👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0198
Welcome to your 198th issue of the Retro Gaming News roundup. I am doing some tinkering to make the newsletter even better, but it might be a couple of weeks before its fully complete, so thanks for bearing with me and if you have any suggestions on how to improve it you can leave a comment below.
In this week's newsletter we have stories such as a secret 36-year-old Head Over Heels sequel finally emerging, Sega's ambitious Universe initiative celebrating their classic franchises beyond games, the legendary Ecco the Dolphin returning with remasters and a brand-new entry, and loads more retro goodness besides.
As always, I genuinely appreciate you all reading, sharing and liking – it truly makes a difference with the algorithms and keeps this newsletter going strong.
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News
🏆 SNK and Plaion’s Neo Geo+ has received such overwhelming demand that they’re increasing production forecasts following its initial announcement. TimeExtension
🎮 Colin Porch, the original Atari ST converter, reveals Return to Blacktooth, a sequel to Head Over Heels developed in secret for 36 years, launching next month. RetroShell
🔧 Commodore International has backpedalled on its FPGA lockdown plans for the C64 Ultimate, permitting custom firmware whilst protecting bricked units. TimeExtension
🎮 Yacht Club Games’ highly anticipated action-adventure Mina the Hollower has officially gone gold, bringing its Game Boy Color-inspired aesthetic closer to players. RetroShell
🔧 Frédérick Raynal, creator of Alone in the Dark, cancels his Kickstarter for a new Sega Genesis/Mega Drive PopCorn remake, promising much more. TimeExtension
🔧 Macho Nacho Productions has opened a web store where enthusiasts can purchase files to create their own Xbox prototype recreation, including both full-sized and compact versions. RetroRGB
🕹️ City Connection is releasing a new version of the 1999 Game Boy Color title R-Type DX for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam later this year. TimeExtension
🎬 SNK has contracted Mega64 to recreate classic Fatal Fury commercials from the 1990s after the original footage was reportedly lost. RetroShell
🔧 MiSTer FPGA has integrated RetroAchievements into numerous cores including NES, SNES, N64, and Neo Geo, with new Darius 2 and Ninja Warriors cores available. RetroRGB
⚔️ A near-arcade-accurate port of Double Dragon is in development for the Amiga AGA, with a demo update showcasing faithful gameplay. Indie Retro News
🦔 A legendary Sega Genesis franchise is returning with its first brand-new entry in 26 years, alongside remasters uniting three eras of gaming. VICE
🛒 Evercade is releasing more Neo Geo collections in 2027, offering some of the cheapest per-game pricing for playing classic SNK titles. TimeExtension
🇯🇵 Sega launches the Sega Universe initiative, designed to revitalise classic franchises beyond just games, with film, music, and fashion projects. The Gamer
⌚ Chris Hackmann has created the Time Frog Color, a fully functional Game Boy Color that runs actual cartridges and fits on your wrist. TechEBlog
🐚 Ecco the Dolphin: Complete is officially announced, uniting remasters of both Genesis titles with their 8-bit variants and an entirely brand-new game. Rock Paper Shotgun
⚔️ FuRyu is bringing the Japan-only Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita RPG Exstetra to Steam this summer, making a previously delisted title accessible again. RetroShell
🔧 A Sega Saturn fighter based on the anime and manga series Ninku has received a fan translation, making the game accessible to English-speaking players. RetroRGB
🦔 Sonic R has been successfully ported to the Sega Dreamcast by fan developer Jnmartin, bringing the racing game to Sega’s final console. RetroDodo
🔧 A leaked early review reveals pricing and functions for the upcoming Steam Controller, coming in at £79 (USD $99). Retro Handhelds
🕹️ A faithful recreation of the arcade classic Moon Cresta is coming to the Amiga, developed by Johnny Acevedo. Indie Retro News
💾 Atari has acquired emulation studio Implicit Conversions for an undisclosed amount, strengthening its expertise in retro PS1, PS2, and PS3 emulation. GamesIndustry.biz
📺 Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly receiving a remake of a beloved PS3 and Xbox 360 title from 2013, bringing it to its second Nintendo platform. ComicBook Gaming
📰 Sega and Creative Assembly have dropped a teaser for Alien: Isolation 2, marking the long-awaited sequel to the survival-horror classic. 9to5Toys
Features
⌚ A comprehensive setup guide for the AYANEO Pocket Air Mini, covering emulator installation, frontends, and optimisation tips. Retro Handhelds
💾 Recent EU hearings on game preservation highlight the critical concern over digitally delisted FPS titles and their impact on gaming history. RetroShell
🔧 A step-by-step guide for installing GammaOS Next on the Anbernic RG Vita Pro for optimised emulation performance. Retro Handhelds
⚔️ FromSoftware should consider reviving its weirdest series, Lost Kingdoms, nearly 25 years after its GameCube debut, given the studio’s proven success with niche IPs. ComicBook Gaming
Lists & Rankings
🇯🇵 A ranking of five remarkable Japanese gaming titles that never received an official North American release. ComicBook Gaming
🧱 A ranking of the six weirdest and most eclectic games ever released for the Nintendo GameCube. ComicBook Gaming
🕹️ A comprehensive list of the ten worst games released on the Nintendo 64 console. ComicBook Gaming
