📰 New article from RetroRGB

2-Player Legend of Zelda Romhack

https://retrorgb.com/2-player-legend-of-zelda-romhack.html

Ever wished you could grab a friend, sit on the couch, and tackle the original Legend of Zelda together? For decades, the answer was a firm “no,” but romhacker Deric Miller just changed the game.

His new patch, titled “Z for 2,” finally brings simultaneous two-player co-op to the NES classic. It’s the kind of community-driven magic that makes retro gaming so special.

There is, however, a catch: you’re sharing everything. You’ll share a single health bar, meaning if your buddy takes a hit, you lose a heart. It essentially halves your survivability, which could get stressful in a room full of Octoroks.

On the bright side, the power scaling is real. You get two Links swinging swords at once, and item management is streamlined so you can cycle through gear without pausing the action. Just don’t be confused when Player 2 picks up a bomb and it appears over Player 1’s head—the UI is a little quirky, but it gets the job done.

If you have a US ROM and a patch tool handy, it’s well worth the download for the sheer novelty of it.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Reveals a Developer Version of the KONKR Pocket Advance

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-reveals-a-developer-version-of-the-konkr-pocket-advance/

If you thought AYANEO was done with the drama, think again. During their latest “Sharing Session”—which opened with a sequence of AI art so wild it bordered on a fever dream—the company revealed something that has the community feeling a mix of inspired and slightly salty.

To celebrate the success of the KONKR Pocket Advance, AYANEO is doubling down on software development. They’ve launched a developer incentive program to encourage new games and apps, which is actually great news given the company’s shaky history of abandoning software support for older devices.

The catch? To sweeten the deal, they unveiled a “Developer Edition” of the KONKR Pocket Advance. It features a stunning Onyx Ice body with striking red accents and “DEV” badges, but there’s a massive asterisk: you can’t actually buy it. It is strictly reserved for those participating in their developer program.

It’s a classic AYANEO move—encouraging community growth while dangling a gorgeous, exclusive colorway just out of reach for the average consumer. Whether that’s a brilliant way to foster talent or just a cheeky way to gatekeep cool hardware is up for debate.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Court Rejects Fair Use Claim, Orders YouTube to Unmask Anime Recap Channels

https://torrentfreak.com/court-rejects-fair-use-claim-orders-youtube-to-unmask-anime-recap-channels/

### Anime Recap Channels Just Got a Reality Check

If you love those “everything you need to know about this anime” recap videos on YouTube, you might want to hold onto your hats. A U.S. federal court just dealt a blow to the popular “narration and summary” genre, ruling that simply describing a plot isn’t always enough to claim “fair use.”

The drama involves Japanese publishing giant KADOKAWA, who is on a mission to unmask three massive YouTube creators (with hundreds of thousands of subscribers each) to see exactly who is behind these popular recap channels. The creators argued their videos are transformative commentary that actually helps the industry by driving traffic to streaming platforms. One creator even reported a massive 82% engagement rate for links to official streaming sites!

However, the judge wasn’t buying it. The court ruled that these creators weren’t truly “transforming” the work through parody or deep criticism; they were essentially just reproducing significant portions of the anime.

The Takeaway:

• Not a Final Verdict: This isn’t a “guilty” verdict on copyright yet, but it’s a massive win for KADKAWA. YouTube has been ordered to unmask the creators’ identities.
• The Trend is Real: Courts are becoming increasingly skeptical of recap channels. If the video is more “summary” than “analysis,” it might not be protected.
• The Appeal: The creators are already appealing, so the battle for the future of anime recaps is far from over.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Is Your Retroid Pocket Nova D-pad Louder Than Normal? You’re Not Alone

https://retrohandhelds.gg/is-your-retroid-pocket-nova-d-pad-louder-than-normal-youre-not-alone/

If you’ve just unboxed your new Retroid Pocket Nova and noticed your D-pad sounds like a tiny percussion instrument, don’t panic—you aren’t losing your mind.

Early adopters are reporting that the Nova’s D-pad is significantly louder than usual. After some deep-dive investigation by the community, the culprit seems to be a manufacturing quirk: the D-pad stem is slightly longer than it should be, causing it to scratch against the internal PCB. To make matters worse, the device’s design creates a “sound hole” effect that amplifies the clicking.

Here is the current situation:

• Is it broken? Not necessarily. So far, it hasn’t affected gameplay or button responsiveness.
• Can you fix it? Enthusiasts are already performing “tape mods” to dampen the sound, but be warned: opening it up to do so technically voids your warranty.
• What’s next? Retroid’s engineers are currently reviewing the data.

Expect an official word from the manufacturer soon. Until then, if you’re a quiet gamer, you might want to keep your volume low—or keep some electrical tape handy.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

FightBox R10 – Custom Artwork Template & German Reseller

https://retrorgb.com/fightbox-r10-custom-artwork-template-german-reseller.html

If you’ve ever spent a high-stakes fighting game match yelling at your controller for being “too slow,” the FightBox R10 Pro might just be your new best friend. This arcade stick boasts less than one millisecond of lag, which is basically as close to instantaneous as you can get without actually having psychic powers.

The R10 Pro is a beast of versatility. It handles sticks, trackballs, and spinners all through a single USB cable and plays nicely with the MiSTer FPGA project. Whether you need an 8-button or 6-button setup, there’s a configuration for you.

But the real magic is in the customization. The FightBox team is big on aesthetics, and they’ve released official templates so you can design your own custom artwork. You can turn your controller into a piece of art that matches your gaming setup perfectly.

Quick hits for the gear-hungry:

• Customization: Templates for the R10 Pro (6 and 8 button), R8, and R9 are available on their site.
• Availability: If you’re in Europe, Dragonbox is now an official reseller with units in stock right now.

Time to ditch the lag and start designing.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

HyperBoy32+ Virtual Boy ROM Cart In Stock at SaG

https://retrorgb.com/hyperboy32-virtual-boy-rom-cart-in-stock-at-sag.html

If you’ve been holding out on upgrading your Nintendo Virtual Boy, you might want to stop scrolling and start clicking.

Stone Age Gamer just restocked the HyperBoy32+, a single-flash ROM cart that is basically magic for retro enthusiasts. What makes this one special? It features a tiny eInk screen that actually displays the artwork of the game you currently have loaded. You can ditch the clutter and load all your favorite original and homebrew games via the HyperStudio PC software.

Here is the quick breakdown:

• The Goods: Available in red or black, featuring a 4-color eInk “label.”
• The Price: $225, shipping immediately.
• The Catch: These are getting harder to find, and older versions like the HyperFlash32 might be headed into retirement for good.

If you’re a purist who prefers navigating menus using the Virtual Boy controller itself, you might want to look at the MrCart instead. But if you want that sleek, “digital label” look, the HyperBoy32+ is the gold standard. Grab one before the “out of stock” sign returns!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

6 Years of Retro Handhelds

https://retrohandhelds.gg/6-years-of-retro-handhelds/

Time flies when you’re playing retro games, doesn’t it?

The team at Retro Handhelds is officially hitting their six-year milestone, and they aren’t just celebrating with a cake—they’re celebrating a massive year of growth and a community that’s rapidly approaching the 100,000-subscriber mark.

It’s been a whirlwind year for the crew. From a visual facelift on the YouTube channel to the launch of the chaotic (and highly entertaining) RH After Dark podcast, the content is evolving faster than a speedrun. They’ve also expanded their digital toolkit, launching handheld.deals and handhelds.wtf to help enthusiasts track down the best gear and firmware.

The highlights from the year include:

• Subscriber Surge: A massive jump from 78k to 95k followers.
• New Tech: More in-depth reviews and insights into the latest handheld hardware.
• Community Growth: A huge shoutout to the developers and creators who make the Discord and website run smoothly.

Whether you’re here for the technical deep dives or just to yell at the hosts in the Discord, the message is clear: the mission to dominate the retro handheld scene is well underway. Here’s to six more years of handheld glory!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Brings Indigo Back to the Portal

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-brings-indigo-back-to-the-portal/

If you’ve been eyeing the AYN Odin 2 Portal but found yourself staring at a wall of “Out of Stock” notices or a boring black chassis, I have some good news for your wallet (and your aesthetic).

The Odin 2 Portal has been a bit of a unicorn lately—a high-value handheld with a gorgeous 7-inch OLED screen and enough power to tackle x86 emulation, all while keeping the price surprisingly low. But because the Pro and Max models have been flying off the shelves, finding the base model has been a struggle.

Enter: Indigo.

The team at AYN just announced that they are bringing the Indigo colorway back for a limited time. They’re doing this to make sure no shell material goes to waste, which is a win-win: they clear stock, and you get a fancy purple handheld instead of the standard black.

The quick rundown:

• The Vibe: Limited edition Indigo colorway is back.
• The Catch: It’s a limited run, so once it’s gone, it’s likely gone for good.
• The Value: Even at its base specs, it remains one of the best bang-for-your-buck options in the handheld scene.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to upgrade your retro gaming setup, this is probably it. Just try not to let the FOMO drive you too crazy.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Hollywood’s UK “Omnibus” Pirate Site Blocking Order Surfaces Through Cloudflare

https://torrentfreak.com/hollywoods-uk-omnibus-pirate-site-blocking-order-surfaces-through-cloudflare/

### Hollywood’s “Ghost” Order Finally Surfaces 🎬

For months, Hollywood studios have been bragging about a new “superpower” in the fight against piracy, but the actual paperwork remained a mystery—until now.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has been touting a massive “omnibus” blocking order in the UK. Instead of running to a judge every time a pirate site changes its URL from `.com` to `.net`, this order allows studios to simply tell ISPs, “Hey, this new site acts just like the old one—block it.” It’s essentially a “search and destroy” mission for streaming sites that doesn’t require a new court date every time a new domain pops up.

We only know the details because Cloudflare—not a court or a government agency—decided to be helpful and publish the document via its transparency filing.

The quick breakdown:

The “Seed” Sites: The order starts with known culprits like movies2watch.watch*, but the real power is in the “Part 2” category: any site that functions similarly to the originals.

• No Judge Required: Once a site meets the criteria, studios can add it to the blocklist voluntarily. The ISPs are essentially trusted to take the studios’ word for it.
• The Catch: While it’s efficient, it’s also a bit “trust me, bro.” There’s no independent review every time a site is added, though studios are forbidden from blocking entire servers if they host legitimate content too.

It’s a massive win for Disney and Netflix, but a headache for anyone trying to find a free movie without a fight.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

EasySMX M20 Review: Perfect for Playstation Without the Portal

https://retrohandhelds.gg/easysmx-m20-review/

### Your Phone Wants to Be a PlayStation Portal

Let’s face it: most of our gaming happens on our phones while we’re waiting for coffee or killing time on the couch. But if you’re a fan of PlayStation or emulation, playing on a touchscreen can feel like trying to play a piano with oven mitts. Enter the EasySMX M20, a telescopic controller that wants to turn your smartphone into a high-end handheld without the $200 price tag.

The M20 isn’t just another cheap plastic slab. It’s built with some seriously impressive specs, including Hall Effect sticks and a “dual-stage” trigger system. This means you can actually switch between digital and analog triggers—a rare and welcome feature for racing game fans.

The standout “party trick”? The face buttons are physically swappable. With a quick twist of a screwdriver, you can swap standard Xbox-style buttons for PlayStation iconography. It’s a small touch that makes a massive difference if you’re streaming PS5 games via remote play.

The quick hits:

• Versatility: It stretches up to 215mm, fitting most phones and even some small tablets (up to ~9 inches).
• Ergonomics: Thick, textured grips make it comfortable for long sessions.
• Customization: You can swap the D-pad and use the included bumpers to steady smaller devices.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to upgrade your mobile gaming setup, the M20 is a heavy hitter that punches well above its weight class.