Author: taternews

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Testing The Switch 2 Handheld Boost Mode

https://retrohandhelds.gg/testing-the-switch-2-handheld-boost-mode/

Nintendo Just Sneaked in a Total Game-Changer for Switch 1 Games — And It’s Already Here

Remember when everyone expected the Switch 2 to launch with native upgrades for old titles… only for Nintendo to quietly drop Handheld Boost Mode in a firmware update instead? Pure Nintendo move — humble, unexpected, and way more impactful than anyone predicted.

In short: Boost Mode lets you run Switch 1 games in docked mode resolution and frame rate — but while handheld. thanks to the Switch 2’s beefier hardware (561MHz GPU vs. original Switch’s 384MHz), even older titles get a crisp, stable upgrade — especially on the 1080p screen.

### 🎮 Standout Wins:

• Immortals Phoenix Rising: From muddy 504p to locked 30fps at max resolution — game. changed.
• Ori Series: 1080p/60fps handheld? Yes, please. Perfect for these cinematic platformers.
• Pixel art classics (Shovel Knight, Sea of Stars): Sharper, cleaner, actually pixel-perfect scaling.
• Minecraft: Still no native Switch 2 port — so enjoy 1080p/60fps handheld, cross-play included.

### 🚫 Not-So-Great Hits:

• Spyro Reignited: Looks worse in Boost Mode — smeary, unstable, and messy.
• Xenoblade 2: Still playable, but the upscaling makes textures look odd; post-processing feels dated.
• Octopath Traveler: Looks better than native handheld, but not dramatically better — TAA doesn’t help much.

### 🔮 The Big Picture?

Boost Mode isn’t perfect yet — but it proves the Switch 2 can seriously breathe new life into its library. For handheld-first players, it might make paying $20 extra for a “Switch 2 upgrade” feel… unnecessary.

Nintendo didn’t just patch a game — they quietly rewrote the rules. And honestly? We’re here for it.

Got thoughts on Boost Mode? Join the chat over at Retro Handhelds — or just dock (or undock) your Switch and see for yourself.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Spotify and Labels Seek $322 Million Default Judgment Against Anna’s Archive

https://torrentfreak.com/spotify-and-labels-seek-322-million-default-judgment-against-annas-archive/

Spotify & Labels Demand $322M from Anna’s Archive in Default Judgment Bid

Anna’s Archive—best known as a shadow library indexing pirated books—surprised the music industry last December when it announced it had also backed up Spotify, scraping metadata (and later, music files) from the streaming giant. The move triggered an immediate legal response: Universal, Warner, Sony, and Spotify filed suit in December 2023, leading to domain seizures and the site’s temporary shutdown of Spotify-related content.

But even after Anna’s Archive removed the torrents—including the controversial 2.8 million music files released in February—the plaintiffs are pressing hard for a $322 million default judgment, citing the site’s silence in court. Their argument hinges on two key claims:

• Copyright infringement: Each label seeks $150,000 per work for around 50 songs (total: ~$22.2M).
• DMCA circumvention: Spotify claims Anna’s bypassed DRM on 120,000 files at $2,500 per file = $300 million.

The plaintiffs call this amount “extremely conservative”—they only investigated 120,000 downloads (not all 2.8 million), and even avoided the full theoretical penalty to stay reasonable.

RIAA’s own tech VP personally downloaded torrents, confirming Spotify metadata and playable files outside the app—proof of DRM circumvention. Meanwhile, Spotify’s engineers swear up and down: those files shouldn’t have worked outside the app.

In addition to damages, plaintiffs want a sweeping injunction banning all current and past Anna’s Archive domains—and compelling global registrars, hosts, and even Cloudflare to enforce it.

Bottom line: Unless Anna’s Archive responds (and shells out $322M), the site may be permanently buried—and serve as a stark warning to other “shadow” projects daring to tangle with Big Tech and Big Music.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

First Look: Sonic Mania on the Dreamcast

https://retrorgb.com/first-look-sonic-mania-on-the-dreamcast.html

Sonic Mania is coming to Dreamcast—and it’s not just a simple port.

The Sega Guys recently dropped a teaser video showcasing the long-in-the-making Sonic Mania Dreamcast port, and wow—this team isn’t cutting corners. Years in the making, the project is being built exclusively on real Dreamcast hardware (no emulators), using decompiled versions of Sonic Mania and the RetroEngine.

What does that mean for you? A buttery-smooth 60fps experience, GPU acceleration, and support for both 240p (for authentic CRT vibes) and 480p modes. Bonus: it’s been tuned to 4:3 aspect ratio—because nothing says “late-2001” like a perfectly pixel-perfect, non-widescreen Sonic run.

Developer SonicFreak94 even shared early dev footage (like Hydrocity’s tile skewing, which looks delightfully glitchy), proving they’re both meticulous and having fun with the process.

No public demo yet—but when it drops? You’ll hear about it here first. 🎮💥

(Support the devs on Patreon while you wait!)

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Nintendo is Raising The Price of Physical Switch 2 Games

https://retrohandhelds.gg/nintendo-is-raising-the-price-of-physical-switch-2-games/

Nintendo Just Hiked Game Prices—And Fans Are NotReady 😅

Remember when everyone was begging Nintendo to drop the Switch 2’s price? Well, they did… by raising game prices instead.

Starting May 2026, physical first-party Switch 2 games will jump to $70—up from $60—with digital versions staying at $60. This mirrors Nintendo’s recent EU pricing, where Mario Kart World launched at €90 (physical) and €80 (digital). Yep, $70 for a physical game is now the new baseline.

So why the spike? Blame a fun cocktail of factors:

• Tariffs & manufacturing costs on Chinese-made hardware (hello, tariffs!)
• AI-driven memory shortages, inflating cartridge production costs
• And, of course… Nintendo’s very famous love of profit (shocking, I know 😏)

Still unclear: Will existing titles get repriced? Are $80 or even $90 games on the horizon? 🤔

One thing’s for sure—Mario’s 40th anniversary isn’t just a celebration. It’s a moneymaking event.

What do you think—fair price hike or pricegating overdrive? Drop your hot takes below 👇

(or just join our Discord and scream into the void with us.)

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Mega Man II – Full SNES 16-Bit Conversion Announced

https://retrorgb.com/mega-man-ii-full-snes-16-bit-conversion-announced.html

Mega Man II Gets a Full SNES Makeover — And It’s Looking Very Retro-Futuristic

Hold onto your Power Pills — developer Infidelity is revamping Mega Man II as a full 16-bit SNES experience, and it’s not just a cosmetic touch-up. This is a ground-up rebuild aiming to make the NES classic feel like it was always meant for the Super Nintendo.

No, this isn’t a port of Wily Wars — it’s a fresh 16-bit overhaul of the original Mega Man II, preserving the classic gameplay but dousing it in SNES-era polish. Expect smoother performance (bye-bye, slowdown and flicker), a potential dedicated SPC700 soundtrack, and — here’s the kicker — a toggle between 8-bit (original) and 16-bit modes, à la Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. Imagine hitting Select and instantly jumping into a vibrant, crisp world where Dr. Wily’s robots finally look like they belong in 1991.

Infidelity is currently seeking a collaborator for the art — if you’ve got pixel-punching skills and love classic Capcom vibes, this could be your moment in the spotlight. And if you’re just excited to witness retro magic unfold, the project’s on Patreon, with the original NES-to-SNES conversion already live on Archive.org.

Retro dreams don’t get much more heroic than this. 💥

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Epomaker RT98 Review: All Business

https://retrohandhelds.gg/epomaker-rt98-review/

Epomaker RT98 Review: All Business — But Not All That Exciting

The Epomaker RT98 is a full-sized, 96% hotswap mechanical keyboard with a repositionable (not truly modular) numpad, Bluetooth 5.1/2.5GHz connectivity, and a decent 8000mAh battery—plus a cute little screen that somehow still feels fragile after all these years.

But here’s the catch:

✅ Build quality? Solid. Feels sturdy, no creaks, and handles connectivity like a champ across devices.

✅ Battery life? Impressive. “Up to” 300 hours is generous—but realistic usage will land somewhere in the 150–200 hour range.

❌ Silent switches? Meh. The Sea Salt Silents are too quiet—dull, scratchy bottom-outs make typing feel oddly lifeless. Stick with the Creamy Jade switches if you can choose.

And while Epomaker markets this as “modular,” swapping the numpad side means unscrewing eight screws, unplugging ribbon cables, and basically reassembling the keyboard like IKEA furniture. Not impossible—but far from plug-and-play.

Verdict?

If you need a dedicated full-size board with numpad flexibility and don’t mind silent switches (or can upgrade later), the RT98 at $89–$119 is a fair deal.

But if you’re flexible on layout—or love switch tinkering—you might be better off with a 75% + separate numpad combo.

Would you take the RT98—or wait for upgrades? 🎮⌨️

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Supreme Court Wipes Out Record Labels’ $1 Billion Piracy Judgment Against Cox

https://torrentfreak.com/supreme-court-wipes-out-record-labels-1-billion-piracy-judgment-against-cox/

Supreme Court Shuts the Door on $1 Billion Piracy Suit Against Cox — And Maybe on ISP Liability Altogether

In a major win for internet providers—and a blow to copyright holders—the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a $1 billion judgment against Cox Communications, ruling that ISPs can’t be held liable just because they knew subscribers were pirating content.

The case centered on whether Cox could be held contributorily liable for its users’ copyright infringement. The record labels (Sony, Universal, etc.) argued that Cox ignored repeated piracy notices and thus enabled infringement. A jury agreed—and slapped Cox with a staggering $1 billion verdict in 2016.

But today, the Supreme Court reversed that decision 7–2, with Justice Thomas writing for the majority: Knowledge alone isn’t enough. To be liable, an ISP must either actively诱导 infringement or provide a service with no legitimate uses. Cox did neither—internet access, after all, has countless lawful purposes.

Justice Sotomayor concurred in the result—but warned this ruling may eviscerate the DMCA’s “safe harbor” provisions, which require ISPs to terminate repeat infringers. Without liability pressure, she cautioned, “ISPs now have little incentive to take any action.”

What’s next? The case heads back to lower courts, but for now: ISPs can breathe easier. Rights holders? Not so much.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Geekom GeekBook X16 Pro Review: Is Bigger Better?

https://retrohandhelds.gg/geekom-geekbook-x16-pro-review/

Retro Handhelds Review: The Geekom GeekBook X16 Pro — Big Screen, Bigger Questions

Let’s get one thing straight: the Geekom GeekBook X16 Pro is technically a laptop. Just… one that fits a 16-inch screen, full-sized keyboard, and 77Wh battery into a surprisingly sleek magnesium chassis— weighing only 2.8 lbs. Yes, weight and size still don’t always agree in this market.

At $1,349–$1,799, it’s no budget pick—but it packs serious hardware: Intel Core Ultra 5/9 chips, 32GB RAM, up to 2TB SSD, and Intel Arc graphics. For multitaskers, media consumers, or retro emulation buffs (Xbox 360? Sure!), it delivers. Benchmarks show it outperforms older ultraportables by leaps—and even holds its own against some dedicated GPU rigs at lower resolutions.

But here’s the catch:

• Keyboard: Solid feel, but that tiny right Shift is aggressive.
• Battery life: Advertised at 17 hours? Real-world hits closer to 8–10 hrs on light tasks.
• Expandability: You can upgrade the SSD—but it’s not exactly tool-free.
• The competition: The X14 Pro (OLED, cheaper) might be smarter for most.

Verdict? If you crave screen real estate and portability in one go, the X16 Pro impresses. But if you’re not married to 16 inches… maybe grab the smaller sibling—or just stick with your Surface. 😄

Affiliate links involved—supports the site!

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #506

https://retrorgb.com/week506.html

RetroRGB Weekly Roundup #506: More Than Just Nostalgia (Though There’s Plenty of That)

Bob from RetroRGB returns with Roundup #506—a packed, playful dive into the world of retro tech, mods, and deep-cut trivia. Whether you’re a tinkerer, collector, or just love hearing how obscure gear actually works, there’s something here to spark joy (and maybe a little frustration—looking at you, laserdiscs).

Highlights include the revival of the Saturn 3D Controller’s Bluetooth adapter—yes, that awkward peripheral from 1998 is getting a modern upgrade—and transparent SNES controller shells back in stock, perfect for those who want their setup to glow as hard as their ROM collection.

For the tinkerers: a RePlayOS v1.5.0 update for Raspberry Pi makes arcade emulation smoother than ever, while a DIY JUROG NAS setup (using Ugreen gear) shows how to keep your retro HDDs online—without breaking the bank or your back.

And yes, there’s also a laserdisc examined under a microscope—because why wouldn’t you peek inside that analog glory? Plus, Bob reminds us that indie devs in the ‘90s weren’t all just “small”; some absolutely moved the needle for Sega’s Genesis.

Want to support? There are links (and Patreon love) in the description—no shame in tipping a creator who makes tech history feel like your favorite local pub’s trivia night. 🎮✨

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

France Fines First Batch of Pirate IPTV Subscribers Following Reseller Bust

https://torrentfreak.com/france-fines-first-batch-of-pirate-iptv-subscribers-following-reseller-bust/

France Just Fined Its First Batch of IPTV Pirates — and It’s Just the Beginning

For years, France led the charge against online piracy with its “three-strikes” system targeting BitTorrent users. But as piracy shifted to private, encrypted IPTV streams, enforcement stalled — until now.

Last week, 19 French citizens paid €300–€400 fines after settling criminal charges tied to pirating Ligue 1 matches. These were the first IPTV subscribers sanctioned in France, following a crackdown on resellers whose customer records gave prosecutors the evidence they needed. Two resellers remain in court this April.

This isn’t just symbolic: The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is signaling a broader push. “Users wrongly believe they act with impunity,” the league warned, calling IPTV piracy a “mafia-like ecosystem” that harms sports at large.

While only 19 have been punished so far, around 2 million people reportedly watched Ligue 1 via pirate streams this season. Prosecuting them all isn’t feasible — so France is doubling down on tech solutions too.

A proposed law could let regulators like Arcom block pirate sites automatically, without manual approval — fast enough to catch live matches. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, expect more fines, more blocks, and fewer places to hide for IPTV pirates.