👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0180
Like a perfect 3 darts (its darts season in the UK) welcome to issue 180 being written from Laos.
In this weeks bumper issue we have a half of lost Megadrive/Genesis games gets preserved, Resident Evil - on the GBC, is the Analogue 3D that accurate, goody to the Dreamcast browser - and loads more.
Thanks for the regulars that take a second to like the post on Substack, you know who you are, and you are awesome.
News
🎮 An Xbox enthusiast has documented 630 unreleased original Xbox game projects, preserving development details and builds that never reached retail release, shedding light on the console’s unseen history. Retroshell
🥊 Street Fighter creator Takashi Nishiyama’s departure from Capcom led to the release of one of the most influential fighting games of the 1990s, marking its 34th anniversary this year. ComicBook
⌚ Bandai Namco has unveiled a limited 30th anniversary Tales of Phantasia chronograph watch celebrating the long-running RPG series with themed design elements. Essential Japan
🤖 A revamped Mega Man ROM hack has completed an enhanced reworking of the original NES trilogy, featuring gameplay refinements and visual updates. Retroshell
🧟 A near-complete beta demo dump of Resident Evil for the Game Boy Color has been recovered, offering new insight into the cancelled handheld version. GBATemp
🔥 Pokémon FireRed has been reimagined as an open-world experience while retaining the visual style of the original Game Boy Advance release. Retroshell
🎨 The classic Game Boy title Tiny Toon Adventures is now available in a fully colourised DX edition, enhancing the original game for modern players. Time Extension
🛠️ ModRetro has announced an unusual collaboration with a defense contractor as part of its expanding retro hardware and preservation efforts. Retroshell
📖 The Sega Dreamcast visual novel Di Gi Charat Fantasy has received an official English release, making the previously Japan-only title accessible to new audiences. Time Extension
🏨 Atari has opened investment opportunities to fans for its upcoming Atari-branded hotels, with entry starting at $500. Retroshell
🎵 Nintendo has updated its Nintendo Music app with tracks from Super Mario Land, adding the franchise’s original Game Boy soundtrack. Nintendo Life
🕹️ The iconic QuickShot II joystick is set to return in 2026 with modern features while preserving its classic design. Retroshell
🚁 A record-breaking Tetris game was commemorated with a synchronized drone show featuring 4,000 drones lighting up the sky. Yardbarker
📡 The Video Game History Foundation has recovered 144 previously lost Sega Channel ROMs for the Genesis, preserving digital-only titles from the 1990s service. Retroshell
🎮 Xbox Game Pass has quietly expanded its retro library to nearly 100 titles, including games from the SNES era. ComicBook
💣 A beta version of Infidelity’s SNES port of Contra Force is now available, offering an early look at the long-criticized NES title on new hardware. Retroshell
🧨 A playable SNES port of Contra Force has been released, reviving one of the NES’s most maligned action games. Time Extension
🥋 Virtua Fighter 4 has been successfully rendered on Sega Dreamcast hardware, demonstrating the console’s untapped technical potential. Retroshell
🥁 A Super Mario 64 speedrunner has set a new record using a drum kit as the game controller. TheGamer
🎼 FirebrandX has released remastered music tracks for the Steam version of Final Fantasy VII, enhancing the classic RPG’s audio presentation. Retroshell
🧪 New research has challenged Analogue’s claims regarding the accuracy of its upcoming Analogue 3D console. Time Extension
🎨 Nintendo veteran Takaya Imamura has entered Capcom’s Mega Man boss design contest, marking a rare crossover between the two companies. Retroshell
📀 A new feature highlights notable Nintendo GameCube games that have faded from mainstream attention over time. DualShockers
🏆 Hamster has teased a major Arcade Archives release to coincide with the series’ 500th title milestone. Retroshell
📊 New sales data indicates that the Xbox Series consoles have surpassed the lifetime sales of the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. VGChartz
📱 Mangmi has teased its upcoming Pocket Max handheld, powered by a Snapdragon 865 chipset. Retroshell
🏐 A fan-made Sega Mega Drive / Genesis port of Windjammers has received its first development update in over a year. Time Extension
⚙️ The SuperSega FPGA console project has been cancelled following trademark disputes, questionable demos, and backlash from backers. NotebookCheck
🧱 Metal Mack, a new large-scale Genesis homebrew title, has been released, showcasing ambitious design for Sega’s 16-bit console. PopGeeks
🌍 Tail of the Sun, a PS1-era cult classic from the creators of Doshin the Giant, has launched on Steam with notable limitations. Time Extension
🌐 Google service changes have rendered the Sega Dreamcast’s PlanetWeb 3.0 browser unable to access major sites, effectively ending its remaining functionality. Tom’s Hardware
🦖 Wolf Team’s dinosaur-themed pinball game Dino Land has been re-released on consoles and PC in a restored modern edition. Time Extension
⌚ Sony has announced a limited-edition mechanical PlayStation watch to celebrate the console’s 30th anniversary. TechnoBaboy
Features
🎮 Street Fighter creator Takashi Nishiyama left Capcom in the late ’80s and went on to develop Fatal Fury, a defining 1990s fighting game released 34 years ago today — ComicBook
🍄 Nintendo marked the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. with a major re-release and retrospective celebration back in 2010 — CBR
📊 The Final Fantasy franchise has now sold over 185 million units worldwide across all its titles — Tech4Gamers
🛍️ A shopper discovered a rare boxed Game Boy Color in a UK charity shop for just £20, highlighting the potential of second-hand treasure hunts — LancsLive
🧱 The Trial of Kharzoid, a new NES homebrew, combines Arkanoid-style gameplay with Castlevania-inspired boss battles — NotebookCheck
🚗 Upcoming rally racing spin-off Rallyallyally embraces arcade-style fun over realism in a nostalgic twist on the genre — Time Extension
🕹️ A fan-made SNES demake of Super Mario Bros. Wonder reimagines the game with impressive authenticity and charm — Retro Dodo
🐉 The original concept for ActRaiser was a traditional JRPG similar to Dragon Quest, before it evolved into its genre-blending final form — Time Extension
📅 Tales of Phantasia, the first game in the long-running Tales series, celebrates its 30th anniversary this month — Inverse
🔊 A longtime Konami fan shares their surprise at discovering a hidden detail in the classic Konami logo screen — Time Extension
💾 The Commodore 64 Ultimate is a powerful modern tribute to the classic system, praised for its design and emulation accuracy — GamesRadar
😓 SEGA’s Yosuke Okunari reflects on the challenging process behind relaunching the SEGA Ages series and working with M2 — Time Extension
📱 A new poll reveals Dolphin Emulator and PPSSPP as Android users’ top choices for game emulation on mobile — Android Authority
🌀 A new video explores how to fix and enhance Knuckles’ Chaotix, one of the most polarizing titles in the Sonicfranchise — Time Extension
🕹️ Fans can now legally build and play ports of GTA III and Vice City on the SEGA Dreamcast thanks to new community tools — Gameranx
🧰 The Taito Evercade Alpha is a compact arcade-style console praised for its design, performance, and faithful emulation — Express
Lists & Rankings
🕹️ Street Fighter creator Takashi Nishiyama left Capcom and released Fatal Fury—one of the 1990s’ most influential fighting games—exactly 34 years ago today. ComicBook.com
1
📖 Final Fantasy VI is highlighted as the greatest SNES game of the 1990s due to its complex characters and emotionally rich storytelling. CBR
🕹️ Five SNES titles, including Super Metroid and Chrono Trigger, are recognized as defining the 1990s era of gaming. ComicBook.com
🧩 Over 20 Mega Drive titles are planned for release in 2026, showcasing Sega’s continued support for retro gaming. Gamereactor
🎮 Five standout GameCube games are praised for pairing solid gameplay with exceptional narrative depth. ComicBook.com
🕳️ A selection of GameCube titles that have faded from mainstream memory are revisited for their unique gameplay and charm. DualShockers
♻️ Neo Geo games with strong replay value, such as Metal Slug and The King of Fighters, are celebrated for their enduring appeal. DualShockers
🚫 A list of five ambitious Super Mario Bros. concepts that were ultimately canceled before release. ComicBook.com
🕰️ Several forgotten video game masterpieces from the 1990s are highlighted for their innovation and legacy. GameRant
