📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Steam Machine Can’t Get Here Soon Enough, Even if We Don’t Know the Price

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-steam-machine-cant-get-here-soon-enough-even-if-we-dont-know-the-price/

### The Steam Machine: High Hopes and Low Visibility

If you feel like you’ve been waiting forever for Valve to drop the Steam Machine, you aren’t alone. Between memory shortages and supply chain hiccups, the hype train has been idling in the station for a while now. But with recent spec leaks resurfacing on social media, it’s time to talk about what we’re actually looking at.

The hardware looks solid—think mid-range territory. We’re talking an AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA3 graphics that could easily rival a custom mini-PC build. Since it runs SteamOS rather than Windows, we can expect much better optimization and less “software bloat” eating up your performance.

However, there is one massive, elephant-sized question in the room: The Price.

While we don’t have an official number yet, here’s the reality check:

• The Good: It should be a powerful, plug-and-play console experience.
• The Bad: It likely won’t be “Steam Deck cheap.”
• The Guess: Expect something in the $700–$800 range to stay competitive with existing mini-PCs.

Valve is playing the waiting game, hoping for better component costs, but until that price tag drops, we’re all just stuck in the lobby.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Sky Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to 200 Irish IPTV Subscribers Exposed via Revolut

https://torrentfreak.com/sky-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-200-irish-iptv-subscribers-exposed-via-revolut/

### The “Cease and Desist” Wave

If you live in Ireland and enjoy a shady IPTV subscription, you might want to check your mailbox—and maybe your heart rate.

Sky Ireland has officially begun sending cease-and-desist letters to roughly 200 subscribers of the now-defunct “IPTV is Easy” service. This isn’t just a friendly nudge to cancel your subscription; Sky is leveraging data uncovered from Revolut records during a massive legal battle against the service’s operator to hunt down individual users.

The goal here isn’t immediate courtroom drama, but rather pure, unadulterated intimidation. The letters demand that recipients sign a legally binding settlement within 14 days, promising to ditch illegal services forever. If you comply, Sky promises not to name you publicly. If you don’t? They’ve hinted at injunctions, damages, and legal costs.

It’s a clever “soft” strategy:

• The Carrot: Sign the paper, stay out of the spotlight, and keep your name off a public list.
• The Stick: Refuse to sign, and face potential civil litigation or even criminal charges.

While Sky isn’t demanding massive cash payouts like they have in Italy, they are effectively putting these users on a permanent “watchlist.” It’s a bold attempt at deterrence—let’s see if it actually scares anyone away from the pirate stream.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Best Ways To Play: Neo Geo Pocket Color

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-best-ways-to-play-neo-geo-pocket-color/

### Retro Revival: Rediscovering the Neo Geo Pocket Color

If you grew up in the 90s arcade scene, the name “Neo Geo” probably conjures images of massive, legendary cabinets and consoles that cost more than a small car. But there was a quieter, more portable cousin that arrived just as the dust was settling on the era: the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC).

While it didn’t have the staying power to fight off the Game Boy Advance, the NGPC library is a hidden gem of well-designed, addictive titles. The best part? Thanks to the current explosion in retro handhelds, you don’t need to hunt down rare hardware to play them. Modern emulation makes these classics look sharper than they ever did on original hardware.

If you’re looking to dive into the NGPC library, here are a few standout ways to play:

• For the Purist: The Anbernic RG Rotate offers a 1:1 aspect ratio and clicky buttons that perfectly mimic the original SNK feel.
• The High-Def Experience: The TrimUI Brick uses its high resolution to run games at a massive integer scale, making pixels look incredibly crisp.
• The Budget Pick: The XiFan XF40H is a great square-screen option that avoids the awkward black borders of other devices.
• The “What If” Scenario: The Miyoo Flip v2 lets you pretend an SNK clamshell device actually existed in our timeline.

Whether you want a tiny device for quick sessions or a powerhouse for beautiful shaders, there’s never been a better time to revisit SNK’s handheld legacy.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Ken’s SuperStation One Teardown + NFC Fix

https://retrorgb.com/kens-superstation-one-teardown-nfc-fix.html

Ever wonder what actually goes on inside your favorite piece of retro hardware? If you’re the type who loves seeing the “guts” of a machine, Ken from What’s Ken Making just dropped a goldmine for you.

In his latest deep-dive teardown of the RetroRemake SuperStation One (SSOne), Ken goes way beyond just unscrewing the case. He performs a surgical analysis of the analog video signals and decodes exactly what those mysterious DIP switches are doing. For instance, he clarifies that switching the setting toggles between MiSTer FPGA-generated video and a Sony encoder that mimics classic retro consoles.

But the real hero moment? Ken found a way to save your wallet—and your sanity. He identified an issue in newer SSOne units where a weak NFC antenna struggles to read Zaparoo cards, and he figured out a fix using a tiny $3 part.

The Takeaways:

• The Fix: A $3 hardware hack solves the NFC reading struggle.
• The Tech: Detailed breakdown of how the SSOne handles Composite and S-Video.
• The Future: There’s growing chatter about whether a cheaper, HDMI-only version might be on the horizon for those who don’t need analog.

Whether you’re an engineering nerd or just want to fix your device, this one is worth the watch.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Q&A Interview with PICOGUS creator polpo

https://retrorgb.com/qa-interview-with-picogus-creator-polpo.html

### Making Retro Computing Affordable (and Fun)

If you’ve ever tried to build a period-accurate DOS PC lately, you know the struggle: finding working vintage hardware is like hunting for rare Pokémon, and the prices are absolutely eye-watering. Enter Ian Scott—known to the community as polpo—the mastermind behind the PicoGUS and the upcoming PicoIDE.

In a recent Q&A with RetroRGB, polpo shared how his lifelong obsession with sound cards (specifically the legendary Gravis Ultrasound) turned into a mission to save retro computing from skyrocketing costs. Using the tiny, dirt-cheap Raspberry Pi Pico, he’s creating hardware that emulates expensive ISA sound cards and even replacing dying CD/IDE drives.

The highlights:

• PicoGUS: A tiny powerhouse that emulates the Gravis Ultrasound and now supports Sound Blaster 16.
• PicoIDE: An upcoming 3.5” bay device that replaces floppy/CD drives with SD card images, featuring an OLED screen and even WiFi.
• The Goal: Keeping hardware affordable and accessible during a time when vintage parts are becoming “endangered species.”

Whether he’s pulling late nights after his day job or dreaming up “next-gen” sound cards with full audio codecs, polpo is proving that you don’t need a massive budget to keep the golden age of computing alive.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

ACE Subpoena Targets French Private Tracker, Chinese Pirate Forum, and Vietnamese APIs

https://torrentfreak.com/ace-subpoena-targets-french-private-tracker-chinese-pirate-forum-and-vietnamese-apis/

### Hollywood’s Global Dragnet

If you thought copyright enforcement was just about sending “cease and desist” emails to random bloggers, think again. The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)—the heavy-hitting anti-piracy coalition backed by giants like Disney and Warner Bros.—is officially playing a high-stakes game of digital manhunt.

In a massive new move, ACE has filed a DMCA subpoena against Cloudflare, targeting 29 different domains across the globe. We aren’t just talking about one rogue website; this is a worldwide dragnet hitting:

The Newcomers: A fresh, invitation-only French torrent tracker (la-cale.space*) that’s been gaining steam since late 2023.

The Legends: The veteran Chinese forum 1lou.me*, which has been hopping domains for two decades and boasts millions of visitors.

• “Piracy as a Service”: Vietnamese APIs designed to help others launch pirate sites with ease.

ACE is fishing for everything from IP addresses and physical locations to payment histories. While many site operators use fake data to stay anonymous, these subpoenas are powerful tools for building a paper trail. Whether this leads to actual arrests or just more domain hopping remains to be seen, but Hollywood is clearly not letting anyone off the hook—no matter what language they speak.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Fafling Optimizes Saturn Doom Even More

https://retrorgb.com/fafling-optimizes-saturn-doom-even-more.html

### Doom on Saturn Just Got a Serious Speed Boost

If you ever tried playing Doom on the Sega Saturn back in the 90s, you probably remember a slideshow that felt more like a PowerPoint presentation than a first-person shooter. Well, developer Fafling is officially putting that sluggishness to shame.

In the latest update (version 0.3) of his optimization patch, Fafling has managed to push frame rates up significantly. We’re talking about levels running roughly 2.5 times faster than the original retail release. While the original version often struggled at a painful 11 FPS, this new patch hits much closer to a smooth 30 FPS in many areas—putting it on par with (and sometimes even beating) the PlayStation port.

It’s not just about raw speed, though. This update is a massive “quality of life” overhaul that fixes several annoying graphical glitches and control bugs inherited from the original release. Some highlights include:

• Smoother Graphics: Fixed texture stretching and those pesky gaps in wall rendering.
• Better Controls: You can now cycle weapons while paused and even reverse the cycle direction with a button combo.
• Polished UI: The automap is more stable, and the status bar is much cleaner.

While heavy-duty levels might still see some frame drops, the Saturn version of Doom is officially looking less like a slideshow and more like a real game.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Pocket Ace Setup Guide

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-pocket-ace-setup-guide/

### The 3:2 Revolution? Setting Up Your AYANEO Pocket Ace

If you’re a retro gaming purist, you probably live and die by the 4:3 aspect ratio. But there’s a growing group of enthusiasts ditching the “gold standard” for something a little different: the 3:2 ratio. Enter the AYANEO Pocket Ace, a premium handheld that makes Game Boy Advance titles look absolutely stunning.

While it’s a powerhouse capable of heavy-duty PC emulation and streaming, getting it dialed in requires a bit of finesse. Because of that unique screen shape, you’ll run into black bars when playing 4:3 classics (like PS2) or 16:9 modern titles (like PSP). Pro tip: look for “widescreen hacks” in your emulators to fill that gorgeous display.

How to optimize your setup:

• Software is King: Skip the manual grind and use Obtainium. It simplifies installing emulators and keeps them updated automatically.
• Pick a Pretty Frontend: While the built-in AYASpace works, apps like Beacon Game Launcher offer a much cleaner, more polished aesthetic.
• Storage Strategy: Use internal storage for heavy PC emulation to avoid crashes, but use an external SSD for easy game transfers.
• Don’t forget the grip: The official protective grip is highly recommended—just try to match your device’s color for that peak aesthetic.

Whether you’re streaming Steam games via Artemis or chasing RetroAchievements, a little prep goes a long way in making this device a handheld legend.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-deals-of-the-week/

### Level Up Your Wallet: This Week’s Retro Gaming Deals

If your current gaming setup is just a smartphone and a dream, it’s time to upgrade. Whether you’re hunting for a dedicated piece of nostalgia or a powerhouse x86 handheld that can handle modern titles, the latest round of deals has something for every budget (and every level of impulse control).

The big news this week is the AliExpress “Sunshine Savings” sale. If you’ve been eyeing an Anbernic or Miyoo device, now is the time to strike. We’ve pulled the best coupon codes to help you shave up to $90 off your order. From the budget-friendly Anbernic RG28XX to more robust Android handhelds like the Retroid Pocket 5, there are plenty of ways to save.

Here’s the quick breakdown of what’s worth watching:

• The Retro Staples: Deep discounts are available on Anbernic classics (like the RG35XX series) and Miyoo favorites (keep an eye on the Mini Plus).
• Power Players: If you need more muscle, check out deals on x86 devices like the ASUS ROG Ally or even some surprisingly affordable Mini PCs from ACEMAGIC.

Freebies Alert: If you’re a Prime Gaming subscriber, grab your “100% off” loot fast—titles like Mafia II: Definitive Edition and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands* are currently sitting in the free pile.

Don’t wait too long—those AliExpress coupons have an expiration date, and so does your chance to snag these prices!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: More RG Rotate, $10 Flash Carts, & Big Custom Firmware Drops

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-99/

### Hardware, Hacks, and $10 Flash Carts

If you thought the retro handheld scene was slowing down, think again. This week has been a whirlwind of leaks, DIY wizardry, and some much-needed software fixes that might actually make your devices behave.

The hardware rumors are flying, specifically regarding a potential budget-friendly Android handheld from AYANEO called the “Pocket Block.” Meanwhile, Valve is reportedly working on new hardware under the “Steam Machine” and “Steam Frame” codenames—hopefully with a smoother rollout than the Steam Controller era. If you’re feeling particularly chaotic, a new DIY adapter called the Motecast now lets you use a Nintendo Wii Remote to play Dreamcast games via Bluetooth. It’s niche, it’s weird, and we love it.

On the software front, there is some great news for Anbernic RG DS owners: a brand-new Linux firmware is arriving to fix those pesky Android quirks. Plus, huge updates are hitting KNULLI (hello, Scarab!) and Batocera 43, bringing better compatibility for devices like the Retroid Pocket 6.

Quick Hits:

• Budget Win: The DSPico flash cart is hovering around $10 on AliExpress.
• Steam Deck Perk: A new Decky Translator update now supports offline translation.
• Savings Alert: The AliExpress Sunshine Savings sale is live—stock up on those coupon codes before they expire!