This is my first week in a while where I was able to knock out three videos, and two of them were about an hour long! When sitting down to record the videos, my plan was keep them under 30 minutes each - that definitely didn’t happen.

🎥 Now Playing

These are my Favorite Retroid Pocket Nova Shaders

After making a MASSIVE Steam guide and showcase video earlier this week (more info below), I wanted to make a shorter, casual guide video talking about how I set up some more advanced shaders on the Retroid Pocket Nova. Joke’s on me: this video ended up being 10 minutes LONGER than that Steam video! Regardless, here is a fun one-hour deep dive into some shader configurations in RetroArch.

Anbernic RG55G1 Review: No Man's Land

Last week I shared my initial impressions of this “Switch Like” handheld, and this week we have the final review. The Anbernic RG55G1 sits in a strange position: it has a good design and no major faults, but it also doesn't do anything exceptionally well -- even compared to handhelds within their own catalog. If the price drops during inevitable future sales, it might be a PSP/Vita champ; but for now, I think it’s best to wait until the price matches its value.

Yes, Android Handhelds Can Be "Steam Decks"

We've got a lot of powerful ARM-based Android handhelds out today, and new operating systems like Armada allow you to have a SteamOS experience on them. In this video I'll show you how to install ARM Linux on a handheld and demonstrate what kind of performance you can expect.

📰 Power-Up(dates)

• Qualcomm announced a partnership with ARC, an Indian gaming technology company, to develop the ARC X1, a new Snapdragon-powered handheld targeting emerging markets. Rather than shipping with standard Android, the device will run OwlOS, a custom firmware built around portable gaming that ARC claims is "not Android placed inside a gaming device", but a purpose-built platform promising faster, simpler performance. Official specs remain sparse, though demonstration footage shows Hades II running at 60 fps. A waitlist is live, though ARC hasn't committed to timelines or rollout details.

• Anbernic announced the RG DS Plus, a refinement of their DS-inspired handheld featuring dual 4.3-inch displays at 1024x768 resolution (a 4x integer scale of the original DS's 256x192 resolution). It also has a redesigned hinge, more rounded corners, and a built-in stylus. It uses the same low-powered CPU as the original RG DS, meaning that it will mostly cap out at 2x upscale for NDS titles (but likely still look great integer scaled). It's got a fair amount of downgrades to contrast its upgrades: a single analog stick, only 1GB of RAM, and no internal storage -- this means it'll likely be a Linux-only handheld. These cost-cutting measures appear to be so that they can keep the price low, and I've been told it will launch under $100. Expect a first impressions video in the next week or so, this one is rolling out quickly.

  Based on what I’ve seen on Reddit and social media, people are pretty pissed about the RG DS Plus’s reduced features and weak chipset; this might be one of Anbernic’s rockiest launches, just based on public opinion so far. I’ve seen a few references to this being an RG DS Minus instead of a Plus (the “Plus”, btw, references the larger screen size - my guess is they couldn’t use “XL” for fear of flying too close to Nintendo’s sun). For my part, if it can nail a pretty faithful NDS experience for under $100, it does have a unique market position.

• Accessory maker JSAUX is pivoting into controllers and controller accessories with VOIDJOY, a new sub-brand that moves beyond their established cases and docking station lineup. The flagship product is the Skylark S1 Pro, a $49.99 portable controller inspired by the 8BitDo Lite's compact form factor. The second offering is the Elite Extender, a $39.99 rear attachment for the original Switch Pro Controller that adds an 1800mAh battery, two detachable extended trigger buttons, rear P1/P2 buttons, and macro support via KeyLinker. Both arrive as intriguing first steps into controller territory, though their execution remains unproven.

• Other controller news: Razer is returning to portable essentials with the Prio, a radically compact controller that collapses to roughly credit card dimensions (107x67x23mm) and weighs just 101 grams, a departure from their feature-laden (and bulky) Kishi line. The controller is powered exclusively via USB-C, eliminating the need for batteries, while supporting smartphones up to 7”. According to the press release, the Prio will cost $100; it certainly carries the “small tax”, but it looks pretty dang cool.

• FunnyPlaying has unveiled an ultra-compact Game Boy clone via RetroDodo, featuring authentic cartridge compatibility for original Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles alongside SD card emulation support. The diminutive device sports a D-pad roughly matching the original DMG-01's proportions, though its exact form factor and final specifications remain under wraps. The company has tentatively dubbed it the Retro Pixel MiniGB based on visible branding, with pricing expected to fall in line with their Retro Pixel Pocket. No launch window has been confirmed, though the early teaser suggests active development with an imminent reveal.

• Unico has unveiled the TRAVELLER•ULW10, a compact 4:3 LCD display pitched at retro gaming enthusiasts seeking a modern alternative to aging CRT sets. The 10” monitor pairs legacy connectivity like RGB and VGA, with HDMI for contemporary systems, a rear console storage compartment, and lightweight portability. The company tempers expectations by stating the ULW10 isn't aiming to match traditional monitors but rather offer "an experience conventional monitors don't". A Kickstarter launch is coming soon, though early consumer reception has been mixed given the inherent limitations of LCD rendering versus CRT; purists remain (rightly) skeptical that a downscaled flat-panel can authentically replicate the visual aesthetics and responsiveness of vintage phosphor glass.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro Game: Crash Team Racing

We all love those Mario Kart games, but for me, Crash Team Racing is a close second (yes, even ahead of Diddy Kong Racing). First released on the PlayStation in 1999, this is the fourth and final Crash Bandicoot game developed by Naughty Dog; after this release, the developer spent their next couple years creating Jak and Daxter for the PS2. CTR is a fairly simple and straightforward kart racer: three laps, pickups galore, and you can smash crates of Wumpa Fruit to increase your overall speed (hint: if you have 10 Wumpa Fruits, your power-ups will become more powerful).

In addition to a single-player campaign, Crash Team Racing also has a time trial and some split-screen multiplayer fun, but I generally just play the Arcade mode for quick pick-up-and-play racing. It was succeeded by Crash Nitro Kart on Gen Six systems in 2003, and then remastered in CTR Nitro-Fueled in 2019 on Switch, PS4, and Xbone. Personally, I still like the original best - it’s simple, beautiful, and very polished.

Modern Game: 007 First Light

I told myself I wouldn’t buy 007: First Light until after I had finished Pragmata, but then it went on sale this week ($56 instead of its $70 retail price) so I picked it up on Steam. So far I’ve played through the first 90 minutes and it’s RIGHT up my alley; the game is a pure third-person, single-player cinematic adventure, a cross between Uncharted games and the stealth focus of Hitman titles. And that makes sense because this game was developed by Hitman creators IO Interactive. The game has some light sandbox elements to it too, allowing you multiple paths during stealthy moments. It also runs well on my Steam Machine, I’m playing it at 1400p with med/low settings and FSR Quality preset. The game looks gorgeous and keeps pretty steady at 60fps with some very light dips here and there. After those first 90 minutes I really wanted to keep going, but I forced myself to put down the controller and promised to finish Pragmata first before diving back in. We’ll see if I do indeed have MI6 levels of discipline in next week’s newsletter.

Album: Live 4/30/96 - Jawbreaker

I saw some comments in a video this week about my Jawbreaker shirt, so I thought, hey, let’s talk about them. I totally missed the Jawbreaker boat during the 1990s, and in hindsight, I can’t believe it: these guys were Bay Area (via NYC) punks (a big focal point for me in the 1990s), they once toured with Nirvana, and they released their final studio album Dear You on big-time label DCG Records (to the disappointment of their fan base), which was the home of acts like Nirvana, Weezer, and Beck. Regardless, they never flew onto my radar until 1998, when singer Blake Schwarzenbach’s next band, Jets to Brazil, released their (masterpiece) debut album Orange Rhyming Dictionary. I immediately fell in love with JTB, and slowly worked my way back through the Jawbreaker catalog while on a quest to hear more.

So my Jawbreaker experience is definitely different from those who enjoyed them in the moment. For starters, I kinda hate the production of most of their studio albums; they are abrasive, muddy, and relentlessly raw in a way that is sort of grating to my ears. The songs themselves are excellent: punchy earworms with biting, frustrated lyrics with a personal flair, so it’s a shame that the production can often give me a (literal) headache. 24-Hour Revenge Therapy (1994) is probably their strongest output, but its vocal performances don’t seem to accurately honor the rest of the band’s efforts. I actually find 1995’s uber-polished Dear You to be their most listenable studio album today.

Due to my time-travel-induced listening experience, their 1999 live release, aptly named Live 4/30/96, is actually my favorite Jawbreaker album. It plays like a greatest hits record, and the production is often better than some of those early studio recordings. The live record also featured one of my favorite tracks, the unreleased “Gemini”, which to me sounds like a preview of the heights that Jets to Brazil would reach just a couple years later. So while I generally don’t listen to a lot of live recordings, I find Live 4/30/96 to be the best introduction to this band, and my recommended starting point.

Also, fun random fact: after Jawbreaker first broke up in the late 1990s, Blake Schwarzenbach briefly wrote freelance video game reviews for Gamespot, and he penned their review of Soul Blade (Soul Edge) on the PS1.

Here is the archived review, although today it’s credited to “Gamespot Staff”.

💰 Bargain Bin

• AliExpress is running a Labor Day Sale through September 7th. Below are the discount codes and some deals I found. 2026 prices in general are higher than last year, so no major life-changing sales; but some of these are solid discounts after factoring in the coupon codes.

  Please note these codes are US only; to find codes for your region, you should be able to go to your AliExpress home page and they will be listed in a banner.

  RGC2 or USAFF2 = $2 off $15+
  RGC4 or USAFF4 = $4 off $30+
  RGC9 or USAFF9 = $9 off $69+
  RGC15 or USAFF15 = $15 off $120+
  RGC23 or USAFF23 = $23 off $169+
  RGC25 or USAFF35 = $35 off $259+
  RGC55 or USAFF55 = $55 off $449+

  The "RGC" codes are limited, so if those run out the others should work fine.

  • Anbernic RG40XXV ($49 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG35XXH ($51 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Miyoo Mini Plus ($53 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Cube XX ($55 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Miyoo Mini Flip ($56 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • TrimUI Brick ($57 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Miniloong Pocket 1 ($67 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG SP ($67 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Rotate ($91/$103 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG DS ($95 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Mangmi Air X ($105 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Slide ($110 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG476H ($147 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Retroid Pocket 5 ($205 after coupon)
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • AYN Thor Base ($320 + shipping after coupon) This one charges shipping but it's still cheaper than the Base model on AYN's site.
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Best Buy is also having a Labor Day sale. Some discounts:

  • Lenovo Legion Go S (Z1E 32GB/1TB) for $999 (usually $1,578). Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Mario Tennis Fever (Switch 2) for $57 (usually $70). Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2) for $56 (usually $70). Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 (Switch) for $60 (usually $70). Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • I randomly picked up a juicer for 50% off ($60, usually $120) because the oranges and tangerines in our yard are starting to ripen. Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• This two-pack of Anker USB 50W charging bricks is only $25 on Amazon right now. The max output of the main USB-C port is 30W, which is great for Android handhelds but not enough to fast charge most handheld PCs. Decent little travel chargers, since they each have four USB ports (2x USB-C, 2x USB-A). Affiliate / Non-affiliate

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

SteamOS on Handheld PCs! Bazzite Setup Guide

Installing SteamOS on handhelds it was never meant for goes back a while, and Bazzite was one of the first options. This OS is still going strong, and while this guide is already a couple years old, it still holds up pretty well. Note to self: I really need to make an updated Bazzite guide at some point!

🎬 Behind The Scenes

After lots of testing for the budget Monk GTR / Retro earphones I showcased last month, Venture Electronics CEO Lee is back at it working on their upcoming Pro and Mid-range GT options. He keeps sending me boxes full of potential candidates, probably some of my favorite random deliveries lately. Most evenings I sit down and listen to some music (or retro games) to get an idea of my favorites, and then provide feedback.

Pictured: (left) their fancy $150 Asura GTX liquid metal earbuds which sound great but are a little too rich for my blood, and (right) the current frontrunner for a potential “Pro” option which should have a nice goldilocks balance of hi-fi punch and value.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend,
Russ