What a busy week - we started with a teaser of Retroid’s next handheld on Monday, and by Friday it was already available for pre-order.

🎥 Now Playing

Some Thoughts On The Retroid Pocket Nova

We finally have the full details on Retroid's upcoming compact 4:3 handheld, and here is a roundup of all my thoughts surrounding it. Pre-orders went live the other day, and I picked up an 8GB Crystal color model for myself. Orders are expected to ship in late July, and I should have a review unit before retail units start shipping. Here are the store links if you’re interested: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

Even though I mentioned in the video that the device isn’t as well-suited for PC gaming as its wider Retroid Pocket 6 brother, it’s worth checking out this list of 4:3-compatible Steam games. The Nova’s chipset will make it a pretty capable little Steam-Deck-on-the-go. Some highlights: Skyrim, Risk of Rain 2, Counter-Strike 2, Valheim, Hades, Hyper Light Drifter, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters and many more.

Note: this week I considered sending a reminder email to everyone about the RP Nova launch, to give you all the pertinent device info and release timing before pre-orders went live. Is that something you'd like to see? (I'm very cautious about flooding your inboxes, since I personally hate that stuff).

You can answer the survey below to give me a better idea of what you prefer, thanks for the feedback!

Would you like to see handheld launch reminder emails?

• Yes please
• No thanks

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+: Ugly, Expensive, Awesome

The new MSI Claw packs a huge punch thanks to its new Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, making it one of the most powerful (and comfortable) handhelds available. But unfortunately, its $1,799 price tag packs and even bigger punch. Still, this guy has dethroned the Legion Go S as my primary handheld PC, just because I can play anything on this without breaking a sweat.

Anbernic RG DS: More Linux Updates!

The Anbernic RG DS continues its ascent into one of the nicer sub-$100 handheld releases of 2026, thanks to continued firmware updates from Anbernic and the community. Let's take a look at some recent Linux firmware improvements, including better dual-screen functionality.

Other Russ Sightings:

• Expedition: Handheld - This week Adam and I took some extra time to dive deep into the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, the Retroid Pocket Nova, and Metal Gear Acid.

• NerdNest - the full crew showed up, including Jimmy, making it a packed five-person show. We ranted and raved about the Steam Machine’s painful pricing, Xbox console price hikes, and the games we’ve been playing.

📰 Power-Up(dates)

• Valve has finally revealed Steam Machine pricing, with configurations starting at $1,049 for the 512GB model and topping out at $1,428 for the 2TB bundle with Steam Controller. These numbers align with expectations given ongoing memory and storage shortages, but sting nonetheless. Valve also opened a waitlist with a twist: rather than first-come, first-served, anyone who signed up before June 25th was entered into a randomized pool. I got an email saying that I did make the reservation list, so hopefully I’ll be able to purchase one soon. Separately, Valve announced that SteamOS 3.8 will support installation on custom-built PCs, making it easier than ever to roll your own setup.

• Epilogue has announced the 64 Operator, a new cartridge management device for the N64 timed to the console's 30th anniversary. Following the GB Operator and SN Operator, the 64 Operator lets users dump, manage, and back up N64 cart save files on a Mac or PC, authenticate carts as real or fake, and play physical games via emulator with RetroAchievements support - no original hardware required. A teaser video shows Donkey Kong 64 running on a computer via a physical cartridge. No pricing has been announced, but Epilogue has confirmed the device is slated for release sometime in 2026.

• Following weeks of teasers, AYANEO held a launch livestream for the Pocket Micro 2 and surprised many by making it available for purchase the same day through its online storefront. The device is essentially a refined spec bump over the original, keeping the same 3.5-inch 3:2 LCD display but swapping the Helio G99 for a Snapdragon chip, upgrading the battery from 2,600mAh to 3,950mAh, and adding low-profile TMR joysticks, enlarged buttons, and a full-featured USB-C port. Pricing started at $239 for the 6GB/128GB model and $279 for the 8GB/256GB variant, with color options including Frosty White, Midnight Black, and a Starlight Purple GameCube-inspired color. The catch: AYANEO only produced 100 international units for the initial batch, and the entire stock sold out almost immediately. Apparently there were 1,000+ units made available for their domestic market, despite promises earlier this year to better standardize Chinese and Overseas markets. Based on discord chatter with AYANEO employees (it’s already a sad state when we have to rely on these chats for any official statement), there are no plans to manufacturer or sell additional units.

• TrimUI has officially confirmed the Brick Pro and the Brick Hammer Pro U. The Brick Pro is an upgraded TrimUI Brick with dual joysticks and a larger 3.95” IPS display, retaining the Allwinner A133 Plus chip and Linux. Pre-orders are live at multiple retailers with shipping expected June 30. The Brick Hammer Pro U is the more notable device, packing a Snapdragon G2 Gen 1, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a CNC-machined aluminum body, and Android (a first for TrimUI). It has hit a snag, though: retailers quietly raised prices above the originally expected $150 range, prompting emails to early pre-order customers asking to cover the difference, swap for the standard Brick Pro, or be issued a full refund. The Hammer Pro U is slated to ship July 30, with an estimated price tag of $250.

• Socket is an upcoming Android emulator front-end built by developer Depmots, using the Godot engine. Rather than displaying box art or screenshots, it renders your ROM library as 3D cartridges, discs, and UMDs, each with platform-specific insert animations and sounds, aimed at replicating the feel of digging through a physical game collection. At launch, supported platforms will include N64, NDS, Switch, GBA, PSP, and PS1, with more planned over time. No release date has been set, but the dev has indicated an alpha or beta build is about a month out, with Ko-Fi supporters getting early access.

• My friends over at PortMaster have been killing it lately, with some big game drops: Mina the Hollower, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Slay the Spire, and an updated port of Stardew Valley are now running just fine on low-powered Linux handhelds. Check out my PortMaster guide in case you want to learn more about this incredibly valuable community tool.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro Game: Ridge Racer (PSP)

While I never owned this game on the PSP in its heyday, it was one of the first PSP games I started testing for emulation performance back in 2020, because any slight dip in frame rate is easy to spot. And after all that testing, it became one of my favorite quick-play racing games. It’s a standard sporty arcade track racer, about what you would expect from this series, with some highly improbable drift and nitro boost mechanics (but that’s half the fun). The core game itself is more like a series compilation, featuring tracks from previous entries.

In 2006, a sequel (aptly named Ridge Racer 2) was released on the PSP in the Japanese, European, and Australian markets, but it never made it to North American shores. The sequel features additional courses but not much more, so I tend to stick with the original. And honestly, I usually just play the first track anyway, and try to get the smoothest and fastest run possible; there’s comfort in that sort of repetition, like revisiting an old favorite movie or song. My favorite way to play this game is on my Retroid Pocket 5/6 or Odin 3, but it’s also still quite stunning at its native resolution on an original PSP (or PS Vita using the Adrenaline app).

Modern Game: Pragmata (again)

I’m back on Pragmata, playing it on my living room PC and motivated to finish it. One thing I’ve learned: it’s hard to pick this game up after a month or two away, especially near the end of the game where you have so many weapons (and button combinations) to leverage. It took me a few embarrassingly avoidable deaths to get the hang of it again, and now I’m in the thick of it. Sadly it’s not on sale during this recent Steam Summer Sale, but I still think the game was worth the $60 I paid for it at full price.

Music: Phosphorescent Blues by Punch Brothers

Instead of discussing a favorite rock (or rock-adjacent) album this week, let’s talk about Punch Brothers. They started as a more traditional bluegrass band, over the years they have added chamber pop and rock sensibilities to their records to give them a unique, insanely listenable quality. Phosphorescent Blues, their fourth album, came out in 2015 and I think it’s where they shine the brightest. This album has been described as “prog-grass” and I can’t come to hate that moniker. Their songs are generally mandoline-and-banjo-led, but with full instrumentation and traditional verse/chorus structures, so while the songs may sound a bit different than my typical favorites, it’s easy to find the connection lying underneath. The band itself has gained notoriety since this record; their follow-on album, 2018’s All Aboard, received the Grammy that year for Best Folk Album.

Fun fact: the album art for Phosphorescent Blues is taken from Rene Magritte’s painting The Lovers (1928), and it’s a stunning piece of art that is displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in NYC.

💰 Bargain Bin

• Prime Day might be over, but the convenience of Amazon Prime is forever. Lately, more Anbernic handhelds have been ending up on the mega-storefront, at prices only slightly higher than AliExpress. For some, the allure of fast shipping and easy returns make these deals especially attractive:

  • Anbernic RG28XX, $47: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Vita, $118: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Slide, $174: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Anbernic RG476H, $190: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

• 8BitDo didn’t get the memo about Prime Day ending, as a bunch of their controllers are still discounted. Check out a few of the best deals below:

  • 8BitDo Ultimate 2C, $24 (normally $30)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • 8BitDo Ultimate C Wired, $27 (normally $35)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless, $50 (normally $60)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, $54 (normally $70)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

• The Steam Summer Sale 2026 is live now through July 9, with thousands of games discounted across all genres. Here are some of the standout deals worth grabbing:

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — $4 (90% off)

  • Dead Space Remake — $6 (90% off)

  • Red Dead Redemption 2 — $15 (75% off)

  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade — $14 (65% off)

  • Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition — $33 (60% off)

  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 — $24 (60% off)

  • Doom: The Dark Ages - $23 (67% off)

  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — $14 (80% off)

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong — $15 (25% off)

  • Mewgenics — $23 (25% off)

  • Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era — $30 (25% off)

  • Two Point Museum — $20 (33% off)

  • Resident Evil Requiem — $56 (20% off)

• Best Buy is having a sale on Switch games, with even a few Switch 2 games getting a price break. Some of these deals end later today, so check out the list below:

  • BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster - $20 (50% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2 Edition) - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Luigi’s Mansion 3 - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Pikmin 4 - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Street Fighter 6 - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Super Mario Odyssey - $40 (33% off)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

AYANEO Pocket Micro Review: STUNNING

If you’re already feeling the FOMO of missing out on the uber-limited AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 launch…well, this video isn’t going to make you feel much better. The original is a wonderful piece of kit that I spoke quite highly of in my original review.

🎬 Behind The Scenes

I took a day off this week to re-do the lighting in my studio room. Previously, I was using a combination of light panels and crazy overhead contraptions to minimize reflections in my handheld screens. This new setup is much more simple, less reflective, and will provide more natural lighting. I am still making slight tweaks with each video, so you’ll see small improvements in the weeks to come. The best part: I was able to configure this new setup using only my existing photography equipment, so it feels like a bit of a free upgrade.

Stay cool out there,
Russ