Category: Tater News

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Vita Review: 2023 Called

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-vita-review/

A nostalgic throwback that feels more like a reminder than a breakthrough

If you’ve been chasing the handheld holy grail since 2023, Anbernic’s new RG Vita will stir some memories—just not in the way you’d hope. Housed in a solid‑feeling beige shell with a glass front that mimics the original Vita, it looks the part. The ergonomics are decent, and the 5.46‑inch 720p screen is big enough to be usable, but the display falls flat next to rivals like the Mangmi Air X or TrimUI Smart Pro S, suffering from oversharpening and occasional ghost touches.

Powered by a Unisoc T618 (Mali‑G52 MP2) and 3 GB of RAM, the Vita can breeze through PSP, Dreamcast and N64 titles, but it stumbles on anything beyond—GameCube, PS2 or Switch emulation feels more like a gimmick than a genuine option. Benchmarks are middling; you won’t see any real advantage over other sub‑$100 handsets.

Bottom line: If the RG Vita lands under $100 and you’re chasing a retro‑look with solid build quality, it’s an okay stopgap. For anyone who wants smoother screens, tighter shoulder buttons, or serious next‑gen emulation, stick with the Mangmi Air X, a used Retroid Pocket 3+, or wait for the RG Vita Pro. Nostalgia alone isn’t enough to justify the purchase.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #502

https://retrorgb.com/week502.html

Ever feel like the retro‑gaming world is a nonstop carousel of gadgets, mods, and nostalgic deep dives? This week’s RetroRGB roundup spins that carousel fast enough to make your head spin—plus there’s a bonus “quiet truck tires” clip that’ll have you wondering what even that is.

First up, Bob (aka RetroRGB) riffs on the Virtual Boy’s new Switch‑Online rollout and drops a DIY controller PCB guide for anyone who thinks those original sticks are too… retro. He then reveals the final batch of HyperBoy+ ROM carts—think “classic handheld meets modern convenience” in one tiny brick.

The MiSTer FPGA scene gets its own spotlight, with Lu’s latest updates (including a Tandy 1000 port and a dog‑fighting sea‑fighter demo). If you’re into SMS nostalgia, there’s a slick Castlevania demo that proves the classic platform still has bite. And for those who missed the GameCube Ultimate 2 controller reveal—yes, it’s back, bigger, and button‑laden.

A quick modding segment shows how to give the Zelda Game & Watch a fresh look, followed by an amusing “Wobbling Pixels” scaler showdown update (because pixel perfection matters). Finally, Bob wraps with a heartfelt thank‑you and a nudge toward Patreon for anyone who wants to keep his content humming.

Bottom line: hardware hacks, demo drops, and a dash of humor—everything you need to stay in the loop without digging through endless forums. 🎮✨

📰 New article from Wololo.net

Homebrew Release: Warnel Chawpiovs v1.1.0 (PC, Nintendo Switch), adds “The Mad Titan’s Shadow” cards

https://wololo.net/2026/02/25/homebrew-release-warnel-chawpiovs-v1-1-0-pc-nintendo-switch-adds-the-mad-titans-shadow-cards/

If you’ve ever wanted to run Marvel Champions on your PC or Switch without juggling rulebooks, version 1.1.0 of Warnel Chawpiovs just dropped – and it brings a tidy bundle of new content.

The update adds the entire “Mad Titan’s Shadow” set plus the Captain America hero pack: three fresh heroes (Adam Warlock, Spectrum, Captain America) and five villain scenarios (Ebony Maw, Tower Defense, Thanos, Hela, Loki). On top of that you now get optional sound‑and‑music support via a handy “music.zip” (or swap in your own MP3s), plus a batch of bug fixes that finally smooth out some card quirks.

Installation is straightforward: grab the binaries from the download page or GitHub, unzip, and run the executable on Windows/Linux/macOS. Switch owners need a hacked console and must drop the WC folder onto their SD card before launching from the homebrew menu (full‑speed mode recommended). Expect a slower experience on Switch – overclocking helps, but stick to single‑hero runs for now.

Multiplayer remains in beta limbo, so solo or local co‑op is the way to go. If you’re feeling adventurous, dive into the readme and maybe even contribute a PR; otherwise, enjoy battling Thanos with Captain America on your own terms.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Fully-Funded GameTank Heads Into Production

https://retrohandhelds.gg/fully-funded-gametank-heads-into-production/

Picture a 1987 dev‑kit that somehow escaped the museum and landed in a maker‑space—that’s the vibe of the newly funded GameTank, an open‑source 8‑bit console that just smashed its $30 k Crowd Supply goal, pulling in over $40 k.

Backers will receive a full‑blown system: a chunky custom controller, a cartridge flasher with a blank cart, and even a physical copy of the launch title Accursed Fiend. This isn’t an emulator box; it’s a brand‑new platform running two W65C02S chips (one at 3.5 MHz for logic, another at 14 MHz for audio), a 128×128 framebuffer with a hardware blitter, and 512 KB of graphics RAM. Video is pure composite—perfect if you still own a CRT or a good scaler.

What makes GameTank special isn’t the nostalgia trip but the invitation to tinker. All schematics, board files, and 3D‑printable shells are open‑sourced, and an SDK built on CC65 lets developers write real 6502 code from scratch. With shipping slated for July 12, 2026, this niche‑of‑a‑niche finally moves off the vaporware graveyard and into your hands—ready for anyone who wants to build games and hardware.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Play Games From 28 Vintage Systems in Your Browser

https://retrohandhelds.gg/play-games-from-28-vintage-systems-in-your-browser/

Ever wish you could hop onto a PDP‑11 or an IBM mainframe without dusting off a vintage chassis? Thanks to a quirky partnership between the Interim Computer Museum and SDF.org, you can telnet straight into 28 historic systems right from your browser.

The setup is a tidy grid of live machines—DEC’s Unix V7 on a PDP‑11, Honeywell 6180 running Multics, CDC‑6500 with NOS, AT&T 3B2, VAX boxes sporting 4.3BSD, Ultrix and OpenVMS, plus a handful of IBM VM/SP rigs. They’re not cartoonish emulators; they’re genuine multi‑user OSes, kept humming as a “living museum.”

Once you connect (via web terminal or any telnet client) you get period‑accurate shells, compilers, editors and even classic games—Rogue, NetHack, Tetris, Adventure, Trek variants—all running on the hardware they were originally written for. SDF bundles tutorials so newbies won’t be stranded at a blinking cursor.

Why it matters: It’s a hands‑on history lesson that shows why today’s tools look the way they do, and it proves “cloud gaming” isn’t a 2020s fad—people have been time‑sharing code and games for decades. Free, browser‑based, and gloriously authentic—a cheat code for retro enthusiasts.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Grab Justice League: Cosmic Chaos For 90% Off Before It’s Gone

https://retrohandhelds.gg/grab-justice-league-cosmic-chaos-for-90-off-before-its-gone/

Ever seen a superhero game pull a disappearing act? DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is about to vanish from every digital store—Steam, Switch, Xbox and PlayStation—sometime in March, thanks to an expired DC licence.

The good news? The delisting comes with a 90%‑off flash sale (some regions even deeper) until March 6, so you can snag the whole trio of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman for about four bucks. If you already own it digitally, your copy stays safe in your library, trophies intact, and physical discs become instant collector’s items.

Why care? This isn’t a cheap tie‑in; it’s a bright, family‑friendly open‑world brawler that runs like butter on handheld PCs and the Steam Deck. Its short three‑year lifespan is a stark reminder how fragile licensed games can be—once the paperwork expires, even solid mid‑tier titles disappear for anyone who missed the window.

So if you’ve been eyeing a light‑hearted co‑op cape adventure (or just need another “comfort food” game for your handheld), now’s the time to press Buy. After March, it’ll be gone faster than a speed‑force sprint.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Sony Announces Plans To Monetize Player Base

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sony-announces-plans-to-monetize-player-base/

Ever notice how a console’s price tag stays stubbornly steady while everything else around it starts to feel pricier? Sony’s CFO just confirmed that the PS5 won’t get a hardware hike—at least not this year—but the company is gearing up to squeeze more cash out of the 92 million owners already plugged in.

The reason? DRAM costs are soaring, and while Sony has stocked enough memory for the holiday rush, it doesn’t want to pass that expense directly to shoppers. Instead, they’ll lean on the “installed base” by:

• nudging digital sales (which already account for 76 % of software revenue)
• tightening discounts on new releases
• tweaking PlayStation Plus tiers or adding subtle paywalls

First‑party hits like Ghost of Yōtei are already proving that premium titles can lift the Game & Network Services profit line, even as hardware sales dip. Gamers are reacting with a mix of resignation (“they’ll juice the whales”) and pragmatic acceptance that higher software prices are the new normal for late‑cycle consoles.

Bottom line: Your PS5’s sticker price may stay put, but expect everything you do on it—from game purchases to subscriptions—to feel a little heavier on the wallet.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

PicPic Is A New Pico-8 Emulator For iOS

https://retrohandhelds.gg/picpic-is-a-new-pico-8-emulator-for-ios/

Ever tried squeezing a tiny fantasy console into your pocket‑sized iPhone? Now you can, without the usual browser hacks or sideload gymnastics.

PicPic is the first native PICO‑8 emulator to slip past Apple’s gatekeeper and land on the App Store. It runs both “.p8” source carts and the quirky “.p8.png” cartridge images at full speed, with proper audio that doesn’t get funneled through a webview. Import your games from Files or Safari, rename them, and let the built‑in library keep your saves exactly where they belong.

The UI feels right at home on mobile: a configurable on‑screen d‑pad, multiple color themes, even alternate app icons for those who love to personalize. The core app is free, but a subscription unlocks premium goodies—clearly labeled “NOT related to PICO‑8 or Lexaloffle” to keep the lawyers happy.

Sure, it won’t sync with Lexaloffle’s BBS and the paywall may irk purists, but for anyone who wants to fire up Celeste Classic in bed without AltStore drama, PicPic is currently the smoothest, most legit way to enjoy PICO‑8 on iOS.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Nintendo Files A New Trademark For The Game Boy, But It’s Probably Nothing

https://retrohandhelds.gg/nintendo-files-a-new-trademark-for-the-game-boy-but-its-probably-nothing/

Ever notice how Nintendo’s legal filings feel like Easter eggs for fans? The company just lodged a fresh “Nintendo GAME BOY” trademark in Brazil—nothing flashy, just paperwork—but the timing is deliciously juicy.

It lands smack‑dab on Pokémon Day and the franchise’s 30th anniversary, right as FireRed and LeafGreen get reborn on Switch. Naturally, speculation spikes: could we see a throwback Game Boy console or an official reprint of the original cartridges? With vintage Red/Blue/Yellow carts now fetching three‑figure sums, an official run would crush the reseller market overnight.

The more sober take is that Nintendo routinely renews trademarks to keep the brand safe—no guarantee of a product. Still, the company has a track record of nostalgic hardware drops (Famicom Mini, Game & Watch editions, even a modern Virtual Boy viewer). So while this filing alone isn’t proof of a new handheld, it does signal that Nintendo still cherishes the Game Boy name.

Bottom line: for now it’s just legal housekeeping. If you were hoping for a surprise Game Boy launch on February 27, keep your expectations in check—but stay tuned; Nintendo’s nostalgia engine is humming louder than ever.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Lakka 6.1 Released With CRT Support

https://retrohandhelds.gg/lakka-6-1-released-with-crt-support/

If you thought the retro‑gaming scene had hit a plateau, Lakka’s fresh 6.1 release is here to prove otherwise. The new build swaps in LibreELEC 12.2 and a long‑term‑support Linux 6.18 kernel—think broader driver coverage and fewer “my‑old‑PC‑won’t‑play” headaches, especially on single‑board computers and dust‑gathering desktops.

RetroArch jumps to 1.22.2, bringing the UI polish, latency tweaks, and quality‑of‑life upgrades that have been standard elsewhere for ages. Meanwhile the core library gets a serious overhaul: PlayStation 2 finally runs via lrps2 (the pcsx2 relic is gone), Nintendo 3DS arrives with panda3DS, DS fans get both melonDS and nooDS, and niche gems like Tamagotchi, PuzzleScript, DOS‑era Turbo PC/XT, Amiga, Lynx, and even Cave Story join the party.

What makes 6.1 a retro‑nerd’s dream is its official Raspberry Pi images tuned for analog TV setups—CRT lovers can finally plug into their old tubes without the usual hack‑fest. A new first‑boot script also lets you pre‑configure Wi‑Fi and drop custom RetroArch settings onto the SD card before the system even powers up.

Bottom line: if your drawer is full of forgotten boards, Lakka 6.1 gives you a compelling reason to dust them off and relive 8‑bit glory in 2026.