Author: taternews

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO’s Surprise ‘Product Sharing Session’ Could’ve Been an Email

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneos-surprise-product-sharing-session-couldve-been-an-email/

AYANEO’s CEO decided that a simple email update wasn’t enough, opting instead for a surprise YouTube livestream that felt more like a press conference than a casual chat. The main topic? The notoriously scarce Pocket Micro 2. Arthur, the CEO, addressed the supply drama head-on, blaming soaring memory prices for the limited stock and strongly advising fans against overpaying scalpers on sites like AliExpress. While he didn’t officially confirm a restock, the message was clear: stay tuned, because they’re definitely coming back.

The good news for current owners is an OTA update that actually fixes things, like reducing fan noise and tweaking shortcut keys. But the real headline was the AYANEO Next 2. It’s available for purchase right now, with prices starting at a hefty $2,999 and skyrocketing to $5,299 for the maxed-out version. It’s a bold move for a device that’s already generating buzz.

Then came the teasers. The Pocket Play is still in refinement, and the company dropped cryptic hints about upcoming “REMAKE” devices and a new Windows handheld codenamed as a “next-generation compact flagship.” Silhouettes were shown, promises were made, and the “Golden Age” was invoked. It’s a lot to digest, especially when you consider the CEO spent half the stream complaining about component costs while announcing even more expensive gear to come. Talk about mixed signals!

📰 New article from RetroRGB

GameCube USB-C Power Adapter: Internal & External

https://retrorgb.com/gamecube-usb-c-power-adapter-internal-external.html

Say goodbye to those bulky, ancient brick power supplies. Greg from Laser Bear has just dropped two new USB-C adapters for the Nintendo GameCube, and frankly, it’s the upgrade our retro setups didn’t know they needed.

You’ve got two flavors to choose from: an external “pigtail” adapter that lets you keep your console’s original casing intact, or an internal board for those who want a cleaner, factory-style install. Both are priced at a reasonable $25 and should ship out within a month.

Here’s the kicker: these aren’t just simple wires. They feature a microcontroller that actively validates voltage and current negotiation. This means your GameCube (and your new adapter) is protected from power spikes or incompatible chargers. They also support modern standards like PD12, AVS, and PPS, ensuring compatibility with a wider range of newer USB-C bricks.

If you’re going the internal route, you’ll swap the power button for a modern “soft” toggle, which is a minor trade-off for the sleeker look. Just stick to Greg’s vetted Amazon list if you want to play it safe, or ensure any third-party charger you use hits at least 3 amps with PPS or PD-12 support. It’s a smart, safe way to modernize a classic without sacrificing reliability.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Retro Fighters Battle Dock Released, Lag Tested

https://retrorgb.com/retro-fighters-battle-dock-released-lag-tested.html

Forget the fancy new hardware; the real revolution is sitting right on your shelf. Retro Fighters just dropped the “Battle Dock,” a clever little hub designed to let you plug four GameCube controllers directly into your Switch 2. It’s not a traditional dock with HDMI ports—think of it as a “dock for a dock.” You slide your existing Switch 2 dock into this unit, connect it via USB, and suddenly, you’re ready for a four-player Smash Bros. session.

The big question, naturally, is lag. The results are surprisingly solid, clocking in between 2 and 20 milliseconds. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the same latency you’d get from the standard Switch Pro controller. While competitive pros might still hunt for lower numbers, the average gamer won’t notice a thing. Plus, unlike some adapters, the lag stays consistent even when all four ports are active.

It’s also a versatile beast. It works with the original Switch, PCs, and even retro setups like MiSTer. The included cable features dual outputs for power stability, and the side ports mean you aren’t hogging your console’s USB slots. At $45, it’s a cheap way to turn your living room into a tournament arena. Just don’t expect it to win you a championship; it’s perfect for couch co-op chaos.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

8 Games to Grow Your Backlog – July 2026

https://retrohandhelds.gg/8-games-to-grow-your-backlog-july-2026/

Summer heatwave? Perfect excuse to stay inside, ignore the sun, and aggressively grow that game backlog. If you’re rocking an x86 handheld or looking for Windows-on-Android magic via GameNative or PortMaster, here are eight picks to fill the void.

First up is Mina the Hollower, a gorgeous 2D action-platformer from Yacht Club Games. It’s got that nostalgic pixel-art charm, but with a modern twist. The best part? It’s not just running through an emulator anymore; a proper PortMaster port landed in June, making it playable on just about any device.

If you want pure 3D chaos, Bubsy 4D brings back the 90s mascot with a jazzy soundtrack and fast-paced space platforming. It’s surprisingly easy to run via GameNative, though you’ll need a solid chip to keep the frame rate smooth. For something lighter, try Big Hops, a creative froggy platformer that’s perfect for the Odin 3, or Old School Rally if you miss the grit of early 2000s driving sims.

The roguelike lovers are well catered to, too. Peglin (Pachinko meets RPG) and Dicey Dungeons are both available natively on iOS and Android, plus PC and Linux ports. Cursed to Golf offers a chill but challenging deck-building golf experience in hell. Finally, Marble It Up! Ultra scratches that frantic speedrun itch, provided you have good analog sticks. Grab these, hit a Steam sale, and thank me later.

📰 New article from Wololo.net

Homebrew Release: Warnel Chawpiovs v1.5.0 (PC, Nintendo Switch, Android), adds 9 new heroes and significant performance improvements

https://wololo.net/2026/07/03/homebrew-release-warnel-chawpiovs-v1-5-0-pc-nintendo-switch-android-adds-9-new-heroes-and-significant-performance-improvements/

Ready to assemble an Avengers-level team, but your local game store is out of stock? Homebrew developer Wololo has just dropped version 1.5.0 of Warnel Chawpiovs, a fan-made digital companion for the Marvel Champions board game. Think of it as your personal, rules-enforcing game master that handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on strategy.

The standout update here is the addition of nine new heroes, including fan favorites like Wolverine, Venom, and Scarlet Witch. The dev specifically targeted the “Justice” deck, which previously lagged behind other factions in card variety. If you’ve ever felt limited by your roster, this expansion finally gives you more options to build your dream team.

But it’s not just about new characters. Previous versions were notorious for rendering issues that made games look pixelated on non-1080p screens. This update fixes that visual mess and, more importantly, tackles performance. The developer rewrote how the game calculates card effects, making four-hero games actually playable rather than a slideshow.

Just a heads-up: this is a labor of love, not an official product. It’s free, but it comes with quirks. The Switch version is still a bit sluggish (overclocking recommended), and multiplayer is essentially broken for now. Still, for solo players or small groups looking to automate the rules of Marvel Champions, this is a massive leap forward.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

French Police Dismantle Operation Behind the Already Defunct YggTorrent

https://torrentfreak.com/french-police-dismantle-operation-behind-the-already-defunct-yggtorrent/

French police have finally caught up with the ghosts of YggTorrent, France’s once-mighty pirate haven. Even though the site shut down months ago following a devastating hack by “Gr0lum,” the Gendarmerie isn’t letting the drama end there. They’ve arrested twelve individuals and dismantled the criminal infrastructure that kept the operation running.

Here’s the scoop:

• The Charges: Suspects face organized copyright infringement, money laundering, and operating illegal transaction platforms. The scale was massive, with an estimated €8.5 million in revenue routed through fake e-commerce stores to hide from payment processors like PayPal and Stripe.
• The Loot: Police seized crypto-assets and roughly €45,000 in computer equipment, proving that even defunct sites leave digital footprints.
• The Domino Effect: The arrests have triggered a wave of closures across the French warez scene. Major release groups like Forward and TFA have shut down, and several private trackers and indexers have gone dark in precaution.

While the police claim to have “dismantled the site,” they’re technically just taking down the people behind it—the servers are already gone. But for the French piracy community, the message is clear: the crackdown is far from over, and more arrests are likely on the horizon.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Sony Closing PS3 and PS Vita Online Storefronts This Year, U.S. to Follow in 2027

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sony-closing-ps3-and-ps-vita-online-storefronts-this-year-u-s-to-follow-in-2027/

Sony is officially putting the brakes on the PS3 and PS Vita eras, and the timeline is tighter than you might expect. Starting this August, Latin American and Middle Eastern PS3 stores will shut down, with the rest of the world following suit in July 2027. It’s a bittersweet goodbye to two iconic devices, but the reasoning behind it feels less like nostalgia and more like corporate housekeeping.

Sony claims the closures are necessary due to “modern commerce systems” and updated payment standards. Honestly, that sounds like convenient malarkey. It’s the classic tech industry excuse: maintain old infrastructure costs too much, so let’s just pull the plug. The silver lining? Sony promises you can still download previously bought content for the “foreseeable future.”

But let’s not get too comfortable. If recent history is any indicator, that “foreseeable future” might be shorter than we’d like. Remember when Sony pulled over 500 movies and TV shows from the UK store? That included titles users had already purchased. It’s a stark reminder that in the digital age, you’re often just renting access, not owning anything.

As physical discs also vanish by 2028, we’re left wondering: do we actually own our media anymore? The signs point to a resounding “no.”

📰 New article from RetroRGB

MiSTer FPGA News – Bemani Music Games, IGS PGM & PGM2, Caveman Ninja & More

https://retrorgb.com/mister-fpga-news-bemani-music-games-igs-pgm-pgm2-caveman-ninja-more.html

If you’re a MiSTer FPGA enthusiast, you’ve got a lot to celebrate this week. The scene is buzzing with fresh cores, handy companion apps, and some seriously ambitious hardware tweaks. It’s that perfect mix of “finally!” and “wait, what?” that keeps the community on its toes.

First up, the arcade emulation front is heating up. Martin Donlon has dropped test builds for the IGS PGM core, while another dev is tackling PGM2 (and facing some controversy, though the GPL license should sort that out soon). We also got a sneak peek at Cabal, a quirky 1988 shooter with controls that will definitely make your thumbs ache. If vector graphics are your jam, Major Havoc is now playable, and Caveman Ninja got an MRA file to boot.

On the utility side, Anime0t4ku released MiSTer Companion NX for homebrewed Switches, turning your handheld into a remote control for your setup. There’s also updated support for Game Boy cartridges via the MMS2 core.

For the tech-savvy (and brave), user Corn shared an overclocked N64 build that boosts performance but warns: you’ll need a fan and a steady hand. Oh, and developers are using AI to crack open Konami’s System 573 for Dance Dance Revolution—the audio works, but the graphics are currently a digital mess. It’s chaotic, it’s cool, and it’s very MiSTer.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Gamenative V1.1.0 Drops With Plenty of New Features

https://retrohandhelds.gg/gamenative-v1-1-0-drops-with-plenty-of-new-features/

Gamenative just got a major glow-up, and if you’ve ever struggled with the steep learning curve of x86 emulation on Android, this is your sign to take another look. It’s been only a month since the last update, but the team has packed version 1.1.0 with enough features to make retro gaming on your handheld feel significantly more polished.

The biggest win here is accessibility. While apps like Winlator are powerful, they can feel like navigating a labyrinth. Gamenative continues to streamline that process, making it easier to get into emulation without needing a degree in Linux configuration. They’ve also rolled out granular device compatibility data, so you actually know which games will run smoothly on your specific hardware before you even hit download.

Performance tweaks are the real star, though. We’re talking massive improvements to Pulse audio for low latency and a new SurfaceFlinger renderer option that boosts FPS. They’ve also fixed persistent bugs with Steam’s DRM handling and GOG cloud saves, meaning your progress won’t vanish into the digital void. Plus, if you’re rocking a Retroid Pocket Classic, there are now dedicated Turnip drivers to reduce visual glitches.

It’s clear the community is driving this progress, with hundreds of fixes ranging from controller navigation to custom cover images. If you’re tired of wrestling with your emulator settings, Gamenative 1.1 is definitely worth the install.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Wobbling Pixels – OSSC Pro Profile Pack Updated

https://retrorgb.com/wobbling-pixels-ossc-pro-profile-pack-updated.html

If you own an OSSC Pro, you know the struggle: the hardware is fantastic, but getting it to look perfect without spending hours tweaking settings is a nightmare. Good news—Wobbling Pixels just dropped a massive update to his profile pack, and it’s basically a cheat code for retro gaming purity.

First things first: you need to update your firmware to v0.82 or higher. Once that’s done, you can grab the new profiles and instantly notice the difference. The big win here? PAL sources for systems like the Dreamcast, GameCube, SNES, and Genesis now scale up to a crisp 6x resolution (2560×1440). That’s a serious upgrade for clarity, though be aware that some PAL games might crop the very top and bottom of the screen slightly.

The update also brings some welcome quality-of-life improvements. You’ll find new CRT profiles for S-Video and Composite inputs (perfect if you’re using the legacy AV add-on), plus brighter basic CRT profiles for those who prefer a punchier image. They’ve also centered up the SNES and Genesis profiles and tweaked scanline brightness across the board.

Pro tip: Use the “p.load” or “10+” buttons on your remote to breeze through these new presets. It’s a lot of work for the community, but it saves us all hours of frustration. Go grab the pack and thank Wobbling Pixels for keeping our retro setups sharp.