I returned home from China (via Hong Kong) this morning, so now begins the “fun” of resetting my internal sleep clock. Happy to be back!

🎥 Now Playing

OneXPlayer is Cooking Up Some New Handhelds

The OneXPlayer 3 and X2 Mini Pro are launching later this month, and both have powerful CPUs (from Intel and AMD, respectively) and an 8.8" AMOLED screen (same display as the Lenovo Legion Go 2). Here is a first look at both models, and what they mean for high-end handheld gaming in the future.

Note: after making this video, OneXPlayer has decided to use the new Ryzen AI Max+ 388 processor in their X2 Mini Pro instead of the 395 processor. This is a very good thing (and was one of my suggestions for this model); the 388 has fewer CPU cores but the same GPU as the 395, and should be cheaper too. This is an excellent fit for handhelds, with similar performance but increased efficiency during gaming.

The X2 Mini Pro pre-order campaign goes live tomorrow (link) and they revealed their pricing in an email earlier today. $2,400 starting price (ugh, 2026 pricing) is $100 more expensive than a similarly-configured Apex handheld that’s already out, so it seems to really come down to whether you are willing to pay a premium for that 8.8” OLED screen. 48GB RAM at the lowest spec also seems like overkill. Regardless, I should have a review video out for this one sometime in the future, where I will properly poke and prod that Ryzen 388 APU.

The Wacky World of GameMT (EX8 Review)

GameMT makes some pretty crazy handheld designs, and here is a look at one of their recent releases, the EX8. They sent me two, so I’m giving one away — be sure to check the link in the video description to enter.

My Favorite Neo Geo Games

The Neo Geo was an important arcade console for me as a young gamer; here is a list of my favorite games on the system, organized by category.

Not Russ but still good:

• I wasn’t available to record this week’s Expedition: Handheld, but gaming historian Steve Lin filled in nicely; be sure to tune in to listen to Steve and Adam discuss some of the dumbest handhelds of all time.

• I’ve missed several Nerd Nest episodes, but Bill has done a great job bringing in guests like Bob Wulff and Parris Lilly to discuss the latest gaming news. I’ll be back on next week!

📰 Power-Up(dates)

• AYN has announced that both the Thor and Odin 3 will see another price increase later this month, the latest in a string of hikes driven by surging RAM and storage costs. Current pricing holds until existing inventory sells out, Thor models range from $249 (Lite) to $549 (Max), while Odin 3 runs $339 to $489. New pre-orders for both devices are open now and will ship in August, using UFS 3.1 storage.

• Speaking of the memory crisis: Xbox's new CEO Asha Sharma published a candid memo revealing Microsoft will pay 5x more for storage in 2027 than it did just two years ago, with RAM following a similar curve, bluntly stating "this cannot continue." This is the same RAM and storage crunch already rippling through our hobby, likely exacerbated by Microsoft’s “Just in Time” approach to ordering and manufacturing Xboxes in the past. If I had to guess, they are going to adjust their production model to larger batches so they can secure RAM/storage pricing via contracts.

• TRIMUI has officially revealed two new handhelds: the Brick Hammer Pro U and Brick Hammer Pro. The Pro U is a fully CNC-milled metal Android device with a 2.4GHz Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 chipset (Adreno A21 GPU), 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, dual hall-effect joysticks, and a 3.95" 1024x768 display. The SD G2 Gen 1 was first announced in 2023 but wasn’t used in any handhelds until now; it likely is capable of some decent PS2 emulation. The Brick Hammer Pro is the affordable plastic counterpart, running Linux on the same internals as the original Brick (1.8GHz Allwinner A133P, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage), with the same upgraded joysticks and display plus a new "Retro Grey" DMG-inspired color. No pricing or release dates have been announced for either device, but I’m expecting $100 for the Brick Hammer Pro, and $200+ for the Brick Hammer Pro U.

• The recent Nintendo Direct led with the long-rumored Ocarina of Time remake (out this year) and Kingdom Hearts IV for Switch 2, alongside a wave of ports including Stellar Blade, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Minecraft's dedicated Switch 2 version, and enhanced Xenoblade Chronicles re-releases. Other announcements included Rhythm Heaven Groove (July 2), Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (September 17), Final Fantasy: Resonance (October 22), FromSoftware's new project The Duskbloods, Star Fox's return with a demo available today, and Deltarune Chapter 5 (June 24).

• In a shockingly pro-consumer move, Anbernic has launched a dedicated parts and accessories page covering nearly its entire handheld catalog, offering shells, screens, buttons, batteries, joysticks, and more for repairs and mods. Surprising inclusions are the RG350P, RG280V, and even the RG406H, which is notable since the RG406H has been listed as out of stock on Anbernic's site for a month or two. The most eye-catching listing is for the WIN600, Anbernic's lone Windows handheld. Every part is currently available, including a $236 motherboard and $66 screen, totaling roughly $355 for a full build from parts alone, just $6 more than buying a complete unit. Don't be surprised if some community members try to get creative with that. For everyone else, it's simply great news that cracked screens, dead batteries, or worn buttons no longer mean having to deal with DMing the company on AliExpress.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro(ish) Game: Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers

While visiting 8BitDo’s HQ earlier this week, their Lead Designer challenged me to some video games. He was gracious enough to let me pick, and I chose Ultra Street Fighter II on the Switch. I had never played the game but it’s essentially a re-skin of SFII Turbo, so I was right at home - that’s the Street Fighter game I really cut my teeth on, via the SNES port in 1992. We were pretty evenly matched, and we ended up with a draw after five or six matches (complete with a Double KO in one round).

While there, I also got a chance to try their new Ultimate 3E and Ultimate 3 Lavender Dusk controllers in an actual game (Halo MCC on Xbox Series X). They feel excellent, and the tension ring adjustment on the Lavender Dusk version in particular let me easily dial in my ideal setup without having to consult their software app at all. Both controllers come out this summer and are pricey ($149 and $99 respectively) due to the fact that they have a wireless Xbox license.

Modern Game: Dragon Quest I & II: HD-2D Remake

I had a little downtime this week so I decided to play a couple hours of DQ I&II HD-2D Remake via GameNative on my Odin 3. It runs like a champ, especially with a moderate underclock using ClusterTune, and I was hovering around 60fps the whole time on the lowest power profile with an occasional dip depending on the area. The game itself certainly feels like an updated experience compared to my first playthrough on the NES (and even the later GBC version); it has difficulty settings, and the ability to highlight your next mission. The text is a little small on the Odin 3’s 6” screen, but that’s my only complaint.

Music: New Moon by Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith is one of my all-time favorite artists, and his death in 2003 (at age 34) was a tragic loss. His quiet and masterful approach to songwriting was a huge influence on my own music, and his early albums were the soundtrack to my teens in the late 1990s. Sadly, his death came at a low point in his music career, and his 2004 posthumous album From a Basement on a Hill was his most unsatisfactory output; it’s rushed, overproduced, and seething with creative frustration. Thankfully, in 2007 his label released New Moon, a double-disc collection of previously-unreleased songs recorded between 1994 and 1997, at the height of his creative journey. Many of these songs floated around on Napster back in the day, or were later retooled for studio album releases, but New Moon hits just right: the songs are lo-fi, intimate, haunting, and expectedly beautiful.

The reason I’m bringing this album up now is because like with the American Analog Set record I shared a couple weeks ago, New Moon is a classic travel-friendly collection. Its 24 songs clock in at 73, and they are organized in a thoughtful, easy-to-binge sort of way. At this point nearly 20 years after release, it’s one of my signature “listen while trying to sleep in an uncomfortable seat on an airplane” albums; and if these songs can make that experience comfortable, you know it’s a special record.

💰 Bargain Bin

• The GKD Pixel 2 is currently on Amazon for the relatively sane price of $85. While you can technically find it a few bucks cheaper elsewhere, it is always nice to see new options available with 2-day shipping and Prime’s easy returns. Here is my review of this decent EDC solution.

  • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Target has several EA Sports titles discounted across assorted consoles this week.

  • EA Sports FC 26, $29.99 (normally $59.99–$69.99) on PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox

  • EA Sports Madden NFL 26, $29.99 (normally $54.99–$69.99) on PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox

  • NHL 26, $29.99 (normally $53.99) on PS5

  • EA Sports F1 25, $29.99 (normally $34.99) on PS5

• Best Buy is also running some sales on PS5 games, check out an assortment of winners below:

  • The Callisto Protocol (Day One Edition), $19.99 (normally $54.99): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Street Fighter 6 Standard Edition, $19.99 (normally $29.99): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Honkai: Star Rail Trailblazer Edition, $19.99 (normally $39.99): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • The Outer Worlds 2 Standard Edition, $34.99 (normally $69.99): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Ninja Gaiden 4 Standard Edition, $34.99 (normally $69.99): Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• AliExpress's Mid-Year Sale starts tomorrow and runs through June 24th. Here are some early access codes if you want to check prices out as soon as the sale goes live:

  • Global codes (valid June 15th–20th):

    • AFMY2: $2 off orders of $15+

    • AFMY4: $4 off orders of $30+

    • AFMY9: $9 off orders of $65+

    • AFMY15: $15 off orders of $120+

    • AFMY25: $25 off orders of $209+

    • AFMY40: $40 off orders of $329+

    • AFMY55: $55 off orders of $449+

  • US-exclusive codes (valid June 15th–24th):

    • MYUSAFF3: $3 off orders of $15+

    • MYUSAFF7: $7 off orders of $42+

    • MYUSAFF12: $12 off orders of $75+

    • MYUSAFF24: $24 off orders of $149+

    • MYUSAFF42: $42 off orders of $259+

    • MYUSAFF55: $55 off orders of $359+

    • MYUSAFF70: $70 off orders of $459+

    • MYUSAFF90: $90 off orders of $579+

    • MYUSAFF120: $120 off orders of $700+

  • Looking through some typical handhelds, I’m already seeing some discounts. Bear in mind that these prices can change once the sale goes live, and I’ll be sure to round up some favorite options on my YT Community Tab and in my next newsletter:

    • Anbernic RG35XXH ($38 after coupon): Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

    • Anbernic RG34XXSP ($56 after coupon): Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

    • Anbernic RG DS ($84 after coupon): Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

    • Anbernic RG Vita ($84 after coupon): Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

My Favorite Sega Genesis Games (and NES, too!)

This week isn’t the first time I’ve talked about my favorite games on a system, and it probably won’t be the last time. In the links above, check out my picks for Genesis and NES games!

🎬 Behind The Scenes

First, I hate posing for pictures. It’s such an unnatural thing. Second, here is a pic of me with Max Zhou, the infamous designer responsible for most of Anbernic’s handhelds. He’s been working on emulation-related devices for over 20 years, and it was very cool to meet him in real life. He’s also a lot nicer in person than his notorious social media posts would lead you to believe!

I’m already working on my travel video about China, but fair warning: I don’t have a lot of video footage. Most of these companies are very protective of their workspaces so I respected their wishes and kept my camera off most of the time. Regardless, I have some crazy stories to tell when the video releases in the next week.

See you later,
Russ