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Retro Handhelds Weekly: RG Slide, melonDS Fork, Gyro for Android Handhelds, and More!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: RG Slide, melonDS Fork, Gyro for Android Handhelds, and More!

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-51/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-51

Retro Handhelds Weekly News Roundup – Summary (June 17, 2025)

This is a comprehensive roundup of news, reviews, and updates from the retro handheld gaming world, as of June 17, 2025, from Retro Handhelds. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights:

Hardware Releases & First Impressions:

• Nintendo Switch 2: A week-long review is available, highlighting battery life, features and an Easter Egg. It has sold 3.5 million units.
• Anbernic RG Slide: First look – looks great but is larger than expected.
• PowKiddy V90S: Positive first impressions of the clamshell design, an update to the original V90.
• Anbernic RG35XX Pro: Review & Setup Guide available. Seen as beginner-friendly.
• Xbox Handheld: Development paused as Microsoft focuses on the ROG Ally.

Software & Firmware Updates:

• Next UI: Continual improvements and updates, now at version 5.5, making it a strong contender for custom UI on devices like the TrimUI Brick.
• melonDS: A new fork offers improvements and features.
• Android Handhelds: Support for Gyro functionality has been added.
• RetroX: Interview with developer Franco Catron.
• Provenance: 3.1.0a1 pre-release features iCloud sync (early support), improved importer, and Dreamcast core (very early stage).
• SaveState: 1.4.2 update adds bulk profile creation, UI improvements, and expanded emulator support.
• retrom: v0.7.22 includes emulatorJS and cloud save support.
• Peanut-GB: v1.3.0 focuses on LCD emulation, bug fixes, and overall stability.

Deals & Resources:

• Weekly Deals available on Retro Handhelds.
• Links to subscribe to the Retro Handhelds YouTube channel.
• Link to join the Retro Handhelds Discord server.

Editorial & Reviews:

• Reviews of the Nintendo Switch 2, Anbernic RG35XX Pro, and first impressions of the PowKiddy V90S and Anbernic RG Slide.
• Articles on the improvements to Next UI and how good it is for custom UIs.

Overall, this week’s roundup indicates a thriving retro handheld market with continued software improvements, new hardware releases, and a dedicated community. The focus remains on refining the emulation experience, offering more features, and providing better user experiences across various devices.

USBODE: An ODE for DOS and Newer PC’s

📰 New article from RetroRGB

USBODE: An ODE for DOS and Newer PC’s

🕹️ USBODE: Bring CD Games to Old PCs (Without a CD Drive!) 🕹️

Want to play classic DOS games that need a CD-ROM, but your retro PC doesn’t have a CD-ROM drive? USBODE is a cool new project that lets you use CD images (ISO/BIN/CUE) on an SD card to emulate a CD-ROM drive via a Raspberry Pi Zero W!

Here’s the breakdown:

• What it does: Turns a Raspberry Pi Zero W into a CD-ROM emulator that connects to your PC via USB.
• How it works: You load CD images onto an SD card, plug the Pi into your computer, and it appears as a CD-ROM drive.
• Setup: Requires installing software on an SD card, configuring Wi-Fi, and loading your CD images. A test build is available on the project’s Discord server.
• Features:
• Works with DOS, Windows, and even modern OSes.
• Optional Pi Hats add on-device controls and even CD Audio playback in DOS!
• Best For: DOS & Windows 3.1 – perfect for bringing CD-based games to older machines without needing physical drives.
• Limitations: Doesn’t work with multi-file BINs (requires merging), some copy protection may not work, and it’s still under development!

Want to learn more?

• GitHub: https://github.com/danifunker/usbode-circle
• Discord: https://discord.gg/pvbyq8xc

A Week with the Nintendo Switch 2

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

A Week with the Nintendo Switch 2

https://retrohandhelds.gg/a-week-with-the-nintendo-switch-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-week-with-the-nintendo-switch-2

## 🎮 Nintendo Switch 2: A Deep Dive (aka, Joe Spent a Week Playing It!) 🎮

Okay, so Retro Handhelds got their hands on the new Nintendo Switch 2 and here’s the lowdown, summarized for you:

✨ What’s New & Improved? ✨

* Bigger & Better Feel: The Switch 2 is physically larger, but more ergonomic, fitting adult hands comfortably. Bigger buttons & sticks are a welcome change!

Smooth Performance: Games run noticeably better, especially with improved graphics in titles like Mario Kart and a surprising Fantasy Life I upgrade. Cyberpunk 2077* is playable, though demanding.

* Revamped OS: The system software is overhauled with quality-of-life improvements, dark mode, and charming new sound effects.

* Detachable Joy-Cons: Joy-Cons pop off easily, and the new grip is functional but maybe not ideal – a Pro Controller might be better.

Kickstand & Case Options: Great kickstand for tabletop mode, and the reviewer highly* recommends the Savage Raven NeoGrip case for comfort and portability.

😬 What’s Not So Great? 😬

* LCD Screen: Gone is the OLED screen of the original Switch. The new LCD is bright and vibrant, but some miss the deeper blacks of OLED. VRR is present, but the combination with OLED was problematic.

Battery Life: This is a BIG one. Battery life is a concern, lasting around 2.5-3.5 hours for demanding games. It also seems to drain more* power than it charges.

* Wi-Fi Issues: Offline play can trigger frustrating freezes and connection errors. Airplane mode is recommended for uninterrupted gaming.

👍 The Bottom Line 👍

The Switch 2 isn’t a massive revolution, but a solid refinement of the original. It’s a great console, especially for those already in the Nintendo ecosystem. The biggest drawbacks are the battery life and the move away from OLED, but it’s a powerful and feature-rich handheld that builds on the success of its predecessor.

➡️ Where to Buy: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart.

💬 Want to discuss? Join the Retro Handhelds Discord! [Link to Discord]

Update All MiSTer – UpdateAll_2025-06-15_00.20.36

📦 Update All MiSTer – UpdateAll_2025-06-15_00.20.36

📢 MiSTer Update Alert! 📢

Hey everyone, just a heads-up that Update All MiSTer has a new release: UpdateAll_2025-06-15_00.20.36!

This update focuses on refining the download process with an updated `dont_download2.sh` script – likely improving stability and potentially adding features to the update skipping functionality.

You can find all the details and download the update here: [

“>https://github.com/theypsilon/Update_All_MiSTer/releases/tag/UpdateAll_2025-06-15_00.20.36

PowKiddy V90S First Impressions: It’s Flippable

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

PowKiddy V90S First Impressions: It’s Flippable

https://retrohandhelds.gg/powkiddy-v90s-first-impressions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=powkiddy-v90s-first-impressions

Could not retrieve a summary for this article.

Atari 2600 RGB Kit Back In Stock

📰 New article from RetroRGB
Atari 2600 RGB Kit Back In Stock
https://www.retrorgb.com/atari-2600-rgb-kit-back-in-stock.html

🕹️ Atari 2600 RGB Kit is BACK IN STOCK! 🕹️

Good news for retro gamers! A highly sought-after RGB/Video kit for the Atari 2600 is available again! This kit significantly improves video quality on CRT displays.

Here’s what you need to know:

* What it does: This kit allows you to output RGB, S-Video, and Composite video signals from your Atari 2600 for a much sharper picture on older TVs/monitors.
* New Features: The latest version includes improvements like:
* Improved pause mode (mutes audio, displays “paused”)
* Sync correction for cleaner visuals
* Picture position adjustments
* PAL/SECAM to NTSC console timing
* On-screen menu for easy settings
* Comprehensive test mode
* Compatibility: Works with a wide range of Atari 2600 revisions and supports both Super Nintendo & HD Retrovision cables.
* Price: Around $70 + shipping.
* Where to buy:
* Main Shop
* US Distributor
* Installation: Instructions

If you’re looking to get the best possible picture quality out of your Atari 2600 on a CRT, this kit is highly recommended! ✨