Author: taternews

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO Saga Continues, CES 2026, MiniLoong Pocket 1, and More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-81/

Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO’s Bag Game Is Strong (And So Are the Bugs)

Let’s be real: if your handheld company sends you a free branded sling bag just for buying two devices, you’re either loved… or deeply confused. AYANEO’s latest move—mailing Thor + Odin 3 owners a chic little sling—is the kind of “wait, they remembered?” gesture that makes you forgive them for shipping a device with a 37% battery life.

Meanwhile, the Pocket DMG just got a yellow version. Because why stop at one limited edition when you can flood the market with pastel variants? (We’re not mad. We’re just… emotionally invested.)

On the software front, dArkOS quietly dropped like a Linux ninja—bringing Debian to old Rockchip chips. Suddenly, your 2023-era MiniLoong Pocket 1 doesn’t feel like a brick. It feels… potential.

CES 2026 delivered surprises too: Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 is getting a SteamOS version (finally!), and GameSir unveiled a controller shaped like a taco. Yes, really. GameSir Pocket Taco. $35. For portrait gaming. We have no regrets.

And don’t sleep on Henriko Magnifico’s 4K Zelda textures. He’s not a man—he’s a force of nature with a texture pack and a mission.

The retro handheld scene isn’t slowing down. It’s just getting weirder. And we’re here for it. 🎮💛

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Game Over: Bally Astrocade

https://retrohandhelds.gg/game-over-bally-astrocade/

The Bally Astrocade wasn’t just ahead of its time—it was way ahead, like a sports car with no wheels and a half-baked owner’s manual.

In 1977, Bally dropped a console that could spit out smooth sprites and color-packed graphics while the Atari 2600 was still figuring out how to make a paddle turn. It had BASIC programming, RAM upgrades, and even cassette storage—basically a home computer pretending to be a game console. And yet… no one could find it. Bally didn’t know how to sell it, retailers were baffled, and the name kept changing like a confused toddler at a costume party.

Then came the glitches. Units overheated. Memory failed mid-game. Peripherals vanished like socks in a dryer. By the time Astrovision took over, the video game crash was knocking on the door—and the Astrocade showed up with a “Nope” sign taped to its forehead.

Still. The Incredible Wizard. Bally Pin. Glorious, pixel-perfect gems buried under corporate chaos. Today, collectors treat it like a relic from an alternate universe where things worked out… just not this one.

It didn’t win. But it sure looked amazing losing. 🕹️💀

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Digital Foundry Discusses NVIDIA G-Sync Pulsar Technology

https://retrorgb.com/digital-foundry-discusses-nvidia-g-sync-pulsar-technology.html

If you’ve ever longed for the crisp, flickery motion of a CRT on your modern monitor—well, NVIDIA just handed you the keys to the time machine.

Enter G-Sync Pulsar: a new display tech that pulses the backlight to mimic the motion clarity of old-school CRTs. No more smearing in fast-paced games. Just sharp, stutter-free motion—even at 60Hz. And yes, it’s only for Windows PCs with NVIDIA GPUs… which means your PS5 and Xbox? Still stuck in the blur zone. (RIP, OLED fans—no backlight = no Pulsar.)

But here’s the kicker: you don’t need to wait until January 2026 to try it. Grab ShaderBeam, a free Windows app that simulates CRT beam effects on your current 120Hz+ monitor. It’s not perfect, and it runs better with two GPUs—but for $0? It’s a wild demo of what Pulsar could do.

And if you’ve got a RetroTINK 4K Pro? You can already beam-simulate your SNES and N64 games up to 240Hz. Add HDR, and it’s like teleporting into a 1995 arcade.

Pulsar isn’t just tech—it’s nostalgia, optimized. And if NVIDIA nails the flicker tuning? This might be the most exciting thing to happen to gaming motion since high refresh rates.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Interview with Vint Creator: William Sokol Erhard

https://retrorgb.com/interview-with-vint-creator-william-sokol-erhard.html

Here’s the scoop: William Sokol Erhard—the genius behind Vint—just dropped an audio interview that’s basically a love letter to video nerds who miss the soul of film and hate “soap opera effect” like it’s a bad Yelp review.

Think: 24p film, BFI (that’s “Black Frame Insertion” for the uninitiated), and interpolation that doesn’t turn your Netflix binge into a wet sponge. He breaks down how to make motion look smooth without making everything feel like a cheap infomercial. And yes—he even chats about NVIDIA’s new Pulsar tech (coming 2026, because apparently patience is a virtue now).

Vint itself? It’s like Photoshop for motion—real-time video interpolation + CRT glow vibes. If you’ve ever stared at a 60Hz screen and whispered, “I miss the flicker,” this is your jam.

And guess what? It’s on sale right now.

• Try it on Itch.io
• Or grab it on Steam

Bonus: His YouTube channel is a treasure trove of motion science wrapped in dad jokes. Also, if you’ve ever wondered why your TV looks like a 2003 sitcom on caffeine—this guy has answers.

Don’t just watch video. Feel it.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Disney, Netflix & Crunchyroll Try to Take Pirate Sites Down Globally Through Indian Court

https://torrentfreak.com/disney-netflix-crunchyroll-try-to-take-pirate-sites-down-globally-through-indian-court/

India’s Court Tried to Kill Pirate Sites Global-Style—Then Got Ghosted by Namecheap & Tonga

Disney, Netflix, and Crunchyroll thought they’d found the ultimate piracy kill switch: an Indian court order that could force U.S. domain registrars and even the Kingdom of Tonga to nuke pirate sites overnight. Spoiler: it didn’t go quite as planned.

The Delhi High Court dropped a Dynamic++ injunction—basically a legal nuke—targeting 163 pirate domains, including fan favorites like yflix.to and bs.to. The plan? Make registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, and even Tonga’s government suspend domains in 72 hours. Bonus: they had to hand over subscriber info, including bank details and IP logs. Bold. Ambitious. Very ambitious.

But here’s the twist: most registrars just… didn’t show up. Namecheap? Still running pirate sites. GoDaddy? Crickets. Tonga, the tiny Pacific nation that owns .to domains? Didn’t even acknowledge the order. Only a handful—Porkbun, Hostinger, WHG Hosting—actually complied.

This isn’t a failure of the court’s power. It’s a reminder that global copyright enforcement is like trying to ban memes with a subpoena: the internet just spawns new ones faster. Still, India’s system is the most aggressive in the world—and Hollywood won’t stop coming back for more.

Next time? Maybe they’ll just send a Bollywood action hero with a cease-and-desist letter.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Promises To Do Better

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-promises-to-do-better/

Let’s be real—AYANEO didn’t start this year on a high note. After brushing off critics with “you’re just mad because you’re salty,” the internet collectively facepalmed. But then? Curveball: CEO Arthur Zhang showed up—in person—on Reddit and Discord, dropped the defensiveness, and laid out a real 2026 fix-it plan.

No more “we’ll get to your email in 3 months.” AYANEO’s promising a dedicated support inbox, faster repairs, and actual transparency on crowdfunded releases. They’re even pausing new gadgets like the Pocket Play until they clean up their act. And get this—they’re testing global pre-orders so you won’t be stuck watching a friend in Japan unbox your backer edition before you.

It’s not just PR. They’re hiring, training, auditing factories, and Arthur says he’ll be on Discord (yes, really). Skeptical? Fair. But when a company admits they messed up—and then writes down how they’ll fix it—you gotta give them a shot.

The retro handheld community didn’t just complain… they got heard. And that’s kind of a big deal.

Now prove it, Arthur. We’ll be watching.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Sending Bag to Thor and Odin 3 Backers

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-sending-bag-to-thor-and-odin-3-backers/

If you bought both an AYN Thor and Odin 3? Congrats—you just got a free, fancy sling bag. No promo code. No email blast. Just a sleek, black, faux-leather number with a Switch card sleeve and an expandable padded compartment… dropped unannounced into your mailbox like a gift from the Norse gods themselves.

Turns out, AYN remembered their IndieGoGo backers. While other companies vanish after funding ends, AYN is out here treating early supporters like royalty—sending swag no one even asked for. The bag? Premium nylon, adjustable strap, hidden velcro straps, and a built-in hard shell compartment that screams “TomToc but make it cooler.” And it’s not even for sale. Only Thor + Odin owners get it.

In a world where retro handheld hype often ends with broken promises and silent inboxes, this is the kind of gesture that rebuilds trust. No fanfare. Just good vibes and a well-made bag you didn’t know you needed.

So if you’ve got both devices? Check your mailbox.

If not? Maybe it’s time to upgrade… for the bag alone. 😏

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Octopus Arcade Stick In Stock Now!

https://retrorgb.com/octopus-arcade-stick-in-stock-now.html

Hey, arcade fans—your dream controller just got real. 🐙

The Octopus Fight Stick is finally in stock, and it’s not just another stick—it’s a full-blown retro powerhouse. Built like a tank with a built-in Dreamcast VMU, it connects to almost every console via Brook’s ultra-responsive 3ms USB board. That’s faster than your microwave beeps. And yes, it looks like an alien octopus if your dad was a Sega fanboy.

Want to plug it into your PS5, Switch, or even an old-school Dreamcast? Done. Want to swap out the faceplate for a custom look? Yep, they’ve got plates. Bonus: grab the Kraken Spinner if you’re into those whirling, dizzying fighting game moves. (We won’t tell your neighbors about the late-night Guilty Gear sessions.)

Use code retrorgb for $25 off—and don’t skip the RetroRGB podcast with Beast. He called it “the controller I didn’t know I needed until I held it.” High praise from a guy who owns 47 arcade sticks.

Bottom line: if you love retro, hate latency, and think your controller should have character—this is it.

👉 Grab yours before the tentacles curl up again:

https://retrorgb.link/octopus

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Titan 27” 4K160 / 1080p320 IPS Gaming Monitor

https://retrorgb.com/titan-27-4k160-1080p320-ips-gaming-monitor.html

Meet the Titan P2712V — the gaming monitor that doesn’t care if you’re playing Super Mario Bros. or Cyberpunk 2077. At under $300, this 27” 4K IPS beast delivers 160Hz at 4K, blurs past 320Hz at 1080p, and has a 2ms response time that’ll make your reflexes look slow. Even better? It plays nice with retro gear — no more “this old console won’t connect” headaches.

No fancy gimmicks, just solid pixels and zero input lag — perfect for retro purists and modern FPS fanatics alike. It’s the monitor your 2005 PS2 and 2024 Steam library both deserve.

And yes, it’s compatible with RetroTINK scalers (yes, those magic boxes that make your NES look like it’s from the future). Plus, they linked a $30 speaker bar that actually sounds decent — rare in the monitor world.

Bottom line: If you want a screen that works with your SNES, Switch, and next-gen PC without needing a PhD in HDMI compatibility — this is it.

P.S. Bob’s Patreon has more gems like this. Support the guy who tests monitors so you don’t have to.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

VMU Pro Firmware Update v1.2.0

https://retrorgb.com/vmu-pro-firmware-update-v1-2-0.html

You thought your Dreamcast’s VMU was cool? Yeah, me too—until the VMU Pro showed up. Now it’s basically a Pocket PC that remembers your saves, plays emulated games, and still looks like it belongs in 2001. And just dropped: firmware v1.2.0, and it’s packed.

No more guessing if your battery’s dying—there’s now a pre-loaded calibration profile. Forgot your WiFi password? No sweat, you can forget and re-pair. And here’s the kicker: you can now build and push game binaries directly from VSCode over USB. That’s right. Code your Dreamcast game on your laptop, hit “upload,” and boom—your custom level’s live on the little screen you used to use for Chocobo racing.

The SDK got a serious upgrade too: stack traces, memory usage stats, and even dev tools that don’t make you want to scream. Bug fixes? Oh yeah—no more accidental BIOS overwrites, broken audio, or lost mini-game progress. Plus, new VMU images now come with all 200 blocks free (no more “where’d my space go?!”).

If you’ve ever wanted to mod your Dreamcast like it’s 2024 and not 1999… this is your moment.

Pro tip: Grab one before the next firmware update adds a built-in espresso machine.

(Also, go support Bob on Patreon. He’s basically the wizard behind this magic.)