👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0201
Issue 201 coming in hot.
I attended Retro Barcelona this weekend, it was fun! I played some PES 2008 and Street Fighter 4, and even a bit of Tekken 3 (not my favourite fighting game). I picked up a Famicom 3D headset (for €90 - I did not know it even existed) - Nintendo does not have a good VR track record so let’s see.
In this week's newsletter we have stories such as rollback netcode finally arriving for the entire N64 library, major firmware updates for the Analogue 3D and RetroTINK, exciting new homebrews for the Amiga and Commodore platforms, Sega's cancelled Super Game project, and loads more besides.
I do appreciate you all reading, sharing and liking – it genuinely makes a difference, and I'm always grateful for the support. ❤️
News
🔧 Developer Rumbleminze has released a new NES to SNES conversion for R.C. Pro-Am, utilising FastROM/HiROM technology to enhance performance and sprite capabilities. RetroRGB
🕹️ Roc’NRope, a 1983 Konami platformer arcade classic, is coming to the Amiga via developer JOTD. Indie Retro News
🔧 Mike Chi has released RetroTINK 5x firmware v4.0, bringing advanced CRT mask emulation and RT4K processing to the popular video upscaler. RetroShell
🎮 Krikzz has released several firmware updates for the recently-released Everdrive GBA Pro, focusing on stability improvements for the high-end Game Boy Advance ROM cartridge. RetroRGB
🎮 A leaked user manual and renders reveal the AYANEO Pocket Block, an upcoming vertical Android gaming handheld with a smaller footprint and lower price point. Retro Handhelds
🇬🇧 SimTower arrives on the ZX Spectrum via developer haabb001, bringing the classic building simulation to 8-bit British hardware. Indie Retro News
🕹️ Summer Games Done Quick 2026 has released its full schedule, featuring a contentious Super Mario 64 Tool-Assisted Speedrun alongside charity fundraising efforts. RetroShell
🎨 Mana Wave Media has launched pre-order for Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge vinyl soundtrack, featuring artwork by Oku and scheduled for August 2026. RetroRGB
🎮 Anbernic’s RG DS finally receives a new Linux system with proper dual-screen tweaks, exclusive themes, screen swapping, and simplified microSD card management. Retro Handhelds
🇬🇧 Dr.Margo, an unofficial Dr.Mario port, has arrived on the Commodore Plus/4 thanks to developers Csabo and KiCHY. Indie Retro News
🎮 Nintendo has expanded its Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription service with five new Classic titles, including a treat for Virtual Boy fans. Eurogamer
💾 The Sega Saturn emulator Yaba Sanshiro has taken a major step forward with a new rendering technique that overcomes the console’s VDP1 quad-drawing quirk. TimeExtension
💾 A Californian bill aimed at game preservation and backed by the Stop Killing Games campaign has passed a key committee, moving closer to becoming law to keep games playable after server shutdowns. Rock Paper Shotgun
🔧 Independent developer bwldrbst has released Ecliptic, a turn-based tactical combat and role-playing game for the Commodore Amiga, blending classic mechanics with retro-futuristic sci-fi aesthetics. RetroShell
🎨 Piko Interactive has released the Blender Bros. soundtrack on vinyl, composed by Akihiro Juichiya, Takako Ochiai, Masaya Hashimoto, and Ushio Otsuki. RetroRGB
🛒 Evercade has announced thirteen additional titles in its final Activision collection, cementing the company’s commitment to physical retro game releases. RetroDodo
🎮 This week’s Retro Handhelds roundup covers AYANEO Pocket Block leaks, RG DS Linux firmware, KNULLI Scarab, budget flash carts, and significant emulation updates. Retro Handhelds
🇬🇧 Pharaoh’s Legacy, another fantastic strategy game for the Commodore 64, has been released by WindigoProductions. Indie Retro News
🕹️ Sektori, one of last year’s best arcade shooters and a spiritual successor to Geometry Wars, has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2. Eurogamer
🎮 Nintendo has added most of Virtual Boy’s game library to Switch Online through its latest update, making the celebrated handheld’s catalogue increasingly accessible. VGC
🛒 Blaze has confirmed the next two cartridges in the Evercade range: Neo Geo Arcade 4 and a new collection from Activision, featuring Metal Slug 4 and classic titles. TimeExtension
🦔 Sega’s mysterious ‘Super Game’ initiative is dead, though the company’s Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi reboots continue moving forward. Rock Paper Shotgun
🎮 A dedicated community effort has released an English fan translation patch for the Nintendo 3DS role-playing game Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters, making it playable for Western audiences for the first time. RetroShell
🔧 The cpsdigiav arcade HDMI mod is back in stock; this zero-lag kit adds true digital HDMI output to Capcom CPS boards, Neo Geo, and Toaplan systems. RetroRGB
🕹️ Time Crisis returns to PlayStation with gyro aiming support for PlayStation Plus Premium members, bringing the beloved 90s arcade classic to modern consoles. RetroDodo
🎮 Batocera 43 launches with support for AYN Thor, Retroid Pocket 6, and is packed with new features, emulator improvements, and expanded device compatibility. Retro Handhelds
🛒 Fuga: Melodies of Steel Trilogy physical editions have opened pre-orders through Limited Run Games, offering collectors three games in one package. Noisy Pixel
📺 Hamster Corporation plans to release hundreds of games for its Console Archives series on Switch 2, potentially exceeding its vast Arcade Archives collection. Nintendo Life
💾 The entire Nintendo 64 library now has rollback netcode, bringing modern competitive online play to classic multiplayer titles. Kotaku
📺 Mundialito 2, an upcoming Commodore Amiga football simulation by Acneproduction, is shaping up to be another fantastic sports title for the platform. Indie Retro News
🛒 Tumblepop: Memories, a reimagining of the classic Tumblepop arcade game, has been announced for Nintendo Switch. Gematsu
⚔️ Atari has acquired the complete and exclusive rights to the first five games in the original Wizardry RPG series, including related intellectual property. GamesIndustry.biz
🦔 A cancelled Sonic game has been reborn; Sonic X-treme for the Sega Saturn is playable again through community restoration efforts. Fathom Journal
📰 Katsuhiro Harada, the long-time Tekken director, has founded a new studio backed by SNK after departing Bandai Namco. Eurogamer
🔧 A new model of the Xbox Elite Controller has leaked ahead of official announcement, featuring design refinements over previous generations. ComicBook Gaming
Features
📺 Return To Blacktooth: A Head Over Heels Adventure is a joyous and deeply challenging sequel to the 1987 Britsoft classic, delivered almost 40 years after initial conception. TimeExtension
💾 A comprehensive guide to the best PC emulators for 2026, covering all tested options for playing classic games at home, in the office, or on the go. RetroDodo
📺 GoldenEye 007’s designer explains the ‘magic sauce’ behind the satisfying weapon feedback and shooting mechanics that made the N64 classic feel so responsive. TimeExtension
💾 Phil Salvador sits down with Lindsey Kurano, Curator of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum of Play, to explore the intricate world of video game preservation. Video Game History Foundation
🦔 A fan-made prototype controller has been developed which adds force feedback to Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s Spin Dash mechanic, bringing tactile sensation to the classic move. TimeExtension
🦊 A retrospective opinion piece examines mixed feelings about Star Fox 64’s return as a remake rather than a fresh new take on the beloved space-flight shooter. The Guardian Games
📺 After a 20-year wait, Nightdive would complete the SiN Episodes shooter series if its upcoming remaster proves successful, offering hope to long-suffering fans. Rock Paper Shotgun
👻 Thirty years on, we examine the original PlayStation release of Resident Evil, a title that did not merely join a genre but largely defined survival horror for a generation of players. RetroShell
🎮 An Italian gamer has gifted his son a custom Banjo-Kazooie N64 console retrofitted with HDMI output, demonstrating the passion of the retro gaming community. RetroDodo
🎮 Anbernic’s RG Rotate takes a bold departing from traditional handheld design with its rotatable screen and Android-based system, proving to be Anbernic’s most innovative non-handheld device. Retro Handhelds
🎮 A personal retrospective on New Pokémon Snap examines how the game’s camera mechanics evoke cherished memories and connections with family. Nintendo Life
📰 Atari CEO Wade Rosen discusses rebuilding the iconic gaming brand through careful decisions, retro gaming focus, and partnerships with trusted developers. Insider Gaming
💾 A technical exploration of running Windows CE on the Nintendo 64 demonstrates the MIPS CPU’s flexibility and retro hardware’s surprising capabilities. Hackaday
🛒 This guide explores the Activision Collection 1 on Evercade, examining fifteen games and their place in the cartridge platform’s growing library. Fathom Journal
🦊 Star Fox’s original creator says the characters’ design in the newly-announced Switch 2 version is exactly what he had envisioned in the 1990s. Eurogamer
🦊 A retrospective opinion examines excitement for the Star Fox 64 remake alongside concerns about Nintendo’s choice to recreate rather than reimagine. ComicBook Gaming
Lists & Rankings
🏅 A curated list of five N64 shooters that remain engaging and playable by modern standards, celebrating the console’s underrated FPS library. ComicBook Gaming
🏅 A comprehensive ranking of the fifty best Game Boy Advance games of all time, celebrating the handheld’s outstanding library. Nintendo Life
🏅 Six SNES platformers are highlighted for standing the test of time and remaining competitive with modern titles in the genre. ComicBook Gaming
🏅 Every Nintendo Switch Online Virtual Boy game is ranked, providing a definitive guide to the system’s growing library on the subscription service. Nintendo Life
🏅 Five of the hardest Sega Genesis levels are highlighted, celebrating the console’s reputation for challenging platformers and punishing difficulty. ComicBook Gaming
