📰 New article from RetroRGB

RetroNAS Brings Centralized File Storage to Retro PC Setups

https://retrorgb.com/retronas-brings-centralized-file-storage-to-retro-pc-setups.html

If you’ve ever spent an entire afternoon swapping 3.5″ floppies just to get a single driver onto an old IBM clone, we have some good news for your wrists.

Enter RetroNAS: a new suite of tools designed to turn a humble Raspberry Pi or an old spare computer into a centralized Network Attached Storage (NAS) hub. Think of it as a modern cloud service, but specifically tailored for the era of DOS and Windows 98.

The magic lies in its ability to bridge the gap between decades of tech. By using services like EtherDFS (which is lightweight enough not to choke your precious DOS memory) and an older version of Samba, you can map a network folder as a local drive letter on your retro machines.

Why this is a game-changer:

• Centralized Library: Keep all your ISOs, floppy images, and drivers in one place.
• Save Disk Space: Run games directly from the network drive instead of hunting for new CF cards or hard drives.
• Cross-Platform: Serve files simultaneously to DOS, Windows for Workgroups, and even modern devices.

Fair warning: this isn’t exactly “plug-and-play.” You’ll need a bit of networking know-how to get the configuration right, but once it’s running, your retro setup will feel significantly more high-tech.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Pokemon Light Platinum DS Drops Its First English Demo, and It’s a Big One

https://retrohandhelds.gg/pokemon-light-platinum-ds-drops-its-first-english-demo-and-its-a-big-one/

If you spent your late 2000s glued to a Game Boy Advance, the name Pokémon Light Platinum probably triggers some serious nostalgia. This ambitious ROM hack was legendary for its custom regions and massive feature list—and now, it’s getting a massive glow-up.

The developers have just dropped the first English-language demo for the Nintendo DS version, and “small” is definitely not the word to describe it. Unlike most demos that give you a tiny taste of gameplay, this one packs over 20 hours of content, taking players all the way up to the fifth gym.

Moving from GBA to DS isn’t just a simple port; it’s a technical heavy lift. Built on the HeartGold engine, this version brings much smoother presentation and custom features (like a brand-new HM implementation) that the original simply couldn’t handle.

While we don’t have an official release date for the full game yet, this demo proves the project is in fantastic shape. If you’re looking to rediscover a classic with modern polish, it might be time to dust off that DS emulator.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Stop Killing Games Makes Its Case to the EU and Walks Away With a Win

https://retrohandhelds.gg/stop-killing-games-makes-its-case-to-the-eu-and-walks-away-with-a-win/

Ever bought a game only to realize you don’t actually own it? It’s a frustrating reality in the era of live-service titles, but there might finally be some light at the end of the digital tunnel.

The “Stop Killing Games” movement recently took its fight to the European Parliament, and the results were nothing short of a victory lap. Founded by YouTuber Ross Scott, the initiative argues that when publishers shut down servers, they effectively delete the product you paid for—turning expensive software into glorified paperweights.

The presentation went incredibly well. The committee chairwoman expressed support, and even more importantly, European Commission officials have pledged to examine the copyright laws that currently allow this “server-side destruction” to happen.

Here is the quick breakdown:

• The Goal: To pass laws preventing publishers from making games unplayable once servers go dark.
• The Status: The movement has massive political backing across all parliamentary groups.
• What’s Next: We’re waiting on a formal response from the Commission by July.

While we aren’t at the finish line yet, the conversation is officially on the official docket. For fans of titles like Concord or Anthem, it’s the first real sign that our digital libraries might actually be permanent.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Farewell, Spiders: The Makers of GreedFall Are Closing Their Doors

https://retrohandhelds.gg/farewell-spiders-the-makers-of-greedfall-are-closing-their-doors/

It’s a sad day for fans of “ambitious but janky” RPGs. Spiders, the Parisian studio behind the cult classic GreedFall, is officially closing its doors. After a period of uncertainty, the studio is moving into full liquidation after no buyer stepped up to save them.

If you played their games, you know the vibe: the production values might have been modest and the bugs were frequent, but there was always a massive amount of heart under the hood. From the clockwork nightmare of Steelrising to the colonial charm of GreedFall, Spiders specialized in making games that felt much bigger than their actual budgets allowed.

The tragedy here isn’t just the loss of a studio, but how it happened. While the recent launch of GreedFall 2: The Dying World struggled to find an audience, staff and unions have pointed the finger at mismanagement from parent company Nacon. Allegations of canceled projects and a focus on short-term profits have left even viable studios hollowed out.

It’s a tough end for a team that consistently punched above its weight class. We’re rooting for the devs to find new homes where their creativity can actually breathe.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG Rotate Specs Revealed Ahead of Official Relase

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-rotate-specs-revealed-ahead-of-official-relase/

If you’ve ever looked at your handheld gaming collection and thought, “This needs more mechanical movement,” Anbernic might have just answered your prayers. The full specs for the upcoming RG Rotate are finally out, and it is bringing some serious Transformer energy to your pocket.

The star of the show is a unique rotating hinge that lets you flip the screen into different orientations. It even features a Hall sensor, meaning the device can wake up automatically as you slide it open—a pretty slick touch for anyone who loves a seamless unboxing experience every time they play.

Under the hood, we’re looking at the Unisoc T618 chip (the same one from the RG Vita), which promises enough muscle to tackle everything from classic Android games to some heavier hitters like PS2 and 3DS. Just keep an eye on that 32GB of internal storage; you’ll definitely want a beefy microSD card to handle those bigger libraries.

The Quick Deets:

• Price: Expected around $87.99 (Black) or $107.99 (Silver).
• Release Date: Mark your calendars for May 11.
• Build Options: ABS Plastic or a premium CNC Aluminum Alloy.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Sony Responded! The PS5 DRM Update Explained

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sony-responded-the-ps5-drm-update-explained/

### Sony’s DRM Drama: A Small Win for PS5 Owners?

If you’ve been doomscrolling tech news lately, you probably saw the firestorm surrounding a recent PS5 system update. The news that new digital purchases would require a mandatory “check-in” every 30 days felt like a massive blow to the concept of digital ownership—and a bit ironic, considering Sony used to mock Xbox for doing the exact same thing.

But before you start hoarding physical discs like it’s the apocalypse, there is some good news. Sony has officially stepped in to clarify that this isn’t an “always-online” nightmare for your entire library.

Here is the breakdown of what’s actually happening:

• The Good: Your existing digital library and all disc-based games are unaffected. They will continue to work offline just fine.

The Catch: Only new* digital purchases require a one-time online check-in after 30 days.

• The Result: Once that 30-day window passes, the game converts to a permanent license. After that, you can go back to playing offline without a hitch.

It’s not a total victory for digital ownership—we’re still essentially dealing with “limited licenses” rather than true ownership—but at least your PS5 won’t turn into an expensive paperweight the moment your Wi-Fi cuts out.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The C64 and ZX Spectrum Are Getting Their Own Clamshell Handhelds

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-c64-and-zx-spectrum-are-getting-their-own-clamshell-handhelds/

If you spent your childhood surrounded by beige plastic and rubber keys, prepare your wallet. Evercade maker Blaze has teamed up with Retro Games Ltd to announce two new clamshell handhelds that are pure nostalgia in portable form: THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld.

The design is a deliberate love letter to the Game Boy Advance SP era. The C64 model arrives in “Retro Beige” with tactile keys, while the Spectrum version sports a classic black finish with rubberized buttons to mimic the original machine’s feel. Under the hood, both devices pack a 4.3-inch IPS display and enough power to run various configurations of their respective legends—including overclocking support for the Spectrum fans.

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• The Specs: Quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 256MB RAM, and USB-C charging.
• Storage: Each comes with 25 preloaded games, but you can add more via MicroSD.
• Pricing: Standard units start at $129.99, with limited Collector’s Editions (which include exclusive magazines) for $149.99.

The catch? These aren’t hitting shelves until October 2026. It’s a long wait, but pre-orders are officially open if you want to secure your slice of retro glory.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MiSTer Gets RetroAchievements Support for SNES, N64, PS1, and More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/mister-gets-retroachievements-support-for-snes-n64-ps1-and-more/

If you’ve ever spent more time scrolling through your massive MiSTer ROM library than actually playing games, we have the cure for your indecision.

A developer named odelot has just dropped a massive update to GitHub that brings RetroAchievements support to the MiSTer FPGA. This means you can finally earn those sweet, sweet digital trophies while playing on hardware-accurate cores. The list of supported systems is already a heavy hitter, covering everything from the NES and SNES to the N64 and PlayStation.

The tech behind it is surprisingly slick. It uses an MD5 hash to check your ROM against the RetroAchievements database and monitors the RAM in real-time to trigger on-screen notifications when you nail a challenge. It even includes an overlay that lets you peek at available achievements mid-game.

Why this matters:

• Motivation: Achievements provide the perfect “just one more try” loop for retro enthusiasts.
• Seamlessness: The integration is smart enough to stay quiet if you’re using standard cores, so no unnecessary network lag.
• Offline Friendly: It features automatic reconnection if your internet decides to take a nap.

It’s still in the “in-development” phase, so expect some fine-tuning before it becomes an official staple of the MiSTer ecosystem.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

A New Open Source Project Can Boot Linux on Original PS5 Hardware With Full Steam Support

https://retrohandhelds.gg/a-new-open-source-project-can-boot-linux-on-original-ps5-hardware-with-full-steam-support/

The PS5 Just Got a Major Identity Crisis

Ever looked at your PlayStation 5 and thought, “This is great, but I really wish it functioned like a high-end Linux desktop”? Well, thanks to a new open-source project called ps5-linux, you can now make that weirdly specific dream a reality.

The developers have successfully figured out how to exploit a hypervisor vulnerability to boot Linux directly on the console’s hardware. We aren’t talking about a glorified slideshow, either; once it’s running, you get access to all eight CPU cores and a beefy GPU. The end goal? Turning your console into a legitimate Steam gaming machine capable of running PC titles and emulators with impressive results.

Before you go rushing to eBay to hunt for an old console, there are some serious “fine print” vibes here:

• The Hardware: This only works on the original “Phat” PS5 models.
• The Software: You need to be running specific older firmware (3.xx or certain 4.xx versions) to get the full experience.
• The Catch: If your console is up-to-date with Sony’s latest security patches, you’re likely out of luck for now.

It’s a massive win for hardware enthusiasts and a fascinating peek at just how much power is locked behind Sony’s walled garden.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Travel Board you Didn’t Know you Needed: Epomaker Luma40

https://retrohandhelds.gg/epomaker-luma40-review/

### The Keyboard That Thinks Outside (and Inside) the Box

If you think a 65% keyboard is small, Epomaker just arrived to challenge your entire concept of space. Enter the Luma40: a 40% ortholinear keyboard that strips away almost everything—number keys, upper punctuation, and even the traditional staggered layout—leaving you with nothing but a sleek, grid-based minimalist dream.

At $115, this isn’t exactly a budget impulse buy, but you’re paying for some serious “premium” vibes. It features a sturdy aluminum shell that feels dense enough to survive being tossed into a backpack, making it an absolute powerhouse for travelers or anyone frequently moving between a desk and a couch.

However, there is a learning curve (and maybe a bit of hand cramping). Because the keys are arranged in a straight grid rather than the usual staggered rows, your typing speed might take a temporary hit while your brain re-learns where everything lives.

The quick breakdown:

• Pros: High-quality aluminum build; great for travel; uses user-friendly VIA software.
• Cons: Battery life drains fast if you love RGB; the “ortho” layout is a massive adjustment; keycaps can be tricky to read under bright lights.

It’s probably not your primary daily driver, but as a secondary board for your HTPC or a dedicated travel companion? It’s a winner.