📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: TrimUI Brick Pro Leak, Retroid Surprise, and ES-DE Goes Big

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-94/

Retro Handhelds Weekly: TrimUI Brick Pro Leak, Retroid Surprise, and ES-DE Goes Big

If you thought your wallet was safe from the handheld hobby this week, think again. Between rising hardware costs and some massive software updates, there is plenty to keep your eyes on (and your credit card ready).

The big hardware news is a bit of a mixed bag. We got our first real look at the TrimUI Brick Pro packaging, confirming a 3.95-inch display and three color options—exciting stuff if you’re looking for your next portable fix. On the flip side, AYANEO has officially raised prices on several devices to combat rising component costs, so if you’ve been eyeing a KONKR Pocket Fit, you might want to move fast. Also, a quick heads-up: Retroid “surprised” fans this week, but only by announcing two new colors for the Pocket 5. Nice try, Retroid!

On the software front, ES-DE has returned after a five-month hiatus with a massive update. We’re talking a mile-long changelog that includes Xbox integration and enough new features to satisfy any emulation enthusiast. Meanwhile, the EmuDeck Store has been revamped to better showcase homebrew gems, giving indie developers a much-needed spotlight.

Whether you’re hunting for leaks or updating your frontend, it’s been a busy week in the retro world.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Cheap, Retro-Compatible HDMI to YPbPr DAC

https://retrorgb.com/cheap-retro-compatible-hdmi-to-ypbpr-dac.html

Title: A Budget Gem (If You Can Catch It)

If you’ve ever tried to connect a retro setup to a modern screen, you know the struggle is real. Finding a decent HDMI to YPbPr converter that actually respects those 15Khz 240p signals can feel like a high-stakes scavenger hunt.

Luckily, a budget-friendly option just popped up on the radar. This little DAC (digital-to-analog converter) costs under $20 and is surprisingly compatible with the tricky signals we love. It’s quirky, it’s cheap, and it’s exactly what you need if you’re trying to keep your setup high-quality without breaking the bank.

There is, however, a catch:

• Stock is unpredictable: The seller claims to have plenty, but these things tend to vanish quickly.
• The “Hunt” is on: Since finding the exact motherboard and chip configuration is tricky, we’re essentially in a community-wide search for the perfect, reliable version.

It’s not a high-end, feature-packed solution, but until someone engineers a perfect sub-$50 gold standard, this little guy is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between retro charm and modern tech. Grab one before the “out of stock” sign goes up!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

TrimUI Brick Pro Inches Closer to an Official Release

https://retrohandhelds.gg/trimui-brick-pro-inches-closer-to-an-official-release/

The TrimUI Brick Pro is almost here—and it’s looking pretty “pro.”

If you’ve been refreshing your favorite retro handheld forums with bated breath, you can finally take a deep breath. A recent leak from the Retro Handhelds Discord has revealed the official packaging for the TrimUI Brick Pro, suggesting this device is officially in the home stretch of production.

This isn’t just a minor tweak to the existing lineup. The Brick Pro is set to feature a significantly larger 3.95-inch display compared to its predecessors, making it the first vertical handheld from TrimUI to really push that screen real estate. We’re also looking at:

• Stereo speakers for that immersive retro vibe.
• WLAN and USB Type-C connectivity.
• Three color options: Black, White, and a mysterious “Retro” edition.

While the leak confirms we are nearing an official release, one massive question remains: the price tag. With global shortages in RAM and storage still haunting the tech industry, we’re all crossing our fingers that this stays near the $100 mark without cutting too many corners.

Stay tuned—the handheld revolution is getting a bit bigger.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Close Enough: The Spiritual Successors to Classic Games

https://retrohandhelds.gg/close-enough-the-spiritual-successors-to-classic-games/

### The Love Letters We Never Got

Ever finished a classic game and thought, “Man, I wish there was a sequel to this”—only to realize the franchise has been gathering dust for two decades? It’s a heartbreak many of us know well. Between licensing nightmares and publishers playing it safe, our favorite retro worlds often stay frozen in time.

But a new wave of indie developers is refusing to let those legends die. Instead of making “copycats” that just chase trends, they’re crafting “spiritual successors”—games that act as heartfelt love letters to the classics. We’re talking about modern titles that capture the soul, the difficulty, and even the pixelated aesthetic of the originals, while adding much-needed polish.

If you’re looking to scratch that retro itch without actually digging out an old console, keep these on your radar:

Gravity Circuit: A high-octane tribute to Shatterhand*.

Pizza Tower: An addictive, frenetic homage to the Wario Land* series.

Slipstream: For anyone missing the open roads and synth-wave vibes of Outrun*.

Berserk Boy: A stunningly beautiful nod to the Mega Man ZX* era.

It’s proof that even when a franchise officially ends, the magic can live on through the hands of developers who simply loved the original too much to let it go.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

RapidIPTV Kingpin ‘Dash the Iranian’ Gets Two Years Prison Under Spanish Plea Deal

https://torrentfreak.com/rapidiptv-kingpin-dash-the-iranian-gets-two-years-prison-under-spanish-plea-deal/

### The Great IPTV Plea Deal: From 22 Years to Just Two

If you thought your legal battles were dragging, spare a thought for “Dash the Iranian.” After nearly six years of pre-trial limbo following massive police raids in 2020, the mastermind behind the RapidIPTV empire finally saw his day in court. But don’t expect a long-running courtroom drama; this trial ended faster than a bad internet connection.

In a stunning three-hour negotiation, the defendants reached a plea deal with Spanish prosecutors. The heavy lifting—specifically the charge of belonging to a criminal organization—was dropped in exchange for guilty pleas on other counts. The result? A massive sentencing reduction. Prosecutors were originally hunting for 22.5 years behind bars; instead, Amir Z. is looking at just over two.

The fallout, however, is still heavy:

• Huge Fines: A money-laundering fine was slashed from a staggering €70 million to €8 million.
• Damage Claims: Affected giants like Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. are set to receive €12 million in damages.
• Seizures: Authorities are confiscating assets linked to the group’s alleged movement of €25 million, which reportedly funded luxury cars and even a building in Iran.

The case is officially closed—no appeals allowed. Just another day in the high-stakes world of digital piracy.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

VoidScaler Firmware v0.91 (OSSC Downscaler)

https://retrorgb.com/voidscaler-firmware-v0-91-ossc-downscaler.html

The OSSC just got a major identity crisis (in the best way possible)

If you’re a CRT enthusiast, you probably know the Open Source Scan Converter (OSSC) as the gold standard for getting retro consoles onto old-school glass. But what if your converter could do more than just “retro”?

Developer e8root has released a massive update to the VoidScaler project (v0.91), and it’s a game-changer. This alternative firmware essentially transforms your OSSC from a simple scan converter into a powerful downscaler. If you have an HDMI DAC, you can now use your OSSC to play modern content—like 240p or 480i signals—on your favorite CRT.

The coolest part? It’s incredibly low-stress to use. You can launch this second firmware directly from the OSSC menu with a single click. The moment you power-cycle the device, it reverts right back to its original, normal settings. No permanent flashing or risky hardware mods required for most users.

What’s new in v0.91:

• Modern Content Support: Downscale HDMI signals for seamless CRT playback.
• Smart Mode Selection: Automatic mode matching based on EDID resolutions.
• Enhanced Stability: Fixed bugs with 480p and improved HDMI-to-Component compatibility.
• Visual Tweaks: Added a sharpen filter and better aspect ratio corrections.

It’s rare to see a device get this much fresh life years after its release, but VoidScaler is making it happen.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

OutRun: Amiga Edition Vinyl Release

https://retrorgb.com/outrun-amiga-edition-vinyl-release.html

OutRun: Amiga Edition Vinyl Release

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the high-speed thrills of OutRun while feeling like you’re stuck in a beautiful, retro-computing fever dream, listen up.

The developer over at reassembler has just dropped a stunning vinyl release of OutRun: Amiga Edition. This isn’t just a standard reissue, either. The tracks were painstakingly reverse-engineered from the original Arcade ROMs and recomposed from scratch in an 8-bit Protracker format specifically for the Amiga. To keep things thematic, the record plays at 45rpm—or as the dev puts it, “45km/h.”

Here is the lowdown on this collector’s item:

• The Look: A gorgeous, translucent red and blue limited edition featuring artwork by Sam Miller.
• The Goods: A £25 purchase gets you the LP plus a digital download (including the MOD files) via Bandcamp.
• The Catch: This is a self-released indie project. It is numbered, strictly limited, and there are zero plans for a repress.

If you’re more of a gamer than a collector, don’t fret—the full Amiga Edition game is available for free on itch.io. Happy driving!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

ES-DE Gets Massive Update, Including Xbox Integration and Much More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/es-de-gets-massive-update-including-xbox-integration-and-much-more/

Retro Handhelds: ES-DE Gets Massive Update, Including Xbox Integration and Much More

If you’ve been using ES-DE for your retro handheld, you might have thought things were getting a little quiet lately. Well, hold onto your SD cards, because the wait is officially over.

After five months of radio silence, ES-DE 3.4.1 has dropped, and it’s much more than just a minor tweak. The big headline? We are finally seeing some serious heavy lifting with console integration. For those running Android devices, you can now officially dive into the world of Xbox and even Xbox 360 emulation.

But the “buffet” of new features doesn’t stop at Microsoft. Here’s a quick look at what else is on the menu:

• Linux Expansion: Experimental support for Linux on AArch64 is here, meaning your handheld is ready for whatever new hardware Valve decides to drop this year.
• Native PICO-8: No more jumping through hoops; PICO-8 support is now natively available on Android.
• Mac Upgrades: macOS users are getting love too, with new support for the OpenBOR engine and Xbox 360.
• Multi-User Support: Android users can finally set up multi-user environments without the headache.

Whether you’re a hardcore emulator or just looking to clean up your library, this update is a massive win for the community. Time to hit that download button!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Raises Prices, and Hints at More to Come

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-raises-prices-and-hints-at-more-to-come/

AYANEO Raises Prices, and Hints at More to Come

If you were planning to treat yourself to a new handheld gaming device, you might want to grab your credit card immediately—before the price tag jumps.

AYANEO has officially signaled that price hikes are on the way. Driven by the skyrocketing costs of memory and storage components (a phenomenon some are calling the “RAMpocalypse”), the company is warning that current stock for several devices is limited. Once the existing inventory is gone, expect to pay more.

We’re already seeing the impact:

• The KONKR Pocket Fit has seen jumps as high as $130 for certain configurations.
• This shift moves the device out of the “budget” category and puts it in direct competition with higher-priced titans like the AYN Odin 3 Max.

It’s not just AYANEO, either; competitors like AYN and Retroid have also been forced to adjust their pricing. If you’ve had your eye on the Pocket VERT or the Pocket S Mini, now is the time to strike. Once the new, more expensive stock arrives, that “budget” feeling will be a thing of the past.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week

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

### Level Up Your Gear (Without Breaking the Bank)

If your current gaming setup consists of a smartphone and a prayer, it might be time for an upgrade. The good news? You don’t need to sell a kidney to get some serious nostalgia flowing through your veins.

This week is looking massive for handheld enthusiasts. Whether you’re hunting for a dedicated retro device to play classic ROMs or a beefy x86 powerhouse to tackle modern titles, the discounts are officially here. Anbernic and MiYoo are leading the charge with some seriously deep cuts on devices like the RG35XX Pro and the MiYoo Mini Plus.

But it’s not just about the handhelds themselves. If you’re looking to expand your ecosystem, there are plenty of ways to save:

• Controllers: Grab an 8BitDo Ultimate for a fraction of the usual cost.
• Mini PCs: Score deals on GMKtec units if you need more desk-side muscle.

Freebies: The Epic Games Store is currently handing out titles like Prop Sumo* for $0.

The bottom line: With AliExpress running its Spring Refresh Sale and various coupon codes active, now is the perfect time to stock up on everything from USB-C docks to extra charging cables. Happy hunting!