This past week was an exciting time for handhelds: we are seeing direct competition between Anbernic and Retroid launches for the first time in YEARS. Last time I saw such a direct brawl like this was the Anbernic RG405M vs Retroid Pocket 3+ in 2023.

🎥 Now Playing

Anbernic RG DS Plus Impressions: Better than Expected

To start off the week, Anbernic rolled out their upcoming RG DS Plus. It’s an XL version of its predecessor, with bigger and better screens, better controls, nicer plastics, improved audio, and a built-in stylus holder. But they also kept the same CPU and trimmed some components to allow it to be cheaper than the original RG DS. Here is my early look at the device, which officially launches next week for a surprisingly reasonable $85 plus shipping.

Some Thoughts on the Retroid Pocket Duo

Not to be outdone, this week Retroid announced their next two handhelds, the Pocket Duo and Pocket Duo Lite. This video is a roundup of all the information we know so far (with pre-order links further down this newsletter). It’s certainly pricier than Anbernic’s handheld (the cheaper Duo Lite is about 50% more expensive than the RG DS Plus), but that sort of performance headroom might be exactly what people prefer.

OneXPlayer X2 Mini Pro Review: Too Much Handheld

Amidst the dual-screen chaos of this week, I also finished my in-depth review of the OneXPlayer X2 Mini Pro. This guy probably has the best spec sheet I’ve ever seen for a handheld PC, but its execution left me wondering why anyone should pay $2,500+ for this experience. For example: it’s so heavy that I don’t enjoy using it as a handheld, which sorta defeats the purpose of a HANDHELD.

Other Russ Sightings:

Expedition: Handheld - In Entry #29, Adam and I discussed the Retroid Pocket Duo/Lite announcement, my thoughts so far on the Anbernic RG DS Plus, and the furthest depths of Game Boy hardware history.

Retro Handhelds - I joined the RH Thursday “After Dark” stream to chat more about the Anbernic RG DS Plus, it was fun (and a little chaotic, as always!).

Nerd Nest - We wrapped up filming the latest Nerd Nest episode on Friday, and while it’s not live as of writing this newsletter, it should be up later today. The OG crew assembled to talk about the Ocarina of Time remake, PlayStation’s latest missteps (I still want to try Wolverine), and my experience finally beating Pragmata.

📰 Power-Up(dates)

• RPCS3's latest update enables direct disc playback across Windows, Linux, and Mac! Users with original Blu-ray discs no longer need to extract data to folders or ISOs before booting. The feature requires a compatible Blu-ray drive and the latest RPCS3 build. Load times are slower than fully extracted copies, but not having to extract the disc is super convenient. The update also works on PS4 and PS5 consoles running Linux. Roughly 77% of the 3,500+ tested PS3 games are listed as playable with no game-breaking issues.

• spruceOS shipped arguably its biggest update yet, marking Anbernic's H700 lineup (including the RG SP) as stable while rolling out support for the PowKiddy RGB30 and Miniloong Pocket 1. The marquee addition is DSperate, a ground-up NDS emulator that's not a DraStic fork or reskin, with per-device configs, auto-resume, integer scaling, video effects, (softcore) RetroAchievements, and the ability to boot straight into NDS firmware. Spruce’s quality-of-life improvements span every platform: incremental OTA updates, a revamped installer app, CPU frame-limiting on Miyoo Mini that roughly tripled GBA speed, and tweaks to Dreamcast, Saturn, and DOSBox cores across the board. Grab this latest release on their GitHub.

• MagicX unveiled the Pocket Dream, a vertical handheld concept that mirrors the Mini Dream's 3.3-inch custom OLED display and core hardware lineup. Dimensions are 107 x 72 x 22mm, with the same four SoC variants (Linux and Android configurations) as the Mini Dream. The device opts for a joystick-first dual-joystick control layout. Magicx noted that design could change based on community feedback, and has cautioned that the device may not reach production (we’ve heard that story from them before). Separately, the Mini Dream officially entered its second phase of development, with at least one configuration confirmed to use the Rockchip RK3566. MagicX has a track record of announcing handhelds that don't materialize, so details remain preliminary.

• Developer Hinges (Scarf of Embers on Steam) has announced Saturn Workshop, a user-friendly 3D game development tool built around Jo Engine with an ambitious feature set. Hinges has been releasing daily updates on SegaSaturnShiro demonstrating level editing, texture painting, animated textures, VDP2 effects, custom OBJ brush support, trim-map generation, visual effects presets, and emulator testing in real time, and outputs have even been verified running in the Yabause emulator.

• GAMEMT's MTX handheld is in the wild courtesy of early sample units on YouTube. The device pairs a 720x720 square IPS display with an AllWinner T509 CPU, GBA cartridge slot, and emulation for systems up to PSX. The unusual square aspect ratio creates borders on most classic games which is a curious tradeoff for a device focused on GBA cartridge play (thankfully, GBA will be a 3x integer scale). Expect this one to hit AliExpress and other retailers this month.

• Finally, developer wuzuprad has built a specialized Android companion app called X-Wing Cockpit that transforms the Thor's dual-screen layout into an authentic X-Wing series cockpit for classic LucasArts space sims. It runs a full-featured control panel on the bottom screen while the game occupies the top. Using Shizuku's key injection pipeline, tapping buttons on the panel will trigger in-game commands like shields, weapons, throttle, wingman orders, docking, and energy transfers. This app makes deep systems management accessible without buried keyboard shortcuts that are nearly impossible to reach on a handheld. The app supports all four classic games (X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance) with more features and supported games planned.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro Game: Zoo Keeper (NDS)

One of my favorite Nintendo DS games is Zoo Keeper, a match-three puzzle game where you combine the same animal type to clear them from the screen. It’s a simple premise: you have a quota of each animal to clear per level, and once you get them all, you advance to a new level. As you progress, the timer speeds up, so failing is inevitable. It came out in 2005 and my wife and I were addicted to it, trading off high scores (but she usually won). I booted it up on the RG DS Plus for a bit of testing, and before I knew it, 30 minutes had flown by - it was honestly the best time I had with this game via emulation ever, which says a lot about how effortlessly authentic the RG DS Plus can feel when everything hits just right.

Modern Game: Metroid Dread (Switch)

I played a lot of modern titles this week: I beat Pragmata (it was great), and I knocked out a few more hours in Breath of the Wild (emulated Wii U version) on my Steam Machine. But I think I was most dazzled by the announcement of Metroid Ravenous, a sequel to 2021’s Metroid Dread (and developed by MercurySteam, same development studio as Dread). Honestly, Ravenous looks to be exactly my cup of tea: it seems to focus more on story, combat, and exploration than the impending doom that players felt when being chased by those heckin’ scary robots in Metroid Dread.

I never got far in Dread because I would get freaked out every time one of those robots started chasing me, but now with Ravenous releasing next year, I have a renewed sense of dedication to play through it before the next one releases. So yesterday I loaded it onto my Odin 3 (played like a dream in Eden, by the way), and sure enough, as soon as that first robot chased me down, unceremoniously shooting a spike through my face, I had to take a breather. So this is certainly a story I’ll have to resume another day.

Book: Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky

About a month ago I wrote about how I finished reading Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time, a fine and inventive little deep-space sci-fi adventure. It took me a full month (and change) to finish its denser and more complicated award-winning sequel. The books’ central theme has to do with conceptualizing evolutionary “uplift” via nano-virus, giving unexpected Earth species sentience and intellect on par with humankind (I’m trying very hard to avoid spoilers, since I think that is half the fun of this series).

What I loved about the first book was its narrative focus on a few main characters across large swaths of time; this second book expands that concept into a larger ensemble, with additional uplifted species and even some extra-terrestrial influence. Honestly, it all felt a bit bloated to me, and I kept getting lost in all of the different plot trails; the hypothetical insights into hyper-evolved animal species also didn’t quite stick in the same way the first book did. Not wanting to lose momentum, I jumped into the third book, Children of Memory, this week - it introduces even more species and splintered storylines, and I think it might be too much for me to properly enjoy. I usually read at night just before bed, and the sheer breadth of these books inspire me to take copious continuity notes rather than relax and prepare for sleep. So I would say this series is definitely worthwhile, but these books are more of the sort I’d like to read while on a long flight with nothing better to do than to dive deep into a complex but rewarding far-future universe.

💰 Bargain Bin

• The Retroid Pocket Duo and Duo Lite are up for pre-order. Long story short: I expect the Duo Lite to be great for NDS and other emulated systems up through PSP, and the Duo should handle NDS and 3DS plus other systems up through GC/PS2.

  • Retroid Pocket Duo Lite ($135/155 plus shipping): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

    • Use code "DUOLITE" for $14 off during pre-order phase, shipping starts Sept 17th.

  • Retroid Pocket Duo ($249 plus shipping): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

    • Use code "DUO" for $20 off during pre-order phase, shipping starts mid-October.

  • They are also offering accessories like screen protectors ($6), carrying cases ($10), 35W charger ($12), and grips with built-in stylus ($15): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Just a few days later, the Anbernic RG DS Plus hits the market, too. This budget dual-screen handheld goes live September 15 at 6:00 AM ET with an early-bird pre-order price of $84.99, jumping to $94.99 retail after the launch period. I’ll update the web version of this newsletter with links once they are available, and I’m hoping to have a review video ready on launch day, too.

• Amazon has pre-orders for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake at $60, a savings of $10 off MSRP. Leave it to Nintendo to have the confidence to release a remake of a decades-old game up against GTA VI, but the hype level for this one is off the charts, and a return to Vice City probably won’t make a dent in Nintendo’s sales.

  • Pre-order here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Also on Amazon, TomToc, who are best known for their gaming accessories, have their general purpose bags and cases marked down. Check out some of the highlights below:

  • Cross Body Fanny Pack with RFID Blocking, $26 (normally $34)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Aviator-T37 Travel Crossbody Sling Bag with RFID Blocking, $39 (normally $46)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • 40L Travel Backpack, $72 (normally $90)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Over at Best Buy you can grab a refurbished Switch OLED for $250. This is still a great handheld with a massive library of games available for it, and that is a pretty competitive deal.

  • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• 2K is having a publisher sale on Green Man Gaming. I’ve listed some of the best deals below, check out the sale here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Bioshock 2 Remastered - 86% off - $3

  • Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition - 91% off - $4

  • Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour - 91% off - $2

  • Mafia III: Definitive Edition - 82% off - $5

  • Marvel's Midnight Suns - 82% off - $18

  • NBA 2K25 - 59% off - $16

  • Rogue Prince of Persia - 70% off - $7

  • XCOM 2: War of the Chosen - 82% off - $4

• Humble is also having a big sale right now, with deals on games that came out pretty recently! Check out the best deals below and hit the sale here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - 10% off - $54

  • Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Gold Edition - 50% off - $20

  • Ball X Pit - 20% off - $12

  • Cult of the Lamb - 50% off - $12

  • Death Stranding Director's Cut - 75% off - $10

  • Far Cry 6 - 90% off - $6

  • Immortals Fenyx Rising - Gold Edition - 90% off - $9

  • Ready or Not - 50% off - $25

  • Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Deluxe Edition - 30% off - $42

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

GPD Duo Review: So Much Laptop

Apple and Retroid both announced their new Duo devices this week, both of which seem pretty pocketable. But GPD used the “Duo” name before them, on a chunky laptop that was barely backpack-able. Regardless, I found the GPD Duo to be super interesting -- dual OLED screens, and the ability to play split-screen Halo in tent mode. Let's revisit it and see if this was too much laptop, or not enough laptop.

🎬 Behind The Scenes

8BitDo sent me their latest mechanical keyboard, this one modeled after the Nintendo 64. I’m not sure if I will make a video review on it (especially because I reviewed their NES version a couple years ago), but I think it will appear in the background of some future videos. You can read more about it here (affiliate / non-affiliate), and let me know in the comments below if you’d like to see a dedicated video on it.

See you next week,
Russ