📰 New article from RetroRGB

PSBBN – July 2026 Update

https://retrorgb.com/psbbn-july-2026-update.html

Remember the PlayStation Broadband Navigator? It’s that quirky, forgotten peripheral that turned your PS1 into a dial-up modem. It’s obscure, it’s niche, and thanks to CosmicScale, it’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

The developer just dropped a massive July 2026 update for his definitive translation project, and it’s a game-changer for retro enthusiasts. The highlight? Full localization. Scripts are now available in English, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese. That’s a staggering amount of effort to make this dusty piece of hardware accessible to a global audience.

But it’s not just about words. The update tackles the Game Selector, improves PS1 compatibility on exFAT drives, and integrates POPSLoader support. Essentially, it smooths out the rough edges that made using BBNN in 2026 feel like a chore.

If you’re a collector with a spare PS1 and a dream, this is your sign to dust off that modem. For a deeper dive, Tito from Macho Nacho Productions has a full demo video that breaks down exactly what’s new. It’s a brilliant example of how community passion can breathe new life into forgotten tech.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Alleged Operators of HiAnime Piracy Ring Arrested in Vietnam with U.S. Support

https://torrentfreak.com/alleged-operators-of-hianime-piracy-ring-arrested-in-vietnam-with-u-s-support/

Talk about a dramatic exit. HiAnime, the anime piracy portal that raked in over 150 million monthly visits, vanished without a trace back in March. But while the site went dark, the people running it didn’t get away scot-free.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has just arrested seven suspects linked to a massive piracy network that operated more than 100 sites, including HiAnime. The bust wasn’t a solo act; Vietnamese authorities worked closely with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). This collaboration came under intense pressure after the U.S. classified Vietnam a “Priority Foreign Country,” threatening potential trade sanctions over rampant copyright infringement.

The alleged operators, mostly young IT graduates, raked in roughly $12.8 million through ads. They paid themselves in crypto, then laundered the cash into luxury cars and real estate to legitimize the profits. One ringleader even confessed to earning $2 million personally, spending it on high-end vehicles.

Here’s the catch: rightsholders are watching closely. A previous similar case involving Fmovies resulted in suspended sentences, which frustrated U.S. officials. Vietnam has recently issued urgent directives to crack down harder, so let’s see if this HiAnime case finally delivers the deterrent prison time everyone is hoping for.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG 55G1 Gameplay Hints at Solid Performance

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-55g1-gameplay-hints-at-solid-performance/

Anbernic’s RG 55G1 is finally showing its teeth, and honestly? It’s looking surprisingly sharp.

After a Geekbench leak hinted at a Snapdragon chip but raised eyebrows over the mere 4GB of RAM, the company has dropped a new gameplay showcase that tempers those concerns. We’re seeing Portal 2 running smoothly via GameNative, which is a big deal. Why? Because it points to the adoption of Turnip drivers. These are usually reserved for higher-end Snapdragon silicon, but their presence here suggests Anbernic is serious about pushing emulation boundaries, even on a budget-focused device.

The real standout feature, however, is the resolution scaling. The video demonstrates 4x to 6x upscaling for PSP games. Considering Anbernic just launched the RG Vita series, this top-happy device looks poised to crush PSP emulation in both clarity and compatibility.

Then there’s the screen. During Etrian Odyssey III, the display goes pitch black during transitions. Sure, that could be editing, but it’s fueling wild (and hopeful) speculation about an OLED panel.

Keep your expectations grounded—showcase videos are always cherry-picked—but if this hardware delivers consistent performance without breaking the bank, the RG 55G1 might just be the retro handheld we’ve been waiting for. Now, we just need to know the price.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Artemio Interviews PGM Core Creator Wickerwaka

https://retrorgb.com/artemio-interviews-pgm-core-creator-wickerwaka.html

Ever wonder what goes on behind the curtain of those crisp, perfect retro gaming cores? You’re about to get a front-row seat.

Artemio sat down with Martin Donlon—better known in the FPGA scene as Wickerwaka—to dig into his latest masterpiece: the reverse-engineered IGS PolyGame Master (PGM) core for the MiSTer project. If you’ve ever marveled at how accurately these modern devices replicate vintage arcade experiences, Martin is the wizard making it happen. He’s also the mind behind the R-Type cores and MiSTer Laggy, so he’s basically a staple in the retro gaming community.

The interview dives deep into the technical nitty-gritty of his reverse engineering process. It’s developer-focused, so if you love understanding the “how” and “why” of hardware emulation, you’ll eat this up. There’s a tiny hiccup at the start when Artemio’s mic decided to quit on him, but don’t worry—it’s fixed by the three-minute mark. After that, the conversation flows beautifully.

Even if some of the technical jargon floats over your head, the passion is palpable. It’s rare to hear two devs geek out like this, so grab a coffee, tune in, and appreciate the craft. And if you missed his earlier appearance, his previous interview is still out there waiting for you.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: Retroid Pocket Flip 3 Hype, PULSE Levels Up, Big Savings, and Much More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-106/

The retro handheld world is moving faster than a Game Boy Color in a caffeine rush. This week, the big news isn’t just new hardware—it’s the industry pivoting hard into the digital void. Sony’s announced that physical disc production for new games will end by 2028, alongside the closure of the PS3 and Vita storefronts. If you love cartridges and discs, start hoarding now, because the era of physical media is officially on borrowed time.

On the hardware front, Retroid is teasing the Pocket Flip 3 with a “second half of the year” timeline, keeping fans dreaming of dual-screen glory. Meanwhile, the Retroid Pocket Nova pre-orders are live, ranging from $229 to $274 depending on how fancy you want your color palette to be. Don’t forget that AYN Thor, Odin 3, and Odin 2 Portal are all getting a price bump this week, so if you were eyeing those, you might want to act fast before your wallet feels the squeeze.

For those who prefer tinkering, there’s plenty to do. MagicX is killing the Mini Zero 28 to pivot toward Linux with the new Mini40, while DK64 is finally getting a PC recompilation with widescreen support. And yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies is now playable on your handheld via PortMaster. Just don’t expect any mercy from the zombies.

Grab a coffee, check out the AliExpress Choice Day deals if you’re feeling frugal, and brace yourself for a summer of major industry shifts.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

PULSE Puts Android Handheld Performance Controls at Your Fingertips

https://retrohandhelds.gg/pulse-puts-android-handheld-performance-controls-at-your-fingertips/

Let’s be honest: Android handheld gaming is finally growing up. We’ve moved past the “will this even run it?” phase into the “how do I squeeze every last frame out of this battery?” era. Enter PULSE, a new utility from Kei’s Retro Gaming that turns your device into a performance-tuning powerhouse without requiring root access.

Think of it as a smarter, more intuitive evolution of apps like ClusterTune. PULSE’s headline feature is AutoTDP, a closed-loop controller that dynamically adjusts CPU and GPU clocks in real-time. You set a target FPS (say, 60), and the app does the heavy lifting—trimming clocks to save power when things are smooth, and boosting them instantly when scenes get heavy. It essentially learns each game’s performance floor so you don’t have to guess.

But if you prefer manual control, PULSE lets you tweak performance tiers and boost limits on the fly. The latest update adds a “Quick Access Bar,” which you can map to unused back paddles for instant adjustments mid-game. It even includes a cool “Joystick RGB” feature that visually indicates battery life or SoC heat, letting you monitor your rig’s health without pausing your action.

While officially supported on AYN Odin 3, Thor, and Retroid Pocket 6, it’s worth a try on other devices if you’re brave enough to experiment. It’s a solid step toward making Android handhelds as efficient and customizable as their x86 counterparts.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Researchers Create Self-Replicating Seedbox in Quest for Decentralized Democracy

https://torrentfreak.com/researchers-create-self-replicating-seedbox-in-quest-for-decentralized-democracy/

Remember when the internet felt like the Wild West? Researchers at Delft University are trying to bring that spirit back, minus the chaos. They’ve developed a self-replicating seedbox called “Mycelium,” designed to keep decentralized content alive without relying on a single point of failure.

Here’s the clever part: it’s a digital version of fungal growth. When community members donate Bitcoin, the system automatically launches a new virtual private server to host more content. It’s a self-sustaining loop, at least for Creative Commons material. No copyright infringement here, just pure, open-source resilience.

But software doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so the team is also tackling governance. They’ve proposed a “TwoStepDemocracy” where users vote on what to build, developers implement it, and the community votes again on whether to fund it. It’s a utopian dream of full citizen control, aiming to create a society that is unstoppable, self-hosted, and human-oversighted.

Is it the future of the web? Maybe. It’s currently a proof of concept, and ironically, it still relies on centralized GitHub and VPS providers. But with European officials taking notice, this experiment might just be planting the seeds for a more democratic internet.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Interview: Castle Away, Gotta Storm ‘Em All

https://retrohandhelds.gg/interview-castle-away-gotta-storm-em-all/

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mash up Tetris, an autobattler, and a fairy tale, Castle Away is your answer. This indie gem from a tiny three-person team isn’t just about slaying demons; it’s about building a flying castle that literally rises from the ground as you play. The concept? You’re assembling a grid-based fortress, and your combat is entirely automated.

That last bit might sound passive, but the devs argue it shifts the focus to strategic planning. You’re not twitch-reflexing; you’re engineering a machine. Every structure placed has a ripple effect, creating emergent gameplay that feels more like solving a complex puzzle than traditional combat.

Here’s why it’s worth watching:

• No Rerolls: The team deliberately limited loot rerolls to force build diversity, preventing players from brute-forcing the “perfect meta.”
• Living Audio: The soundtrack evolves with your castle’s density, making the audio landscape react to your strategic success.
• Pacing Pressure: You can’t just explore forever. Every monster fight fuels your keep but also draws the final boss closer, creating a tense, ticking-clock loop.

It’s a bold experiment in balancing chaos with control. If you love deep strategy without the micromanagement, Castle Away might just be the next great roguelite to grab your attention.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MagicX Discontinues Mini Zero 28 and Gauges Interest in the MagicX Mini40

https://retrohandhelds.gg/magicx-discontinues-mini-zero-28-and-gauges-interest-in-the-magicx-mini40/

MagicX has been quieter than a library since 2026 started, and the culprit is a classic tech tragedy: RAM prices. DDR4 memory costs have skyrocketed to six times their original price, making it financially impossible for smaller handheld makers to keep churning out devices. The result? MagicX is officially killing the popular Mini Zero 28. It’s nearly sold out, and despite how much they loved it, they just can’t justify the production costs anymore.

But wait, there’s a twist. Just hours after the sad news, MagicX “introduced” a spiritual successor called the Mini40. Think of it as the budget-friendly entry point for the brand, but with a major shift: it’s moving from Android to Linux. The design keeps the classic Z28 shell vibe but upgrades the controls with larger D-pads, bigger buttons, and dual Hall-effect joysticks. It’s also DIY-friendly, which is a nice touch for modders.

The real headline, though, is the price tag. If it ever actually launches, MagicX is aiming for a staggering $49. In a market where most new handhelds start at $100+, that would be a steal. However, don’t get your wallets out just yet. MagicX is testing the waters with a poll, and while 60% of respondents are curious, development hasn’t even started. The ball is firmly in the community’s court to see if this budget Linux dream can become reality.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

PlayStation 16MB RAM Mod

https://retrorgb.com/playstation-16mb-ram-mod.html

Imagine taking the original PlayStation—the console that defined a generation—and giving it an eightfold memory upgrade. That’s exactly what Tito from Macho Nacho Productions has done, and honestly, it’s a pretty wild proof-of-concept. He’s successfully modded the hardware to support 16MB of RAM, jumping from the standard 2MB.

Now, before you rush to your soldering iron, here’s the catch: no commercial games actually use that extra space yet. It’s currently a “what if” scenario rather than a play-ready upgrade. The theory, though, is solid. Since the PS1’s CPU can handle the load, homebrew developers might eventually patch existing titles or even port arcade gems that were previously impossible on the original hardware.

Think of it like paving a wider road for future traffic. While today’s software doesn’t utilize the capacity, games patched for the 8MB mod will work seamlessly here, potentially unlocking higher detail levels (and maybe some frame-rate hiccups). It’s not a practical mod for the average player right now, but for the retro-hacking community, it’s a fascinating glimpse into what the PS1 could have been if Sony had pushed the hardware a bit further. Keep an eye on this one—it might just change how we play classic titles down the line.