Author: taternews

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Humble Bazooka Revives Saturn 3D Controller Bluetooth Adapter Project

https://retrorgb.com/humble-bazooka-revives-saturn-3d-controller-bluetooth-adapter-project.html

Humble Bazooka Revives Saturn 3D Controller Bluetooth Adapter—And It’s Better Than Ever

Remember that elusive Bluetooth adapter for the Saturn 3D controller? It’s back—and this time, Dave of Humble Bazooka isn’t cutting corners.

The BLE Shift 3D, first teased in 2022 and revived in late 2024, hit a snag during testing: a finicky power button circuit. Rather than ship a buggy product, Dave paused development to redesign and refine—something he admits took longer than expected. But now? “Testing is going well,” he wrote in his March 7 dev log, with final touches on firmware and battery life taking priority.

Battery life is still TBA, but prototypes are hitting 7–8 hours—and he’s aiming for a solid 6+ in the final version. As for the housing? He’s asking fans to weigh in on whether to go with quick-turn 3D-printed enclosures or premium (but delay-inducing) injection-molded shells, which could add 3–4 months to the timeline.

Why all the wait? A perfect storm of tariffs, a workshop move, and supply chain chaos derailed progress in 2025—but things are stabilizing now, and development’s back on track.

Fun fact: This isn’t Dave’s first Saturn Bluetooth rodeo. His Saturn BT adapter—released in 2023—has already won fans for its near-zero-latency performance.

Stay tuned: Feedback and updates are welcome on his Bluesky, X/Twitter, and elsewhere. Saturn fans, your wireless future is almost here. 🎮🔋

📰 New article from Wololo.net

PSP/PS Vita: Adrenaline-8 and ARK-5 on the horizon.

https://wololo.net/2026/03/19/psp-ps-vita-adrenaline-8-and-ark-5-on-the-horizon/

PSP Comeback Alert: Adrenaline-8 & ARK-5 Are Almost Here — And They’re Teamwork Personified

Remember when we thought the PSP was all but retired? Think again. Developers are back at it, and the latest updates to Adrenaline (v8) and ARK (v5) are shaping up to be the most collaborative and powerful releases yet.

This isn’t just a random update—it’s the result of years of cross-pollination between two once-separate CFW ecosystems. The big win? A unified codebase via the new psp-cfw-sdk, which streamlines plugin and CFW development like never before. Even better: the old Pentazemin compatibility layer (once ARK’s bridge to Adrenaline) has been fully absorbed back into Adrenaline, eliminating duplication and ensuring both CFWs ride the same engine.

From now on, Adrenaline can boot ARK directly—no external loader needed—and users can toggle between EPI (Adrenaline’s revamped CEF) and ARK in the settings. Plugins? They’ll work seamlessly across both thanks to shared APIs.

And let’s talk visuals: hardware-accelerated XMB overlays? Yes, please. That 3D spinning cube demo? Just the beginning—developers now have a clean API to build rich, native-feeling menus and plugins.

The PSP isn’t just alive—it’s evolving. And this is only the appetizer. 🎮✨

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Vita Pro First Impressions

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-vita-pro-first-impressions/

TL;DR: The Anbernic RG Vita Pro is a technically upgraded take on last month’s RG Vita—but still not the PS Vita clone anyone hoped for.

Let’s be real: naming a device RG Vita Pro in 2026—especially when PS Vita emulation is still rough around the edges—is like putting “Pro” on a toaster with a fancy crust setting. Yes, it’s sleeker, sharper (1080p vs 720), and runs on the newer RK3576 chip with Wi-Fi 6 and dual-boot (Android/Linux). But no, it still doesn’t have analog triggers—a glaring omission for a Pro model in 2026, especially when smaller rivals like the AISLPC RG52 Mini already do.

The controls feel identical to the base model (just prettier paint), and while Vita3K does ship pre-installed with some playable titles (Gravity Rush looks solid), don’t expect flawless emulation yet. The hardware can handle it better than before, but optimization is still a work in progress.

It’s a capable device—but it feels like an incremental step, not a leap. And if you’re buying this hoping for that magical PS Vita nostalgia hit… well, you’ll get the vibe, but not quite the magic.

Still waiting for that actual PS Vita successor, folks. 🥲

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Vita and RG Vita Pro Price and Release Date Revealed

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-vita-and-rg-vita-pro-price-and-release-date-revealed/

Anbernic’s RG Vita & RG Vita Pro Are Almost Here—Pre-Orders Start March 23

After teasing the devices nearly two months ago, Anbernic has finally locked in release details for the RG Vita and RG Vita Pro, with pre-orders kicking off March 23 at 6 AM EDT.

Pricing is aggressive during the launch window:

• RG Vita: $99.99 (first 72 hours), then $139.99
• RG Vita Pro: $109.99 (first 72 hours), then $149.99

The base RG Vita packs a 5.46″ 720p screen, UNISOC Tiger T618 chip, and runs Android 12—but reviewers are already calling out issues, especially the irony of not being able to smoothly emulate PS Vita games on a device that literally looks like one.

The RG Vita Pro, meanwhile, is the more promising option:

✅ 5.5″ Full HD screen

✅ Rockchip RK3576 + Mali-G52 MC3

✅ Dual-boot Android/Linux (including dev-friendly distros like ROCKNIX and GammaOS)

✅ USB-C display out + dual-screen support

Early reviewer feedback? Mixed—but the Linux build’s rough edges highlight why community-driven firmware could make or break the experience.

Will you grab one at launch—or wait for rumors of the even wilder RG Twist? 🕹️

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AceMagic M5 Review: CPU Brawn, GPU Pawn

https://retrohandhelds.gg/acemagic-m5-review/

AceMagic M5 Review: A CPU Beast With a GPU Weakness — Great for Work, Not Play

AceMagic’s latest Mini PC, the M5, is a no-nonsense powerhouse built for raw CPU grunt — and it shows. Packing the Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores! 32 threads!) in a compact, upgrade-friendly chassis, it’s a dream for homelabbers, video editors, and server jockeys. But here’s the catch: Intel dials back the integrated GPU big time, making gaming and light graphics work surprisingly sluggish compared to AMD rivals.

### 🔧 The Good:

• Benchmarks don’t lie: Smashes older i9 models (and AMDs) in CPU tasks like encoding, compression, and multitasking.
• Expandability wins: Two RAM slots, dual M.2 bays, and a surprisingly easy teardown (just 4 screws + a lock switch — no duct tape required).
• Ideal for virtualization: Run Proxmox, spin up VMs, dedicate cores to home servers — this thing thrives on background hustle.

### 🎮 The Not-So-Good:

• GPU performance lags: Falls behind even older i9s in 3DMark and real-world gaming — not ideal if you want to dabble outside the command line.
• Fan noise spikes under load — not unbearable, but noticeable during heavy workloads.
• USB ports are stiff: One reviewer literally snapped a USB dongle trying to yank it out. Yikes.

### 💡 Bottom Line:

The M5 isn’t for gamers or portability seekers. But if you need maximum CPU juice in a tiny box, and don’t care about graphics, it’s a solid buy — especially at $689–$712. Just don’t expect to run Minecraft on it… unless you love low FPS and patience-testing.

[Check pricing & buy options](#)

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Cloudflare Challenges Legality of Italy’s “Piracy Shield”, Appeals €14 Million Fine

https://torrentfreak.com/cloudflare-challenges-legality-of-italys-piracy-shield-appeals-e14-million-fine/

Cloudflare Slams Italy’s “Piracy Shield” as a Threat to the Open Internet — and Files Legal Appeal

Italy’s aggressive anti-piracy scheme, dubbed the “Piracy Shield,” has drawn fire from tech giant Cloudflare—not just for fines, but over what it calls a dangerous erosion of internet freedom.

Launched in 2024, the system promises rapid takedowns (within 30 minutes!) to curb live sports piracy, especially targeting Serie A broadcasts. But critics say it’s a blunt instrument that overblocks legitimate sites—including government portals, schools, and even Google Drive—raising concerns about collateral damage.

Cloudflare, whose public DNS resolver 1.1.1.1 refused to enforce the blocks, was hit with a €14.2 million fine (1% of global revenue) for non-compliance. The company argues this violates EU law: Italian fines for non-compliance should be capped at €140,000—based on local revenue—not 100x that amount.

Worse yet, Cloudflare alleges the system is a “black box”, developed by SP Tech—an arm of a law firm representing rights-holders like Serie A—and lacks transparency, oversight, or due process.

In a March 8 appeal filing, Cloudflare vows to keep fighting—not just the fine, but the legality of the whole scheme.

The stakes? Whether private interests can dictate internet infrastructure—and potentially compromise national security—without accountability. 🌐⚖️

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Neo Geo AES Replacement Shell

https://retrorgb.com/neo-geo-aes-replacement-shell.html

🔥 Retro Repair Renaissance!

Dennis van den Broek (a.k.a. Pointer Function) just dropped the full 3D-printable design for a Neo Geo AES replacement shell—yes, the entire casing. This isn’t just a quick fix; it’s the kind of meticulous, community-powered restoration work that makes retro hardware revival feel almost like a miracle.

💡 What’s included?

• Full shell model (ready for 3D printing)
• Previously released: cartridge door, power/reset buttons
• Memory card slot bracket (in progress—stay tuned!)

You can either grab the bracket and swap it in, or hold out for Dennis’ final piece. Either way, this opens the door to some seriously ambitious mods—like turning an MVS arcade board into a factory-perfect AES home console using the open-source AES 3.5 motherboard. Imagine: arcade-grade ROMs, crisp CRT output, and a pristine cabinet—all built from scratch (or near-scratch).

🎯 Bonus points if you find a print shop willing to do this at reasonable cost—this could be the holy grail for Neo Geo purists.

👀 Ready to see it in action? Check out Chrissy The Retro Scamp’s test print here—looks scarily authentic.

[Hat tip to RetroRGB for the heads-up!]

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #505

https://retrorgb.com/week505.html

RetroRGB Weekly Roundup #505: SNES Mods, Sonic Shells & the Ultimate C64 Deep Dive 🎮

This week on RetroRGB, Bob takes you behind the scenes (and inside the chips) of classic gaming tech—with a side of playful enthusiasm that only a true retro enthusiast can deliver.

We kick off with SNES digital audio mods from The Retro Channels, then jump into FPGA goodness: Lu’s latest MiSTer updates cover everything from Mat Mania to the Atari Jaguar, while an open-source NES PPU replacement promising RGB output makes hardware tinkerers salivate.

Sonic fans get a nostalgic treat with 35th-anniversary Dreamcast shells, and Ken dives deep (pun intended) into the Commodore 64 Ultimate—a modded powerhouse that redefines “retro, but better.” Meanwhile, retro modders will love Mcbazel’s GBS-C control mod and a clever downscaler project from Barco/Folsom Research, perfect for modernizing old CRT setups.

Oh—and yes, there’s also a dual-analog Dreamcast controller, the Flame Thrower (watch it here 🔥), and Bob’s usual heartfelt plea for support. Because let’s face it: retro preservation doesn’t happen on its own.

🎧 Want more? Find the video and podcast across all major platforms—or support the channel directly.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Nintendo Switch Update 22.0.0 Adds Enhanced Portable Mode, QOL, and More!

https://retrohandhelds.gg/nintendo-switch-update-22-0-0-adds-enhanced-portable-mode-qol-and-more/

Nintendo Switch Update 22.0.0 Brings Handheld Mode Boost—A Game-Changer for Switch 1 Games!

In a surprise March 2026 update, Nintendo dropped system version 22.0.0, packed with quality-of-life upgrades—and most excitingly, Handheld Mode Boost. This long-awaited feature lets compatible Nintendo Switch (original model) games run at up to 1080p in handheld mode, essentially giving them a docked-mode performance boost. Yes, seriously.

### 🔋 How It Works

Found under System > Nintendo Switch Software Handling, the toggle forces compatible titles to run like they’re docked—smoother framerates, sharper resolution. Think Xenoblade Chronicles 2, The Witcher 3, Octopath Traveler, and others that were stuck at 540p in handheld mode before. The catch? Battery life takes a hit, as expected—but for portable gaming purists, this is a huge win.

### 🎮 Bonus Improvements

• GameChat upgrades: Invite friends, better video quality, and voice-to-text translation in more languages (including Russian!).
• Airplane Mode finesse: Now lets you toggle Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/NFC individually while in Airplane Mode.
• Text-to-Speech expands: Reads album notes and setup prompts—great for accessibility.
• Friend notes & storage breakdowns: Finally, some organization tools!

With the Switch 2 on the horizon, this update feels like Nintendo’s way of squeezing every last drop out of the original library. What game are you hoping to see boosted? 🚀

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retroid Announces Pocket G2 Discontinuation, Higher Pocket Classic Prices

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retroid-announces-pocket-g2-discontinuation-higher-pocket-classic-prices/

Retroid Throws a Curveball: Pocket G2 Discontinued, Classic Gets Pricier 🎮💥

Just when handheld gamers thought they had a moment to catch their breath, Retroid dropped a double whammy: the Pocket G2 is “temporarily discontinued,” and the Pocket Classic just got $20 heavier in price—now $149 for the 6GB/128GB model.

Why? Let’s break it down:

• The Pocket G2, launched last year with the niche Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chip (a beefed-up 7+ Gen 3), never quite carved out a clear spot in Retroid’s lineup—sandwiched between the Pocket 5 and 6, with near-identical design and display.
• Meanwhile, the Classic—a budget-friendly favorite—is now more expensive, with only two color variants left in stock (Classic 6 and Classic 6 SG), pushing third-party buyers to pay extra elsewhere.

The silver lining? The Pocket 5 survives the chop and remains at $199, while the Pocket 6 continues shipping after its second pre-order batch. And yes—Discord is definitely buzzing about it.

In short: Retroid’s reshuffling the deck, and players are left wondering if this is a pivot… or a pause. 🔄