Category: Tater News

📰 New article from RetroRGB

BlueRetro Software Development Ends

https://retrorgb.com/blueretro-software-development-ends.html

BlueRetro just shut down—and it’s the kind of loss that feels personal to anyone who’s ever plugged a Bluetooth mouse into their SNES just to play Star Fox like a legend.

Jacques Gagnon, the one-man wizard behind BlueRetro, archived the project on December 14th after years of making retro gaming feel like sci-fi. Forget basic Bluetooth adapters that only work with one controller type—BlueRetro let you turn a DualShock into a Sega Saturn twin-stick, emulate the PlayStation Mouse, or use a modern joystick to play GoldenEye. It wasn’t just compatible—it was magical.

The best part? It was all open-source. No corporate lock-in, no dead-end hardware. Just code, creativity, and a middle finger to “that’s not how it worked back then.” Jacques didn’t just build a tool—he built a playground. And he’s literally inviting others to keep playing.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of playing Virtua Fighter with a modern controller, or mapping your smartwatch to a NES Zapper—this is your sign. Fork the repo. Tweak it. Break it. Make it better.

BlueRetro’s dead. Long live BlueRetro.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

“Pixels to Pages: The Story of Electronic Gaming Monthly” Documentary

https://retrorgb.com/pixels-to-pages-the-story-of-electronic-gaming-monthly-documentary.html

Let’s be real: if you ever tore open a fresh issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly like it was Christmas morning, this documentary is your emotional time machine.

“Pixels to Pages: The Story of Electronic Gaming Monthly” isn’t just nostalgia bait—it’s a love letter to the golden age of print gaming journalism. Coury and Joe (of Game Sack) spent six years piecing together interviews with EGM’s legendary editors, writers, and photographers, all while working on other projects. No fancy CGI. No reenactments. Just raw, unfiltered stories—like how they snuck screenshots before anyone else, or the legendary “Sheng Long” April Fools’ hoax that fooled everyone, including Nintendo.

And yes, Sushi-X? Finally explained. (Spoiler: He was real. And kind of a legend.)

What’s wild? The whole doc is made up only of interviews—no on-screen hosts, no voiceovers. Just the voices that shaped gaming’s early media landscape. Even the theme music? A collab between Coury and Joe’s show composers.

If you remember waiting for EGM to drop, or just admire the hustle of pre-internet gaming media—this is your must-watch. It’s not about pixels. It’s about people who made those pixels matter.

Watch it. Then go find your old EGM issues. You’ll cry. Or maybe just yell “Sushi-X!” at your cat.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

FBX Releases Remastered Music for FF7’s Steam Port

https://retrorgb.com/fbx-releases-remastered-music-for-ff7s-steam-port.html

Let’s talk about FF7’s soundtrack—because yes, it just got a glow-up.

FirebrandX (FBX), the retro gaming wizard behind some of the best PC port fixes, just dropped remastered Ogg audio files for the 2012 Steam version of Final Fantasy VII. No complicated installs. Just drop ‘em into your “music_ogg” folder, hit play, and let the legendary battle themes hit like they’re meant to—crisp, rich, and full of 90s emotional grandeur. No more tinny, compressed tunes ruining your trip to Midgar.

Important note: Not all PC versions use Ogg files. If you bought it on GOG or another platform, this mod won’t work—so double-check your files first. And if you’re tired of being forced to log into a Square Enix account just to play the game? Enter 7th Haven Mod Manager. It lets you skip the login hell and keep things gloriously offline.

FBX isn’t asking for much—just your support on Patreon if you appreciate the love poured into these fixes. Because sometimes, the best upgrades aren’t new graphics… they’re better music. And in FF7’s case? That’s everything.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

OSSC Pro Support For Custom Lumacode Palettes

https://retrorgb.com/ossc-pro-support-for-custom-lumacode-palettes.html

Hey retro gamers—your HDMI upscaler just got a color upgrade.

Markus dropped Firmware v0.81 for the OSSC Pro, and it’s a sweet little gift: custom Lumacode palette support. If you’ve ever stared at your NES or Atari 2600 through a Lumacode box and thought, “Hmm, this red looks like a tomato after a heatwave,” now you can fix it. Finally—palette freedom!

But here’s the catch: no one’s converted the existing palettes yet. So while the hardware’s ready, your favorite color schemes are still stuck in limbo. It’s like getting a brand-new espresso machine… but no one made the beans compatible yet.

Enter: you.

If you’ve got even a sliver of coding muscle or pixel-pushing passion, now’s your chance to be the hero the retro scene didn’t know it needed. Build a converter tool. Port those palettes. Save the hues of our childhoods.

And hey—while you’re at it, go rewatch that RetroRGB interview with C0pperdragon. It’s basically a love letter to analog video in the digital age.

Firmware link → v0.81

Grab your OSSC Pro → US | EU

Let’s make the pixels pop again.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

KTR1 S Revealed In New Photos

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ktr1-s-revealed-in-new-photos/

Meet the KTR1 S — the handheld that didn’t just ask for an upgrade, it threw its old self into a time machine and came back with better bones.

Retro Gaming with Deadfred just dropped photos of the KTR1 S, and it’s got a serious hardware glow-up: swapping out the tired Helio G99 for MediaTek’s fresher, faster Dimensity 7300. That means quad A78 cores, a beefier Mali-G615 GPU, and a 4nm chip that actually wants to run PS2 games without wheezing. No more “it works… kinda.” Now it’s “it crushes.”

But here’s the real kicker: customization. Want a magnesium shell instead of plastic? Prefer 3:2 over 4:3? Like your thumbsticks positioned like a pro gamer who just won a tournament in their pajamas? The S model says, “You got it.” It’s not just a refresh—it’s a personalized retro experience.

The original KTR1 was already a niche darling. This? It’s the luxury edition. Will it be worth the premium? Maybe. But if you’ve ever wished your handheld could double as both a gaming device and a statement piece… this might be the one. Pre-orders are rumored to drop soon—best hurry before they sell out in obsidian black.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Automated Real-Time Pirate IPTV Blocking in France “Within Six Months”

https://torrentfreak.com/automated-real-time-pirate-iptv-blocking-in-france-within-six-months-251214/

France’s battle against pirate IPTV just got a serious upgrade—and it’s not messing around.

Remember the old “three strikes and you’re banned” system? It worked… back in 2009. But today’s pirates aren’t sharing torrents—they’re streaming live football via sneaky, ever-changing IPTV services. And France’s telecom watchdog Arcom is done playing catch-up.

Enter 2026: the year France flips the script. No more manual paperwork taking days to block a single stream. Instead, they’re building an automated, real-time takedown engine—think “Netflix for cops,” but for pirated Premier League matches. The goal? Block illegal streams while the game is still live. Because nothing kills a pirated match like… actually being able to watch it legally.

They’re not just targeting pirate sites. They’re going after the enablers: VPNs, DNS providers, CDNs—even online stores selling pirated set-top boxes. And if these intermediaries drag their feet? Arcom wants legal muscle to force them into action.

The stakes? €1.5 billion in lost revenue, €400 million in unpaid taxes, and a whole lot of frustrated fans who just want to watch the game without buffering.

By mid-2026, if all goes according to plan, France will have the most agile anti-piracy system in Europe. And if you’re selling “unlimited sports” for €5/month? You’ve been warned.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

PSP-3000 Replacement Screen

https://retrorgb.com/psp-3000-replacement-screen.html

You know that feeling when your PSP screen looks like it’s been through a sandstorm? Yeah. Tito from Macho Nacho Productions just dropped the ultimate fix: a $50 IPS replacement screen for the PSP-3000 that’s actually nice—pre-laminated glass, no dust bunnies lurking underneath, and zero soldering required. It’s plug-and-play magic… if you don’t rush it.

Here’s the catch: removing the old screen is basically a test of patience. Tito’s video at the 5-minute mark should be mandatory viewing. I speak from experience—yanking it off like a Band-Aid? Bad idea. You’ll hear the snap before you see the damage. Slow. Steady. Breathe. Take a snack break if needed. Your PSP deserves better than your impatience.

Pro tip: This isn’t just a screen swap—it’s a nostalgia upgrade. Crisp colors, no glare, and your PSOne classics look better than ever. And yes, the glass protector? Already glued on. No more “why is there a speck in my game?” moments.

Just… don’t be me. Go slow. Your PSP (and your sanity) will thank you.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Odin 2: Two Years Later

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-odin-2-two-years-later/

Let’s be real: the AYN Odin 2 didn’t just enter the handheld scene—it crashed it. In late 2023, for $299, it packed a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 into a pocket-sized beast that outperformed pricier rivals like the Razer Edge. And somehow, two years later? It’s still the gold standard.

The controls? Iconic. Those clacky buttons and revolutionary analog sticks (now copied by half the market) made it feel like a Switch on steroids. Ergonomics? Near-perfect out of the box—no case needed. Performance? Unmatched for Android gaming, with full PS2/GameCube emulation and rock-solid support for Linux-based OSes like Batocera and ROCKNIX. Even Windows via Winlator? Yeah, it could.

Sure, the screen was… fine. Not bright, not OLED, but serviceable. And while newer models like the Odin 2 Portal (OLED!) and Retroid Pocket 6 have stolen some spotlight, the Odin 2’s real legacy isn’t in specs—it’s in standardizing expectations. It forced everyone else to raise their game on price, performance, and stick quality.

Today? Still my go-to handheld. Not because it’s perfect—but because nothing else in its price range offers this much flexibility, community love, and raw power. Just please, AYN… sell us replacement batteries. We’re begging here.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Online Piracy Can Boost Box Office Revenue, Study Suggests

https://torrentfreak.com/online-piracy-can-boost-box-office-revenue-study-suggests/

Let’s be real: Hollywood has spent decades screaming that piracy is the end of cinema. But what if… it’s actually a free trailer?

A new study from Monash and San Jose State universities found something wild: high-quality pirate releases of blockbusters like Marvel movies don’t kill box office sales—they boost them. How? Because watching a pirated copy of Avengers: Endgame on your laptop makes you realize, “Wait… I need to see this on a 70-foot screen with Dolby Atmos and popcorn in my lap.”

The magic? “Spectacle” films—big visuals, loud soundtracks, immersive experiences—are enhanced by theaters. Piracy acts like a viral ad: “This looks insane… I gotta see it for real.” Meanwhile, romantic comedies like 27 Dresses? Piracy kills their box office. Why? You can watch those on your couch with zero regret.

And here’s the kicker: low-quality leaks (grainy CAM rips) still hurt sales across the board. So it’s not piracy itself—it’s quality piracy that backfires… in a good way.

The takeaway? Studios shouldn’t just sue pirates. They should upgrade the theater experience—premium seats, themed events, IMAX snacks. Because sometimes, the best anti-piracy tool isn’t a lawyer… it’s a better popcorn machine. 🍿

— And yes, this is real research. Not satire. (We checked.)

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The GameMT EX5 is Coming Soon, Complete With a Performance Dial

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-gamemt-ex5-is-coming-soon-complete-with-a-performance-dial/

Meet the GameMT EX5—because why just have a thumbstick when you can also have a kitchen timer on your gaming handheld?

Yes, you read that right. The EX5’s standout feature isn’t a 4K screen or AI upscaling—it’s a physical dial labeled “Performance, Balance, Pwrsave-Auto,” glinting like it was borrowed from your grandma’s old microwave. And honestly? We’re weirdly here for it. In a world of sleek, minimalist designs, this thing leans into chaotic charm.

Under the hood? A MediaTek Helio G81, 4GB RAM, and a surprisingly crisp 5-inch 1080p IPS display—solid for budget handhelds, but not exactly “next-gen.” Still, running Android with ES-DE and Pegasus frontends means it’ll happily chew through retro games and cloud titles like a digital Pac-Man. One thumbstick? Weird, but maybe it’s a stealthy nod to classic Game Boy Advance SP vibes.

No release date yet—just a teaser video with the ominous tagline: “Will be released soon.” (Translation: probably next Tuesday, or maybe never.) But if you’ve ever wanted to tweak your frame rate with a dial that looks like it belongs in a 2003 kitchen, the EX5 might just be your weird little soulmate.

Stay tuned. Or don’t. We’ll tell you when it drops.