Retro Handhelds Weekly: Switch 2, Legion Go 2, RG34XX, and Much More

Welcome to Retro Handhelds Weekly's most recent issue. There was a lot of news this week on both software and hardware. Our writing staff is still strong, and there were even a few surprises! So sit back, get a cup of coffee, and learn about the latest developments in the Retro Handhelds community this week.

Hardware

If we know anything about vintage handhelds, it's that something new is always coming out. Because some businesses release new handhelds every other week, smartphones are worse. The good news is that there are plenty of possibilities.

Legion Go 2 Leak: Lenovo's Move to OLED and Possibly SteamOS?

Even though we've already seen renderings of the Legion Go S, new renders revealed more details today. According to the most recent mockups, the Go S will be offered in two distinct hues, but that's not the exciting part. The fact that this might be the first third-party handheld to run SteamOS right out of the box is exciting.

Dbrand Gives Us a Glimpse at the Nintendo Switch 2

The firm released a new home page for its Killswitch 2 case for the Switch 2, the most recent "leak" via brand. The only image on the page is a render of Nintendo's alleged upcoming gaming portable device, which is enclosed in a casing. However, it does provide some information regarding the Switch 2.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ Pre-orders Now Open

Do you have high hopes for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and are eager to experience its features? We've noticed that MSI's upcoming Claw is moving in and out of stock on Amazon, so you might be able to pre-order it. Although we initially thought it would be released on December 26, the Amazon page at one point claimed it wouldn't be available until February.

Valve Starts Selling Refurbished Steam Deck OLED

With its already incredibly low prices, it's hard to argue that the Steam Deck is one of the best gaming values. Until recently, we had the choice to purchase a "Valve Certified Refurbished" Steam Deck LCD. Valve, however, has now begun offering Certified Refurbished Steam Deck OLED units for sale. The main drawback is that no more LCD or OLED refurb variants are available.

Other Hardware News

• An Ergonomic Grip Shell for the Odin 2 Portal is Available from AYN
• Shipping for the Odin 2 Portal is expected to start in January.
• The Powkiddy X35H might be on the horizon.

Software and Custom Firmware

Don't get me wrong, discussing gear is thrilling and fun. However, if a fantastic handheld device isn't functional, what good is it? Here's everything you might have missed this week because that's where software and custom firmware come into play.

Some Major Changes Are In Store for Azahar

Azahar, one of the most anticipated emulators, is still under development and has not yet been made available. PabloMK7 has returned, though, with a significant update on what to expect. According to a blog post by PabloMK7, to "limit the circumvention of TPM (technological protection measures)," Azahar will be "removing encrypted game support. " Additionally, no 3DS ROMs with the ".3ds" file extension will be supported by Azahar.

muOS 2410.2 Big Banana Released

You're missing out if you haven't tried muOS on your Anbernic RGXX portable. With each new release, the developers continue to amaze us, and now muOS Big Banana 2410.2 is accessible. Visit the release page to view and download the update, as there are so many changes in this version that it would fill a whole article.

GammaOS Core Beta 2 Release

Finally, we have a response to our question about when GammaOS Core Beta 2 will be available. If you are a Patreon subscriber, it is currently accessible. The most recent release has added support for the Powkiddy X55, RGB20 Pro, and even the GKD Bubble. Gamma made several modifications in this most recent release, including adding several emulators, including PPSSPP, Fake-08, and others, and making Daijisho the default launcher.

RPCS3 and Xemu running on Android Handhelds via Linux

Many people questioned whether Android compatibility would be forthcoming after it was revealed that RPCs3 would finally support the arm64 architecture. Regretfully, the developers have stated that the well-liked PS3 emulator will not be available on Android. That hasn't prevented some people from attempting since some have managed to run RPC 3 on Android using a Linux container. Additionally, as shown in the video above, BrooksyTech could play Demon's Souls on the Retroid Pocket 5 using RPCS3 and ROCKNIX.

Other Software News

• The ES-DE V3.1.1 
• Game Awards are now available.
• Introduction of Spruce 3.2.0
• The Mask Decompilation Project by Majora Achieves 100%
• The Winter Sale on Steam Starts on December 19

From the Writers

While there's always a ton of news to discuss and cover, we also step back and offer something different for everyone to appreciate. These are the reviews and pieces with a more editorial tone that you may have overlooked this week.

Help Us Pick the Best Handheld of the Year!

As we attempt to choose the finest handheld of the year, we've reached the last round of voting and concluded with a few surprises! Here's where the real fun starts. The remaining categories, which naturally contain the finest of the year, are included in the following sections. But here's where you can help.

RH Games: What We're Playing This Week

AYANEO Air 1S is playing TetraChroma. It's Tetris with a colour-shifting feature but has excellent graphics and music. Additionally, they feature a few additional modes, such as double-wide blocks and wild blocks. It's a good experience, and I couldn't resist paying $5.

Anbernic RG34XX Review: The Ultimate GBA

While they're about it, Anbernic might adopt Sega's old tagline, "Anbernic does what Nintendo doesn't," since they've been producing many classic Nintendo-looking gadgets. Every child with a GBA gave a loud sigh, took out their cash, and made up a reason to justify their most recent $70 buy to their spouse when the Anbernic RG34XX was announced. The GBA font is even used on the box! Is this the greatest GBA gadget available?

AYN Odin 2: One Year Later

In a pastime where the newest, most popular gadget is constantly on the horizon, it might be simple to become distracted by what will happen next. Hardware modifications and incremental enhancements are all good, but we must remember that these gadgets should survive for many years. When everyone is salivating over what will happen next, we can lose ourselves in the past.

Fantech EOS Pro Review: Worth Exploring

If you had asked me about Fantech at the start of the year, I wouldn't have known anything about them besides their mouse. Two mice that received much positive feedback from smaller-brand mouse manufacturers are the Helios Go XD5 and the Aria. However, I know Fantech manufactures various gaming accessories and equipment. I'm examining the EOS Pro WGP15 today.

Let's Play Every Mega Man Game

The Mega Man franchise spans the previous six gaming generations. You can enjoy the entire franchise in the greatest possible way with a specialized retro handheld. Locating is consolidated and straightforward, with little latency and all the frills. I go over most of the franchise's games below, showing you how you might already have the most excellent handheld device for them.

Anbernic RG34XX First Impressions: The GBA I Never Had

When the Annbernic RG34XX was announced, I didn't become as excited as my peers because I had never owned a Game Boy Advance. Instead, it was more of a "That's neat," followed by a "Oh, Anbernic went 12/12 this year." After an unexpected box delivery, I've just had a few hours to experiment with the RG34XX, but I've already made several deductions.

5 Current Games with N64 Graphics

When I was younger, I played the crud out of my N64. I still have the N64, but I play on a portable with better graphics today, and it's in the closet. The point is that this console brings back many memories for myself and many others my age. On the Get Played podcast I was listening to, a guest discussed recent titles with an N64 platformer vibe. I am sharing my discoveries with you after going down a rabbit hole!

The Handhelds I Actually Used in 2024

2024 was a significant year for handhelds. Because of RH and my role as a reviewer, I used and experimented with more than ever. It would be fun to look back and see which of them I used to play games in my free time. I sold most of my collection, along with these items (and a 3DS and Vita) that were spared.

On the YouTubes

The writers are not the only ones who accomplish tasks. The best time to subscribe is right now, as the RH video team always creates new videos. Zu reveals some of his complaints about the Retroid Pocket 5, Stubbs compares two of the newest Android handhelds, and the RG34XX arrives at Zu's house this week.

With less than two weeks until Christmas, you may be rushing to find something to put in a stocking or beneath the tree, particularly if you know that they enjoy gaming and old-school handhelds but are unsure where to begin. To help you pick the ideal present to surprise them with, we've compiled a list of some of our favourite gadgets, controllers, and accessories.