📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #530

https://retrorgb.com/week530.html

If you’re anything like me, your “to-watch” list is already a mile long, but this week’s RetroRGB roundup is worth a squeeze. Whether you prefer eyes-on video or ears-on podcasts, Bob has been busy digging up the latest gems in the retro hardware scene.

It’s a packed episode featuring some seriously cool niche tech. We’re talking about a Kraken Spinner octopus-themed fight stick (for the competitive gamers out there) and a new DS Pico “IR” flash cart that’s making waves. If you’re into the “what if” side of gaming, there’s a fascinating look at a Super Mario Bros. port from the NES to the Sega Master System.

Here are the quick highlights you shouldn’t miss:

• MiSTer Updates: New cores and Taito F3 news for the FPGA enthusiasts.

Visual Upgrades: Check out the new 16-bit graphics for the original NES Castlevania*.

• Hardware Fixes: A new 3D-printed case for the OSSC Pro RF.

Whether you’re hunting for Virtual Boy ROM carts or just want to stay updated on the latest hardware mods, this roundup has you covered. Grab your headphones and dive in.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MagicX Pocket Dream Pairs a 3.3-Inch OLED With a Vertical Design

https://retrohandhelds.gg/magicx-pocket-dream-pairs-a-3-3-inch-oled-with-a-vertical-design/

If you’ve ever felt that horizontal handhelds are just a little too “wide” for your pocket, MagicX might have the solution—or at least a very interesting prototype.

The company has teased a new device called the “Pocket Dream,” a vertical handheld designed to flip the script on the traditional layout. It’s essentially a vertical sibling to their upcoming Mini Dream, sporting the same punchy 3.3-inch custom OLED display.

Here is the quick lowdown on what we know so far:

• The Vibe: A vertical, portrait-style form factor for a different grip experience.
• The Brains: It will offer four different SoC variants, covering both Linux and Android enthusiasts.
• The Quirk: It’s opting for a “joystick-first” control layout, which is a bit unconventional in this space.

There is a small catch: MagicX is famous for announcing things that occasionally vanish into the ether. While the “Mini Dream” is officially moving into its second production phase, the Pocket Dream remains in the “exploring” stage. We’re crossing our fingers that the dual-joystick layout doesn’t feel too cramped, but for now, it’s definitely a device worth watching.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

DS Pico “IR” Flash Cart for Nintendo DS

https://retrorgb.com/ds-pico-ir-flash-cart-for-nintendo-ds.html

If you thought the Nintendo DS era was officially dead and buried, think again. The modding community is breathing new life into those old clamshells, and the latest upgrade is a pretty sweet deal for the hardcore crowd.

Phenomods has just dropped an “IR” version of the DS Pico flash cartridge, and it’s packing more punch than your average handheld. The headline feature? An integrated IR transceiver. This is a massive win for Pokémon fans, as it finally makes the cartridge compatible with the Pokewalker, letting you bridge the gap between your old tech and modern play.

But they didn’t stop at infrared. This version also brings:

• Upgraded RAM for smoother performance.
• USB-C connectivity (because we all hate micro-USB).
• Compressed file support, meaning you can load .ndz files to save precious space.

It’ll set you back about $10 more than the original DS Pico, so it’s not exactly a “must-buy” for the casual player. However, if you’re looking to squeeze every last drop of functionality out of your DS, this is a stellar evolution of an already great open-source project.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Castlevania NES to SNES: 16-Bit Graphics Added

https://retrorgb.com/castlevania-nes-to-snes-16-bit-graphics-added.html

Ever wondered what Castlevania would look like if Konami had actually released it on the Super Nintendo instead of the NES? Well, thanks to some serious wizardry, we don’t have to wonder anymore.

Developer Rumbleminze has just dropped a massive update to his NES-to-SNES conversion of the classic. This isn’t just a technical patch; it’s a visual glow-up. Artist Fiuke Bnuy has overhauled the graphics, reworking tiles and levels to take full advantage of the SNES’s expanded color palette.

The best part? You don’t have to choose between nostalgia and eye candy. The title screen lets you toggle between the original 8-bit look and these lush new 16-bit visuals. Even if you stick to the classic sprites, you still get the “Pro” experience:

• Smoother gameplay with less slowdown
• No more annoying sprite flicker
• High-quality MSU-1 audio soundtracks

It’s a beautiful way to play a masterpiece exactly how it was meant to run, just without the hardware shackles of 1986. Now, if only someone would do the same for Metroid…

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Stray Kids Label Hits Music Distributor With DMCA Subpoena Over Bootleg Track

https://torrentfreak.com/stray-kids-label-hits-music-distributor-with-dmca-subpoena-over-bootleg-track/

Being a global K-pop superstar comes with massive perks, but it also turns you into a prime target for the internet’s most ambitious “entrepreneurs.”

When Stray Kids member Han released his track “back to life” on YouTube, it didn’t stay exclusive for long. Instead of just living on pirate sites, a mysterious entity calling itself “New Vibs” used a legitimate music distributor to upload the bootleg to official platforms like Apple Music and TikTok. Essentially, they turned a stolen track into a professional-looking product, complete with barcodes and official art.

JYP Entertainment, the group’s label, isn’t playing around. After a standard takedown notice failed to stop the bleeding, they’ve escalated to a federal DMCA subpoena.

They aren’t just looking to delete the song; they want to unmask the person behind the curtain. The label is hunting for:

• Full names and physical addresses
• IP addresses and phone numbers
• Detailed bank routing and payment information

It’s a high-stakes game of digital cat and mouse. JYP is following the money trail to prove that “democratized music distribution” shouldn’t be a free pass for copyright theft.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

[UPDATE: Official Render and Screen Details] Retroid Pocket Duo Recieves its First Announcement

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retroid-pocket-duo-recieves-its-first-announcement/

If you thought your handheld collection was getting out of hand, Retroid just threw a fresh wrench in the works. Following closely on the heels of Anbernic’s recent announcements, Retroid has finally pulled the curtain back on the Retroid Pocket Duo, and it’s looking like a dual-screen dream.

The teaser reveals a clamshell design featuring two 120Hz OLED displays. In a clever nod to classic gaming geometry, the top screen sports a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, while the bottom screen utilizes a more nostalgic 4:3 layout. It’s essentially a high-tech love letter to the DS era, but with much punchier screen tech.

While the renders are still a bit mysterious, we do know one key ergonomic detail: Retroid is opting for a traditional “D-pad top” layout rather than the asymmetric joystick setup seen on some competitors.

We’re still waiting on the juicy stuff—like whether it’ll house a powerhouse chip to rival the AYN Thor or what the price tag will look like—but the race for the ultimate dual-screen Android handheld is officially heating up.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Armada Drops Their Latest Update to Make SteamOS on ARM Even Better

https://retrohandhelds.gg/armada-drops-their-latest-update-to-make-steamos-on-arm-even-better/

If you’ve ever looked at your high-end Android handheld and thought, “This is great, but it really needs more Steam,” then Armada has some news for you.

Unlike most mobile operating systems that focus purely on emulation, Armada is on a mission to bring a true SteamOS experience to ARM-based devices. They just dropped a massive update, and it’s a big one for anyone rocking an AYN Odin, Retroid, or AYANEO device.

The headline feature? A brand-new experimental dual-screen experience. If you own a device with two screens (like the AYN Thor or AYANEO Pocket DS), you can now launch Plasma Mobile on the bottom display. It’s early days, but it’s a huge step toward making these devices feel like actual desktop-class machines.

Other notable wins in this update include:

• Better Battery Life: Improved sleep stability and “CPU cluster collapse” to save power.
• Custom Cooling: A new, touch-friendly fan curve editor so you can stop your device from sounding like a jet engine.
• Visual Polishing: Improved HDR support and OLED brightness scaling.

Whether you’re a casual gamer or a “madman” running three different OSs on one device, Armada is quickly becoming the one to watch.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The DSPico is Back and Better Than Ever with the DSPico IR

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-dspico-is-back-and-better-than-ever-with-the-dspico-ir/

If you’ve spent any time trying to play DS games on original hardware, you know the “flash cart” struggle is real. We’ve endured everything from “timebomb” cartridges that brick themselves to lackluster, unsupported clones. But it looks like the era of mediocre hardware might finally be coming to an end.

The DSPico—the open-source darling that took the community by storm—is getting a massive glow-up in the form of the DSPico IR. Thanks to some heavy lifting from Phenom Mods, this isn’t just a minor patch; it’s a complete overhaul.

The “IR” version swaps out the old Micro USB for a modern USB-C port and upgrades the brain to a Raspberry Pi Pico 2. It’s also sporting a massive RAM boost (8MB vs. the original 264KB) and new IR transceiver functionality.

What this actually means for you:

• Better performance: Faster, more reliable, and supports .ndz ROMs.
• Modern convenience: No more hunting for ancient Micro USB cables.
• Efficiency: Lower power draw means more playtime.

You can currently pre-order them via Phenom Mods for about $30. It’s a bit more than the $5 knock-offs you might find on AliExpress, but for a card that actually works as intended, it’s likely worth the premium.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

GameNative V1.2.1 Pre-Release Drops

https://retrohandhelds.gg/gamenative-v1-2-1-pre-release-drops/

If you thought the handheld emulation wars were cooling down, think again. While SteamOS-powered devices are grabbing the headlines, the GameNative team is busy “cooking” in the kitchen, proving that high-quality x86 emulation on Android is still a massive frontier.

Their latest V1.2.1 pre-release is a massive dump of improvements that feels less like a minor patch and more like a total refinement. They aren’t just fixing bugs; they’re adding features that actually change how you play.

The standout highlights include:

• Modding Made Easy: Nexus Mods integration is officially back, meaning no more manual file shuffling.
• Better Visuals: A new curated 4:3 filter for the Steam library is a godsend for anyone trying to play retro titles without that awkward stretching.
• Expanding Horizons: Initial support for XR (Quest) games has been added to the XR builds.
• Quality of Life: Everything from Steam achievement viewers to customizable library tabs.

It’s a heavy-duty update that keeps pushing the boundaries of what an Android-based handheld can do. At this rate, you might just be able to skip that overpriced, “ultra-pro-max” flagship handheld and stick to your current setup.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Was Built on Concealed ‘Mass Piracy’, Authors Tell Court

https://torrentfreak.com/openais-chatgpt-was-built-on-concealed-mass-piracy-authors-tell-court/

Ever wonder if your favorite AI was raised in a library or a digital pirate cove? According to a new legal filing, it might be the latter.

A group of authors is taking OpenAI and Microsoft to court with some spicy allegations. They aren’t just claiming copyright infringement; they’re alleging that OpenAI built the foundation of ChatGPT using “mass piracy.” Specifically, the motion claims OpenAI used torrented books from the notorious illegal site Library Genesis (LibGen) to train its models.

The authors even suggest OpenAI tried to scrub the evidence, allegedly renaming “Libgen” datasets to something more boring like “Books1” before deleting them due to legal concerns.

It gets personal, too. The filing highlights a controversial tweet from an OpenAI employee suggesting that AI could eventually “autocomplete” the final books of George R.R. Martin.

The bottom line:

• The Core Argument: Authors say downloading pirated books isn’t “fair use,” even if training an AI is.
• The Stakes: This isn’t just about money; it’s about whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted works to build products that might eventually replace the creators themselves.

OpenAI is fighting back, arguing their use is legally protected. Buckle up—this is going to be a long fight.