Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week, we saw a bunch of news in the world of hardware and software. Our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on what’s happened this week in the world of Retro Handhelds.

Hardware

  • ASUS Signals 2026 Price Increases, Blames AI and the New Normal: ASUS has made it official, their prices are going up in 2026. In a year-end letter to customers (translated by VideoCardz), the company announced planned price adjustments for certain products starting January 5, 2026, citing cost pressure across the supply chain. If the language sounds familiar, that’s because its the same pit the industry has been circling, now framed squarely around AI.
  • GAMEMT E3 Vigor Pre-Orders Open, Starting at Just $45: After more than two months, the GAMEMT E3 Vigor is finally available for pre-order over at the Royibeila website. Pricing starts at $55 for the 64GB model, and bumps up to $65 for 128GB of storage, with both configurations being available in either Purple/White or Black. However, if you use code ROYIBEILA02 at checkout, you’ll knock $10 off the price, making the price either $45 or $55.
  • OneXSugar Wallet is First Android Handheld with a Foldable Screen: OneXSugar, the company behind such oddities as the transforming dual-screen Sugar1, has released a video on BiliBili for an upcoming handheld called the OneXSugar Wallet. In keeping with their unique handheld portfolio, the Wallet is a foldable, single-screen clamshell device. Yes, you read that correctly.
  • AYANEO Releases Screen Details and a Kickstarter Page for the Pocket Play: As we reported earlier this month, AYANEO is coming out with a gaming phone known as the AYANEO Pocket Play, marketed as “A Gaming Phone with a Handheld Soul.” This is AYANEO’s first crack at a gaming smartphone, and one that looks curiously like an Xperia Play, so many people are understandably interested in its development.

More Hardware News

Apps and Software

  • Pocket8 Makes PICO-8 Playable On Your iPhone: Pocket8, the native PICO-8 emulator we’ve discussed here and on the channel (below), has evolved from a promising fan project into an officially endorsed companion app for iOS, giving mobile players a proper way to experience the fantasy console’s sprawling library without fighting browser limitations.
  • NHL ’94 Finally Gets In The Fightin’ Spirit: For over thirty years, arguably the most-cherished 16-bit sports game stood with one glaring omission: fisticuffs. NHL’94 on the Sega Genesis was beloved for its tight skating and physics-based thrills, but unlike its predecessor, NHLPA Hockey ’93, it lacked the knuckle-bustin’ brawls that made arcade hockey feel authentic. That’s now changed with the release of NHL’94: Fight Edition, a glorious ROM hack that puts fights back into the game where they belong.
  • Another Day, Another Asinine Sony AI Patent: Sony’s recent patent for an AI-generated “ghost” tutorial system is framed as a player-friendly quality of life feature. On paper, it looks like a hint system that watches how you play and steps in when you get stuck, but, in practice, it fits neatly into a broader pattern in how Sony appears to be thinking about AI, one that prioritizes platform-level mediation over player or developer intent.
  • touchHLE Now Compatible With 300+ Early iOS Games: In another win for the preservation of mobile gaming’s early years, iOS app emulator touchHLE has reached a major milestone, with over 300 games supported. Unlike most other emulators that emulate entire systems in a virtual machine, or via low level hardware simulations, touchHLE is a high-level emulator, implementing pieces of the older iPhone OS frameworks allowing early iOS binaries to be executed natively on desktop platforms and Android, without ever running the proprietary Apple system code.
  • PS2 Remake of Ys V Now Playable In English: Ys V:
    Before the SNES version of Ys V was translated by fans, it remained one of those entries people talked around rather than about, largely because it simply was not playable in English without caveats. That has now changed again, this time with a new fan translation targeting the PS2 remake.

More Software News

Emulation Updates

From the Writers

AYANEO Refuses to Accept Responsibility, Puts Blame on Everyone Else for Delays - Retro Handhelds
AYANEO announced nearly 20 devices in 12 months, but backers are still waiting. See the status of every 2025 reveal and why fans are fed up right now.
Retro Handhelds - Play It Foreverandrew
Game of the Month: January is for the Backlog - Retro Handhelds
For January, GotX will be revisiting previous winners, giving old and new participants alike the chance to play games they may have missed out on before.
Retro Handhelds - Play It Foreverkalkeg
AYN Odin 3 Setup Guide - Retro Handhelds
The long wait is over, and the AYN Odin 3 is finally here. Get from unboxed to gaming as quickly as possible with this Odin 3 setup guide.
Retro Handhelds - Play It ForeverNick
Manba One Review: An Odd One - Retro Handhelds
Most controllers follow the same formula, however the Manba One does things differently. With a 2-Inch screen, and heavy customization, there’s a lot to love.
Retro Handhelds - Play It ForeverBan
Game Over: Mattel’s Hyperscan “Console” - Retro Handhelds
Mere weeks before the launches of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Mattel stormed confidently back into the console wars with a truly terrible idea.
Retro Handhelds - Play It ForeverJim Gray

On the YouTubes

Looking for Deals?

Another week, another set of deals to be had. Hit the button below to check out our favorite deals of the week. We know how much everyone loves a good deal, so we’ve been cooking up something to help you get the best deal possible.

Deals of the Week
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