📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Hacking The Mainframe: Maximum Carnage Edition

https://retrohandhelds.gg/hacking-the-mainframe-maximum-carnage-edition/

Hacking the Mainframe: Maximum Carnage Edition — A ROM Hack Bonanza!

If you thought ROM hacking had slowed down, think again. This month’s crop is a glorious mess of fan labor, passion projects, and sheer nerve—plus a few gems that somehow make Sega CD games feel modern.

Let’s hit the highlights:

🎮 Marvel Meets Mega Drive: Streets of Rage 2 – Maximum Carnage Edition gets a slick update— Venom and Spider-Man are in, Carnage’s boss fight is chef’s kiss, and diagonal running? Finally. Meanwhile, Battletoads x Double Dragon PLUS polishes up that chaotic crossover into something playable… and even fun.

👾 Translation Time: Segagaga on Dreamcast gets its long-awaited English patch—meta-RPG + 25th anniversary = perfect timing. Popful Mail (PC-Engine CD) and Tairyou Jigoku (PS2 horror Alice in Wonderland mess) are now English-friendly. And Saturn fans? Lupin the Third at last lets you follow the plot instead of guessing.

💥 Mega Man Mayhem: Rockman ABnormality turns Mega Man 2 into a kaizo gauntlet. Rockman Tennis, that weird 2007 mobile spinoff? Now fully English-translated—including X as a unlockable. Even X3 Zero gets a narrative overhaul on SNES.

🎨 Bonus Chaos: Super Mario World Advance cleans up GBA colors like a dream. Smash Remix 2.0.1 adds Tug of War, and the Pokémon scene teases Black & White 2 hacks with expressive, animated battle backgrounds—yes, animated DS sprites, but make it 2024.

What’d we miss? Drop your favorites below—or better yet, join the chaos on Discord. 🎮🔥

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Oscar Winner ‘One Battle After Another’ Sees Piracy Surge, While ‘Sinners’ Stays Flat

https://torrentfreak.com/oscar-winner-one-battle-after-another-sees-piracy-surge-while-sinners-stays-flat/

Oscars Still Drive Piracy—But Only When You Win (and Didn’t Already Trend)

The 2026 Oscars didn’t just hand out golden statues—they also handed out download spikes. “One Battle After Another,” the surprise Best Picture winner, saw a 300% surge in torrent downloads the day after the ceremony, per IKnow’s tracking data. That’s even bigger than Oppenheimer’s boost in 2024—and a reminder that Oscar wins still act like a piracy rocket booster, especially for under-the-radar films.

But not all winners get the same lift. Sinners, despite racking up 16 nominations and winning four Oscars, saw no piracy spike—because it already had one in January after nominations dropped. Pirates hit the torrents early, and demand was sated before awards night. Same for Marty Supreme, which got no love from pirates (or the Academy).

Meanwhile, streaming platforms tell a slightly different story: Sinners jumped 136% legally post-Oscars, while Marty Supreme actually lost streaming traction. The takeaway? Piracy and legality don’t always move in lockstep—and timing matters more than trophies alone.

TL;DR: Win an Oscar? Expect downloads. Win too early in the season? Don’t expect a second surge.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Next Level #4: Bard-’em’up

https://retrohandhelds.gg/next-level-4-bard-emup/

Next Level #4: Bard-’em’up — A Game Announcer’s Fever Dream (in the Best Way)

One week away from the internet—and bam—a dozen games arrive like uninvited guests at a basement LAN party, all demanding attention and smelling faintly of CRT glow and regret.

We’re talking Haunted Lands, a DOS-core platformer that’s basically Dangerous Dave meets Doom on PCP, and ZENEKO, a Metal Slug-obsessed horizontal shooter that’s clearly been watching too much anime and drinking too much espresso. Then there’s The Dungeons of Dusk, a cozy-ish turn-based dungeon crawler that somehow makes Doom RPG feel温柔 (gentle)—yes, really.

And let’s not gloss over the real highlights:

• Ruiner 2, now a full co-op cyberpunk ARPG with Shell System chaos.
• Stage Tour, the plastic-guitar rhythm game from Guitar Hero alumni—because we needed another live-service music sim.
• Verminsteel, the Bardcore hack-and-slash where you literally kick fascists into the sun (we’re all just waiting for the Dragonforce DLC).

Also: He-Man gets a full-blown 80s power ballad trailer. You heard me.

If your backlog isn’t already weeping, it will be soon.

🔥 What caught your eye? Which of these are you actually pre-ordering (or just pretending to)? Drop your picks—and your regrets—below.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Humble Bazooka Revives Saturn 3D Controller Bluetooth Adapter Project

https://retrorgb.com/humble-bazooka-revives-saturn-3d-controller-bluetooth-adapter-project.html

Humble Bazooka Revives Saturn 3D Controller Bluetooth Adapter—And It’s Better Than Ever

Remember that elusive Bluetooth adapter for the Saturn 3D controller? It’s back—and this time, Dave of Humble Bazooka isn’t cutting corners.

The BLE Shift 3D, first teased in 2022 and revived in late 2024, hit a snag during testing: a finicky power button circuit. Rather than ship a buggy product, Dave paused development to redesign and refine—something he admits took longer than expected. But now? “Testing is going well,” he wrote in his March 7 dev log, with final touches on firmware and battery life taking priority.

Battery life is still TBA, but prototypes are hitting 7–8 hours—and he’s aiming for a solid 6+ in the final version. As for the housing? He’s asking fans to weigh in on whether to go with quick-turn 3D-printed enclosures or premium (but delay-inducing) injection-molded shells, which could add 3–4 months to the timeline.

Why all the wait? A perfect storm of tariffs, a workshop move, and supply chain chaos derailed progress in 2025—but things are stabilizing now, and development’s back on track.

Fun fact: This isn’t Dave’s first Saturn Bluetooth rodeo. His Saturn BT adapter—released in 2023—has already won fans for its near-zero-latency performance.

Stay tuned: Feedback and updates are welcome on his Bluesky, X/Twitter, and elsewhere. Saturn fans, your wireless future is almost here. 🎮🔋

📰 New article from Wololo.net

PSP/PS Vita: Adrenaline-8 and ARK-5 on the horizon.

https://wololo.net/2026/03/19/psp-ps-vita-adrenaline-8-and-ark-5-on-the-horizon/

PSP Comeback Alert: Adrenaline-8 & ARK-5 Are Almost Here — And They’re Teamwork Personified

Remember when we thought the PSP was all but retired? Think again. Developers are back at it, and the latest updates to Adrenaline (v8) and ARK (v5) are shaping up to be the most collaborative and powerful releases yet.

This isn’t just a random update—it’s the result of years of cross-pollination between two once-separate CFW ecosystems. The big win? A unified codebase via the new psp-cfw-sdk, which streamlines plugin and CFW development like never before. Even better: the old Pentazemin compatibility layer (once ARK’s bridge to Adrenaline) has been fully absorbed back into Adrenaline, eliminating duplication and ensuring both CFWs ride the same engine.

From now on, Adrenaline can boot ARK directly—no external loader needed—and users can toggle between EPI (Adrenaline’s revamped CEF) and ARK in the settings. Plugins? They’ll work seamlessly across both thanks to shared APIs.

And let’s talk visuals: hardware-accelerated XMB overlays? Yes, please. That 3D spinning cube demo? Just the beginning—developers now have a clean API to build rich, native-feeling menus and plugins.

The PSP isn’t just alive—it’s evolving. And this is only the appetizer. 🎮✨

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Vita Pro First Impressions

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-vita-pro-first-impressions/

TL;DR: The Anbernic RG Vita Pro is a technically upgraded take on last month’s RG Vita—but still not the PS Vita clone anyone hoped for.

Let’s be real: naming a device RG Vita Pro in 2026—especially when PS Vita emulation is still rough around the edges—is like putting “Pro” on a toaster with a fancy crust setting. Yes, it’s sleeker, sharper (1080p vs 720), and runs on the newer RK3576 chip with Wi-Fi 6 and dual-boot (Android/Linux). But no, it still doesn’t have analog triggers—a glaring omission for a Pro model in 2026, especially when smaller rivals like the AISLPC RG52 Mini already do.

The controls feel identical to the base model (just prettier paint), and while Vita3K does ship pre-installed with some playable titles (Gravity Rush looks solid), don’t expect flawless emulation yet. The hardware can handle it better than before, but optimization is still a work in progress.

It’s a capable device—but it feels like an incremental step, not a leap. And if you’re buying this hoping for that magical PS Vita nostalgia hit… well, you’ll get the vibe, but not quite the magic.

Still waiting for that actual PS Vita successor, folks. 🥲

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Vita and RG Vita Pro Price and Release Date Revealed

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-vita-and-rg-vita-pro-price-and-release-date-revealed/

Anbernic’s RG Vita & RG Vita Pro Are Almost Here—Pre-Orders Start March 23

After teasing the devices nearly two months ago, Anbernic has finally locked in release details for the RG Vita and RG Vita Pro, with pre-orders kicking off March 23 at 6 AM EDT.

Pricing is aggressive during the launch window:

• RG Vita: $99.99 (first 72 hours), then $139.99
• RG Vita Pro: $109.99 (first 72 hours), then $149.99

The base RG Vita packs a 5.46″ 720p screen, UNISOC Tiger T618 chip, and runs Android 12—but reviewers are already calling out issues, especially the irony of not being able to smoothly emulate PS Vita games on a device that literally looks like one.

The RG Vita Pro, meanwhile, is the more promising option:

✅ 5.5″ Full HD screen

✅ Rockchip RK3576 + Mali-G52 MC3

✅ Dual-boot Android/Linux (including dev-friendly distros like ROCKNIX and GammaOS)

✅ USB-C display out + dual-screen support

Early reviewer feedback? Mixed—but the Linux build’s rough edges highlight why community-driven firmware could make or break the experience.

Will you grab one at launch—or wait for rumors of the even wilder RG Twist? 🕹️

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AceMagic M5 Review: CPU Brawn, GPU Pawn

https://retrohandhelds.gg/acemagic-m5-review/

AceMagic M5 Review: A CPU Beast With a GPU Weakness — Great for Work, Not Play

AceMagic’s latest Mini PC, the M5, is a no-nonsense powerhouse built for raw CPU grunt — and it shows. Packing the Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores! 32 threads!) in a compact, upgrade-friendly chassis, it’s a dream for homelabbers, video editors, and server jockeys. But here’s the catch: Intel dials back the integrated GPU big time, making gaming and light graphics work surprisingly sluggish compared to AMD rivals.

### 🔧 The Good:

• Benchmarks don’t lie: Smashes older i9 models (and AMDs) in CPU tasks like encoding, compression, and multitasking.
• Expandability wins: Two RAM slots, dual M.2 bays, and a surprisingly easy teardown (just 4 screws + a lock switch — no duct tape required).
• Ideal for virtualization: Run Proxmox, spin up VMs, dedicate cores to home servers — this thing thrives on background hustle.

### 🎮 The Not-So-Good:

• GPU performance lags: Falls behind even older i9s in 3DMark and real-world gaming — not ideal if you want to dabble outside the command line.
• Fan noise spikes under load — not unbearable, but noticeable during heavy workloads.
• USB ports are stiff: One reviewer literally snapped a USB dongle trying to yank it out. Yikes.

### 💡 Bottom Line:

The M5 isn’t for gamers or portability seekers. But if you need maximum CPU juice in a tiny box, and don’t care about graphics, it’s a solid buy — especially at $689–$712. Just don’t expect to run Minecraft on it… unless you love low FPS and patience-testing.

[Check pricing & buy options](#)

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Cloudflare Challenges Legality of Italy’s “Piracy Shield”, Appeals €14 Million Fine

https://torrentfreak.com/cloudflare-challenges-legality-of-italys-piracy-shield-appeals-e14-million-fine/

Cloudflare Slams Italy’s “Piracy Shield” as a Threat to the Open Internet — and Files Legal Appeal

Italy’s aggressive anti-piracy scheme, dubbed the “Piracy Shield,” has drawn fire from tech giant Cloudflare—not just for fines, but over what it calls a dangerous erosion of internet freedom.

Launched in 2024, the system promises rapid takedowns (within 30 minutes!) to curb live sports piracy, especially targeting Serie A broadcasts. But critics say it’s a blunt instrument that overblocks legitimate sites—including government portals, schools, and even Google Drive—raising concerns about collateral damage.

Cloudflare, whose public DNS resolver 1.1.1.1 refused to enforce the blocks, was hit with a €14.2 million fine (1% of global revenue) for non-compliance. The company argues this violates EU law: Italian fines for non-compliance should be capped at €140,000—based on local revenue—not 100x that amount.

Worse yet, Cloudflare alleges the system is a “black box”, developed by SP Tech—an arm of a law firm representing rights-holders like Serie A—and lacks transparency, oversight, or due process.

In a March 8 appeal filing, Cloudflare vows to keep fighting—not just the fine, but the legality of the whole scheme.

The stakes? Whether private interests can dictate internet infrastructure—and potentially compromise national security—without accountability. 🌐⚖️

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Neo Geo AES Replacement Shell

https://retrorgb.com/neo-geo-aes-replacement-shell.html

🔥 Retro Repair Renaissance!

Dennis van den Broek (a.k.a. Pointer Function) just dropped the full 3D-printable design for a Neo Geo AES replacement shell—yes, the entire casing. This isn’t just a quick fix; it’s the kind of meticulous, community-powered restoration work that makes retro hardware revival feel almost like a miracle.

💡 What’s included?

• Full shell model (ready for 3D printing)
• Previously released: cartridge door, power/reset buttons
• Memory card slot bracket (in progress—stay tuned!)

You can either grab the bracket and swap it in, or hold out for Dennis’ final piece. Either way, this opens the door to some seriously ambitious mods—like turning an MVS arcade board into a factory-perfect AES home console using the open-source AES 3.5 motherboard. Imagine: arcade-grade ROMs, crisp CRT output, and a pristine cabinet—all built from scratch (or near-scratch).

🎯 Bonus points if you find a print shop willing to do this at reasonable cost—this could be the holy grail for Neo Geo purists.

👀 Ready to see it in action? Check out Chrissy The Retro Scamp’s test print here—looks scarily authentic.

[Hat tip to RetroRGB for the heads-up!]