The handheld machine keeps on rolling forward, with new devices and software releases to keep me busy all week long.

🎥 Now Playing

Retroid Pocket Duo: This One Makes Sense

The Retroid Pocket Duo is finally here, and its increased performance pairs nicely with its form factor and features (like dual 120Hz OLED panels). Here are my initial impressions, and why it makes a lot more sense than their previous RP Duo Lite.

Custom Firmware on the RG DS Plus

Just a few weeks after release, the Anbernic RG DS Plus keeps getting better. Here are all of the main custom firmware options for this device. I was pleasantly surprised by the brand-new BananaOS option, which feels like a natural fit for the RG DS Plus hardware (and it boots into games super quickly, too).

Other Russ Sightings:

Expedition: Handheld - In Entry #34 Adam and I give our thoughts on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20, how the Retroid Pocket Duo slots into the clamshell landscape, the introduction of the Anbernic RG DDS, and much more.

📰 Power-Up(dates)

• Anbernic has released a "first look" video of the RG DDS, its upcoming 3DS-style dual-screen handheld. It shows the device running heavy 3DS games like Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate and Pokémon Ultra Sun, plus Cemu and GameNative. Shipping is expected to start December 10, with an automatic $15 discount until the device starts shipping. Even with the discount, the prices are steep, sitting squarely between the Retroid Pocket Duo and the AYN Thor Base. It’s still too early to tell for sure, but my gut reaction is that the 8GB model will be the one to get: a much cheaper price premium, and that extra 4GB RAM likely won’t influence the sort of gaming the RG DDS will excel at.

  8GB/128GB model: $285 ($299 retail)
  12GB/256GB model: $350 ($365 retail)

  Anbernic direct: Affiliate / Non-affiliate
  AliExpress: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Speaking of Anbernic, The Entertainment Software Association has asked the U.S. Trade Representative to scrutinize the handheld emulation market, urging that Anbernic be classified as a "Superfake" on its Notorious Markets list. The ESA's complaint centers on handhelds shipping with microSD cards preloaded with unauthorized games. If the USTR agrees, Anbernic could be banned from selling their products in the United States.

  To their credit, Anbernic appears to be responding. Since the story broke, it has been removing handheld variants that include a microSD card, and its RG SP listing now only offers the 16GB option that holds the stock firmware. Several Android listings, like the RG Rotate, have dropped their bundled card options too. Other third-party retailers and dropshippers, such as AISLPC, still offer them, so it's unclear whether the rest of the market will follow.

• AYN has announced the Odin 3 Portal, its next handheld, via its social media channels. The reveal was light on details: a single teaser image showing the new model and the tagline "Flagship Power. Precision Control. Your World, Your Way." Pricing, specs, a screen size, and a release date have all been left under wraps for now. The design that looks nearly identical to the Odin 2 Portal, which launched in 2025, so the real changes are likely under the hood. The Portal naming suggests a larger-screen variant of the Odin 3, which has a 6" 120Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 8 Elite.

• Afterplay, a browser-based retro gaming platform, now has official apps on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The apps are free and support nearly 40 systems, plus a growing catalog of indie games from the Afterplay storefront. Cloud Sync keeps your progress saved across devices so you can pick up where you left off. Sadly, some key features like hotkeys, rewind, cheats, and shaders are locked behind their Afterplay+ add-on service, which is $4/month or $25/year.

• Analogue has announced the Super Nt+ and Mega Sg+, updated versions of their FPGA-powered SNES and Mega Drive consoles, which were both discontinued a few years ago. They have a “reworked industrial design”, an updated OS, and new features like Bluetooth, USB-C power input, and a USB-A port for DAC support. Pre-orders open tomorrow (Monday, October 19) at 8am PDT on Analogue's website, with shipping expected in December. Pricing hasn't been announced. Early reactions have been a bit mixed, with some folks disappointed by the lack of 4K output, and no save states (which will hopefully arrive in a future software update).

• Remember that Slot video I made last week, that really clean and focused OS for the Anbernic RG SP? Someone has ported it to Android, specifically for the KONKR Pocket Advance. The neatest feature so far is that it makes use of the round button at the top of the KPA to mimic inserting and ejecting the cartridge, providing a physical sensation that evokes the real deal. Like the original, this version of Slot is limited to GBA, GB, and GBC systems, but it does provide some additional features like RetroArch save compatibility, RetroAchievements (both online and offline), and additional shaders and screen settings.

It’s also worth noting that the original Slot has undergone some updates since my video, and the latest release (1.7.0) adds new cart and wallpaper designs, optional favorites/recents shelves, run-ahead, and additional shaders and colorization options. Support has expanded to a handful more devices, including the Anbernic RG34XX, RG34XXSP, RG35XXSP, RG35XX Plus, RG28XX, and the RG35XXH.

• Xbox has revealed their new Nano Controller, a smaller and cheaper take on its standard Wireless Controller. It's $50, launches November 4, and is up for pre-order now on the Microsoft Store. At 5 inches and 3.5 ounces, it's noticeably smaller and lighter than the standard controller (6 inches, 10 ounces). It has all the usual buttons plus a programmable Action Button for things like screenshots and clips, and unlike the standard Wireless Controller it has a built-in rechargeable battery. It connects through Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth, so it also works with PCs, phones, and smart TVs.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro Game: Sonic The Hedgehog (Sega Genesis)

I mentioned it previously in my Favorite Sega Genesis Games video, but Sonic the Hedgehog was a transformative gaming experience for me. It was the main reason I wanted a Sega Genesis in the first place - I had played it at a friend’s house in 1991, and it blew me away for a few reasons. First, the game was FAST, which made my current crop of NES titles feel outdated. Second, I loved that the game didn’t have a countdown timer, but rather just a clock that would track your progress and give you extra points if you finished the level quickly. There actually was a time limit in that first game, but it was a generous 10 minutes that I never came close to reaching; this gave me the freedom to explore without having to worry about running out of time.

Thirdly and most importantly, I loved the ring system mechanic of this game. Rather than just accumulate coins in pursuit of 100 for an extra life, the rings gave you that same perk AND when you were hit you’d lose your coins with no further penalty. I loved this concept, because as long as I recovered at least one ring I could still keep going with confidence. It felt like an infinite money glitch, unlike the shame (and stress) of shrinking to little Mario after getting hit in those Nintendo games.

I concede that Sonic 2 is the objectively superior game because of its split-screen feature and spin dash move, and I will even humor arguments about the merits of Sonic 3 (even though I think that game is overly busy). But for me, the first Sonic the Hedgehog has a special place in my heart because it hit just right in my 11-year-old mind, and it’s still my preferred Sonic game.

Modern Game: Grand Theft Auto V (PC)

Confession time: the only GTA game I’ve put any real time into was GTA III, back when it first launched in 2001. I played that game a LOT, but it was mostly due to my tiny little PS2 game library at the time (my first games for the system were ICO, GTA III, and Metal Gear Solid 2). Of the three games I owned, it was the only title that encouraged replays, so it was my game of choice for a few months.

With GTA VI right around the corner, I figured it might be time to dust off one of the bazillion copies of Grand Theft Auto V I have lying around. I never made it far in that game, just a few hours, but I remember being impressed at the leap in graphics and freedom compared to previous entries. I fired up GTA V Enhanced (Steam) on my Xbox Ally X20, which apparently is a free upgrade of the original release (now dubbed GTA V Legacy). First thing I learned: my old save file didn’t carry over from Legacy. So I ended up re-playing the first hour of the game, and honestly, it was pretty darn fun. The graphics, acting, and driving controls still really hold up. I’ll likely pick up GTA VI for Xbox when it launches, just to be part of the zeitgeist, but my big takeaway this past week is that this 2013 game has some amazingly long legs.

Album: Source Tags and Codes by …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

There are a lot of unique connections between this long-named band (often just shortened to “Trail of Dead”) and my own background. The two main band members, Conrad Keely and Jason Reece, went to high school here in Hawaii, on the same island of Oahu where I currently call home. After high school, the two moved to Olympia Washington (just a few minutes from where I went to high school), to pursue college and their music dreams. During this time, they played in local bands during through early 1990s (in many of the same locations I played in with my own bands during the mid-to-late 1990s). You can still hear the influence of Olympia bands like Unwound and Karp in their music today.

By the mid-1990s, the duo moved to Austin Texas, adopted the elongated Trail of Dead moniker, and slowly built up a following in the Austin indie scene and beyond. They made a big splash with their 1999 release Madonna, but I feel like 2002’s Source Tags & Codes was their crowning work: it even garnered a rare 10.0 review score from Pitchfork Media, who at the time were indie rock’s preeminent critics/snobs. The sound and scope of Source Tags & Codes is a little hard to pinpoint, just because it runs the gamut of post-hardcore soundscapes. The whole album shifts and sways across a variety of moods, ranging from epic to melancholy.

My advice: just give the song “It Was There That I Saw You” a listen, because that single track encapsulates the whole album. It jumps right into things with a fiercely-drummed, guitar-string-gnashing intro with surprisingly beautiful lyrics that reference Hawaii:

as evening sighs
rises up against the sky
let me come and have my leis

The middle half of the song trickles into a quiet, moody progression that slowly and expertly builds back up to the heights of its intro, and by the time that moment arrives, you are so ready for it. And that’s a good exemplar of the whole album: swirling through a variety of sounds that are at times abrasive, but also elegantly presented. An easy recommendation if you are looking for a solid rock album that will take a few listens to really sift through.

💰 Bargain Bin

• You can now purchase the RG DS Plus on Amazon, which means it comes at a premium (this one is $125) but it will ship fast and you can easily return it through Amazon’s customer support portal. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

• I’m always on the hunt for microSD or other storage deals on Amazon, and as of this writing, there are a few decent options:

  • Lexar has a modest $5 discount on their 64GB microSD card three-pack, bringing the total down to $45. I’ve been using a lot more 64GB cards recently for my handhelds (when previously 128GB was my standard); reducing my game libraries has been a satisfying and liberating experience, since I now spend more time playing than browsing. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Samsung’s 256GB P9 microSD Express card is 25% off, coming in at $60 (instead of its $80 retail). This is that newer generation of fast card that works in the Switch 2 and the Xbox Ally X20. The price here is decent — standard 256GB (non-Express) cards from reputable brands are usually about $60-65 right now, despite being slower. This Samsung P9 card is also backwards compatible with non-microSD Express readers, but at a slower UHS-I speed. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Lexar’s 64GB dual USB flash drive is currently $20, just a couple dollars discounted from its retail price. These are handy to have around if you plan on flashing a custom OS like Bazzite or even official SteamOS onto an X86 handheld, and the USB A/C swivel means you don’t have to hunt down an adapter at the same time. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

• Also on Amazon, UGREEN’s entire line of Nexode power devices are on sale. I’ve listed some of the best deals below.

  • UGREEN Nexode Air 65W USB C GaN Charger Block with 3.3ft Cable, $24 (normally $40) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • UGREEN Nexode 65W Wall Charger, 4-Port, GaN, $25 (normally $40) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • UGREEN Nexode 20000mAh 45W Power Bank, $35 (normally $50) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • UGREEN Nexode 100W GaN USB C Charger, 4-Port, $40 (normally $55) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W GaN USB C Slim Wall Charger, $45 (normally $56) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • UGREEN Nexode 25000mAh 200W PD 3.1 TFT 3-Port Power Bank, $90 (normally $130) Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

• Green Man Gaming is having a sale on some very Steam Deck-friendly action games. Here are some of the tastier deals. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Call of Juarez - $2 (down from $10)

  • Crysis Remastered Trilogy - $18 (down from $50)

  • Dying Light: 10th Anniversary Definitive Edition - $9 (down from $50)

  • God's Trigger - $3 (down from $15)

  • Icey - $3 (down from $11)

  • Legacy of Castlevania Premium Pack - $13 (down from $20)

  • Ryse: Son of Rome - $3 (down from $10)

  • Samson - $12 (down from $25)

  • V Rising - $15 (down from $35)

  • Vortica - $9 (down from $15)

• Over on Steam, Warner Brothers is having a massive sale. Almost every game they’ve published is included, and I’ve singled out some Steam Deck-verified games below. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for $7 is such a good deal!

  • Back 4 Blood - $6 (down from $60)

  • Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition - $3 (down from $20)

  • Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition - $4 (down from $20)

  • Batman: Arkham Knight - $4 (down from $20)

  • Batman: Arkham Origins - $4 (down from $20)

  • F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin - $3 (down from $15)

  • F.E.A.R. 3 - $4 (down from $20)

  • Hogwarts Legacy - $6 (down from $60)

  • LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight - $49 (down from $69)

  • LEGO Harry Potter Collection - $6 (down from $40)

  • LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - $7 (down from $50)

  • Mortal Kombat 1 - $10 (down from $50)

  • Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - $3 (down from $70)

  • Watchmen: The End Is Nigh - $1 (down from $5)

• One more Amazon deal for those of you looking to improve your next lazy Sunday: this utterly ridiculous pillow/tablet holder/cup holder/grape(?) holder combo. It’s $40 and apparently all collapses into a normal pillow-shaped briefcase. I can only imagine the ridiculous ways this could enhance your couch gaming experience. Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

Enable D-Pad Controls in Zelda Nintendo DS Games (and more)

While looking for a throwback video this week, I was reminded of the compromises we used to make to play DS games. It is a theme that comes up often in these throwbacks, but it is easy to overlook how quickly this hobby has caught up to, and in some ways surpassed, the nostalgic experiences it chases.

This early RGC video showcased how to mod the two Zelda DS games to control Link with a d-pad. The mods were meant to enhance the original DS experience, but didn’t fully eschew all touch controls - those are still needed for certain functions. Still, the mods were a blessing back in 2021, when devices like the Retroid Pocket 2 didn’t have touchscreens at all.

🎬 Behind The Scenes

Every YouTuber but me dropped a review of the Xbox Ally X20 this week. My package didn’t arrive until Tuesday, and I knew I couldn’t possibly meet their Thursday embargo. I’m still working on the video and it will likely be my next release. In the meantime, our cat Frankie is enjoying the massive box everything shipped in.

We’ve had Frankie for about a year and a half now. Our previous cat, Chicken, was an early staple in my videos, and her passing a few years ago (at the age of 15) hit us pretty hard — she had been a part of our family since before our kids came along, and spent countless hours on my lap while watching movies, playing video games, or filming/editing RGC videos.

Frankie is such a different beast: he spends most days outside, and comes in only to eat and sleep. And much to my endless chagrin, he doesn’t like snuggling on laps. But he’s fun in his own way, and he tends to take care of his mother nature business outside, so litter box duty is often a breeze.

More to come,
Russ