak.com/paramount-faces-dmca-whack-a-mole-as-leaked-avatar-aang-movie-thrives-on-pirate-sites/

### Paramount is playing a very expensive game of Whack-a-Mole

If you’ve spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) lately, you might have seen a snippet of the upcoming Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender movie. What started as a “mistaken” email from a well-meaning—or perhaps not so well-meaning—contact has spiraled into a full-blown digital nightmare for Paramount Pictures.

The leak didn’t just stay on social media. While Paramount’s legal team and anti-piracy partners have been working overtime to scrub clips from X, Vimeo, and Google Drive, the film has officially migrated into the “wild west” of the internet. It is currently thriving on torrent sites like The Pirate Bay and 1337x, making it one of the most pirated movies of the week.

Here’s the reality of the situation:

• The Source: A hacker-linked group (allegedly) leaked a webrip version online.
• The Takedowns: Paramount is successfully hitting Google Drive and Vimeo, but torrent sites simply don’t care about DMCA notices.
• The Result: The studio is stuck playing defense, asking Google to delist URLs just to hide the links from search results.

With the official premiere set for October, the studio is essentially racing against a clock that has already been bypassed by anyone with a decent torrent client.