📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG477V Pre-Orders Begin on December 20, Starting at $199

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg477v-pre-orders-begin-on-december-20-starting-at-199/

Grab your wallets, retro fans—Anbernic’s shiny new RG477V is dropping sooner than your grandma remembers how to turn on a TV.

Pre-orders kick off December 20 at 5 AM EST, starting at just $199 for the 8GB/128GB model. That’s less than a fancy coffee subscription, and you get a full-blown handheld with a 120Hz screen, MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip, and active cooling—yes, your games won’t melt mid-boss fight. The 12GB/256GB version? $239.99 for the first 72 hours, then $259 after. (Pro tip: Set an alarm. These will sell faster than SNES cartridges at a convention.)

It’s got Hall effect sticks with RGB glow, dual speakers, USB-C display out, and a 5,500mAh battery that’ll keep you playing for about eight hours—plenty of time to beat Metroid… or just stare at the loading screen while waiting for software updates. (Anbernic’s already dropped v1.35 to fix bugs, but don’t expect perfection on day one.)

GammaOS is already running on dev units, so the software will likely improve fast. And yes—rumor has it color variants (looking at you, see-through green) might be coming. But if you want the $199 deal? You gotta move fast.

Your next handheld obsession is waiting. Pre-order now, regret later.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Red Dead Redemption on Android is Weird, Here’s How to Fix It

https://retrohandhelds.gg/red-dead-redemption-on-android-is-weird-heres-how-to-fix-it/

Red Dead Redemption on Android? Yeah, it’s a cowboy wild west of bugs, glitches, and broken promises.

If you’ve got a Snapdragon 8 Elite phone like the Galaxy S25+, congrats—you’re living the dream. Smooth 60fps, decent battery life, and Netflix actually lets you install it. A true miracle.

But if you’re rocking a Dimensity-powered handheld—like an Anbernic RG477M? Good luck. Textures vanish, models melt, and your controller feels like it’s playing telepathic poker with the game. The devs clearly didn’t test on Mali GPUs. Oops.

And then there’s the AYN Thor Pro users—locked out entirely by Google Play Protect. Netflix says “nope,” and your device is too cool for school. The fix? Side-loading. Yes, really. Download a sketchy .apk bundle, use an app like SAI to splice it together, pray, reboot, and hope your phone doesn’t revolt. Result? 30fps, no fidelity toggle, and the emotional weight of a saloon piano playing “My Heart Will Go On” in a desert.

Bottom line: It works—kinda. But unless Rockstar wakes up and ports this properly, you’re better off emulating the Switch version… or just rewatching that damn sunset one more time.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Tweaks to IPTV Piracy Law That “Bans VPNs” Won’t Change Its Intent or Scope

https://torrentfreak.com/govt-denies-iptv-piracy-law-bans-vpns-because-it-never-did-didnt-need-to-251218/

Denmark’s new anti-piracy bill isn’t banning VPNs—technically. But if you’re using one to watch a football match you didn’t pay for… or even one you did pay for but can’t access because of geo-blocks? Congrats, you’re now breaking the law.

The Ministry of Culture insists they just want to stop illegal streaming. Fair. But their fix? A sweeping, tech-neutral rewrite that targets any tool—software, app, tweak, or yes, even a VPN—that circumvents paywalls. No more hiding behind “it’s just a privacy tool.” If it unlocks content you’re not supposed to access, it’s illegal. Period.

And here’s the twist: this applies even if you paid for the content—just not in your region. Want to binge Game of Thrones on HBO Max while traveling? Forget it. The law doesn’t care if you’re a subscriber; it cares if you bypassed a geo-block. And promoting tools that do this? Also illegal. (RIP Popcorn Time, we hardly knew ye.)

The minister claims he’s removing “VPN” from the draft to clear up confusion. But if the law bans any technical solution that bypasses access controls… then banning VPNs is exactly what it does. Words matter less than intent—and this law’s intent is crystal clear: no more sneaky streaming, no matter how you do it.

Welcome to the future. Your VPN just got a pink slip.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Gameboy Color Resident Evil Found & Released

https://retrorgb.com/gameboy-color-resident-evil-found-released.html

Christmas came early for horror fans—because someone dug up a fully playable Game Boy Color version of Resident Evil.

Yes, really. HotGen Studios back in the day tried to port the original PS1 horror classic to the tiny, monochrome screen. It got axed… until now. Games That Weren’t just dropped the “final” build—98% complete, bugs and all—and yes, you can actually finish it. No more half-baked ROMs from 2013; this one’s got full boss fights, inventory management, and even that iconic door-slamming tension… on a device smaller than your palm.

Imagine battling Mr. X while squinting at a 2-bit zombie, or solving puzzles with a D-pad the size of a pinhead. It’s absurd. It’s brilliant. And somehow, it works.

The original port was abandoned after Nintendo nixed the project (probably terrified of how much blood would stain their handhelds). This version? It’s not just a demo—it’s the real deal. Playable. Completable. Probably haunted by 2001-era development notes.

Grab it, poke at the glitches, and ask yourself: if this had shipped in 2001… would we still be arguing about the best horror games today? Or just wondering why we didn’t get more of these?

Play it here — before your eyes turn into Game Boy pixels.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Sony Says FUDGE Age Restrictions With New AI Censorship Patent

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sony-says-fudge-age-restrictions-with-new-ai-censorship-patent/

Sony’s got a bold (and slightly creepy) new idea: AI that turns God of War into Toy Story on the fly.

Imagine playing a violent game, and suddenly your blood-splattered assassin gets replaced with a cheerful cartoon version—because the AI decided “too much gore.” No manual edits. No developer input. Just a silent, algorithmic babysitter scrubbing your game clean in real time.

The patent? It’s wild. The system can blur violence, mute swearing, swap weapons for glitter bats, and even reanimate characters to be less “intense.” Parents could pick presets—or craft custom rules—so one copy of Red Dead Redemption becomes kid-safe for your 8-year-old, while you keep the full-blooded experience. Convenient? Maybe. Dangerous? Absolutely.

This isn’t just parental controls—it’s editing art without asking the artist. What happens when an AI decides a character’s backstory is “too mature”? Or removes political themes because they’re “controversial”? And if this rolls out on cloud platforms? Suddenly, every streamer and subscriber is subject to invisible censorship—no way to know what’s been cut.

Sony isn’t building a filter. They’re building an editor-in-chief for games we don’t own anymore.

The tech might be cool. But who gets to decide what’s “appropriate”? We should all be nervous.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Playtiles Begins Shipping To Backers

https://retrohandhelds.gg/playtiles-begins-shipping-to-backers/

Ever wish your phone could just be a Game Boy—without the bulk, the Bluetooth headaches, or the battery anxiety? Enter Playtiles: a credit-card-sized sticky pad of real D-pads and buttons that clings to your screen like a tactile sticker. No charging. No pairing. Just slap it on, tap your favorite emulator, and suddenly your iPhone feels like a 90s handheld made of magic (and plastic).

It’s genius because it doesn’t try to replace your phone—it enhances what’s already there. Drag the virtual controls in Delta or another emulator to match Playtiles’ layout, and boom: your thumbs are pressing real buttons, not ghostly UI blobs. No more “wait, which one was A again?” during a Mario Bros. run.

And here’s the kicker: it works with anything that lets you move on-screen controls—emulators, GB Studio games, even mobile ports. No proprietary ecosystem. Just your ROMs, your rules, and a $10 slab of joy that fits in your wallet. Perfect for coffee lines, commutes, or when you just miss the click of a real button.

If you’ve ever sighed at another “handheld phone case” that felt like carrying a brick… this is your upgrade. Order now. Your thumbs will thank you.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Analogue 3D Analyzed

https://retrorgb.com/analogue-3d-analyzed.html

Let’s be real: Analogue’s 3D console promised “perfect N64 hardware emulation.” Spoiler? It’s 5% off. Not bad for a $1,000 box—but not “perfect,” either.

Kaze Emanuar’s deep-dive video breaks it down with surgical precision: frame timing, audio glitches, texture quirks. Turns out, the A3D’s FPGA magic is impressively close… but not magic. It’s more like a really fancy emulator with a sleek aluminum body and a price tag that could buy a used car.

Here’s the twist: Kaze likes Analogue. He’s bought their stuff, praised their build quality. But he won’t let marketing spin pass unchallenged. And honestly? That’s refreshing. You don’t have to hate a brand to call out its hype.

So if you want gorgeous hardware and don’t need pixel-perfect accuracy? Go for it.

If you’re chasing “true N64” vibes? Stick with Ryujinx or Project64 on a good PC.

And if you just want to laugh? Check Kaze’s side channel—he dropped a song about it. Because nothing says “emulation drama” like a synth-heavy bop about texture filters.

Support the truth. Even if it costs $999.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #492

https://retrorgb.com/week492.html

Let’s be real—when your retro gaming fix comes with a humidifier cameo, you know it’s going to be weirdly wonderful.

This week’s RetroRGB Roundup is a love letter to the dusty corners of gaming history. From Virtual Boy accessories hitting Switch (yes, really) to firmware updates for Saturn ODEs that make your old console act like it’s on caffeine, Bob’s got you covered. If you’ve ever stared at a crumbling CDi power supply and wept, there’s now a fix. Same goes for PSP-3000 screen replacements and OSSC Pro users getting custom Lumacode palettes—because your 16-bit dreams deserve HD clarity.

And hey, Final Fantasy VII fans? A remastered soundtrack just dropped for the Steam port. Breathe deep. Savor it.

But the real MVP? The Story of EGM documentary—because who didn’t grow up reading those glossy, beer-stained issues like sacred texts? Also: Blue Retro’s dev work ends. Bittersweet, but the community’s got the code now.

And yes… there’s a humidifier. In a retro gaming video. You’ll see why it’s hilarious (and oddly appropriate).

Support the channel if you can—Bob doesn’t just fix hardware, he keeps our nostalgia alive. And sometimes, that means turning a humidity problem into a meme. We’re all better for it.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

EU Ban on Russian War Propaganda Misfires: Blocks Social Media Giants & Pirate IPTV

https://torrentfreak.com/eu-ban-on-russian-war-propaganda-misfires-blocks-social-media-giants-pirate-iptv/

Here’s your punchy, newsletter-ready summary:

—

EU’s Russian Propaganda Blocklist? More Like a Digital Sweepstakes.

The EU banned Russian state media after the Ukraine invasion—smart move. But when ISPs were left to figure out what exactly to block… things got weird.

Enter NLconnect, a Dutch ISP group that stitched together unofficial blacklists from Germany, Lithuania, and others. Result? A 796-domain mess blocking everything from Sputnik… to ShareChat, Weibo, and pirate IPTV sites. Yes, you read that right—India’s biggest social app is banned because someone on it once posted something Russian. And yes, Streema.com—a U.S.-based radio directory—is down because it listed a few banned stations.

Lithuania’s regulator, LRTK, seems to have thrown everything into the blacklist: social networks, torrent sites, even streaming portals. No explanation. Just “ban it all.” Dutch ISPs like Ziggo are following suit—while privacy-focused Freedom says, “Nope,” and makes its own list.

The problem? No central EU list. Just a patchwork of overzealous interpretations. Millions of users lose access to legitimate services because regulators can’t—or won’t—do precise targeting.

This isn’t sanctions. It’s digital collateral damage—and no one’s asking if it’s even legal.

—

Word count: 198

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG477V Pre-Orders Begin on December 20, Starting at $199

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg477v-pre-orders-begin-on-december-20-starting-at-199/

Grab your wallet—another retro beast is dropping before 2025 ends.

Anbernic’s RG477V officially opens pre-orders on Dec 20 at 5 AM EST, starting at a shockingly low $199. Yeah, you read that right: a 4.7-inch, 120Hz, Dimensity 8300-powered handheld with RGB hall sticks and active cooling for less than two Cokes. The 12GB/256GB model? Just $239.99 for the first 72 hours. After that, prices creep up—but still, it’s a steal.

It’s not all sunshine and pixel-perfect emulators though. Early feedback (hello, Stubbs’ First Look) hints at software hiccups. But here’s the twist: Anbernic already dropped an OTA update (v1.35) with a “Performance Mode,” and GammaOS is already running on dev units—meaning the fix might be closer than you think.

Specs? Gorgeous. 5,500mAh battery, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C display out, dual speakers, and a weight that won’t turn your wrist into a cramp. It’s not just a pocket console—it’s a full-fledged mini PC that thinks it’s 2003.

Review units are coming any day now. If you’ve been waiting for a sleek, powerful retro rig that doesn’t scream “cheap knockoff,” this might be your moment. Pre-order now—or regret it when they sell out before lunch.