DroidDeck 0.5.0 is out today, October 18, 2026, and this is a bigger update than the jump to 0.4.0. For some, the headline might be the addition of SteamVR support for Meta Quest headsets. However, VR has never been my thing. Something about my equilibrium getting thrown off, leading to the spins and eventually vomiting. […]
Category: News & Stuff
News & Stuff
Oct 18, 2026
Wirehawk Is My Kind of Handheld Gaming
Some games you see and instantly think, that was made to be played on a handheld. More specifically, Valve’s Steam Deck or the Nintendo Switch, preferably the OLED model, of course. Wirehawk from developer Trax certainly fits that bill. Steeped in influences from games like Geometry Wars, Galaga, and Asteroids, with perhaps even a touch […]
News & Stuff
Oct 17, 2026
Hop’s Awakening! A colorful, hand-drawn shoot ’em up with a free demo available now!
It’s a new day, and the hunt to satisfy my hunger for a good shoot ’em up begins anew. Lo and behold, today’s little gem is Hop’s Awakening! Developed by Eden Cruz, this colorful, hand-drawn shoot ’em up will be participating in Steam Next Fest, which kicks off on October 19. However, there’s no need […]
News & Stuff
Oct 17, 2026
Raging Blasters 2 Demo Now Available on Steam
Japanese indie developer TERARIN GAMES has released a playable demo for Raging Blasters 2 on Steam, giving shmup fans an early opportunity to check out the sequel ahead of its planned 2027 release. In the past, I’ve played the original Raging Blasters, as well as Blaze of Storm. So when I noticed that the Raging […]
News & Stuff
Oct 16, 2026
Slot Is More Than Just a Pretty Cartridge Shelf
One of the earliest articles I wrote for this adventure I’m on was about Slot. At the time, this emulation frontend was new and only available for the Anbernic RG SP. When it comes to emulation frontends, there’s certainly no shortage of options. Many are designed to manage massive game libraries across dozens of systems, […]
News & Stuff
Oct 15, 2026
SeedlessDS Leaves Beta in Time for the Dual-Screen Frenzy
The Clamshell Wars Have Another Contender: Software I should copyright the Clamshell Wars of 2026 before someone else formally snags the idea. If you’ve been following the retro handheld scene lately, you’ve probably noticed that the tongue-in-cheek clamshell wars are raging on with no end in sight. Between the AYN Thor, AYANEO Pocket DS, and […]
News & Stuff
Oct 15, 2026
RG DDS Price and Release Date Leak
UPDATE: OCTOBER 16, 2026 Since this article was originally published, Anbernic has officially opened preorders for the RG DDS, confirming pricing, configurations, and shipping details. Here’s what’s new. Preorders Opened October 16, 2026 at 6:00 AM ET 8GB / 128GB $284.99 preorder ($299.99 regular) 12GB / 256GB $349.99 preorder ($364.99 regular) Shipping Begins December 10, […]
News & Stuff
Oct 14, 2026
GameNative 1.3.0 will not take a backseat
The PC was this close to being turned off, and I was headed straight to bed to prepare for another day. Then, like a shiny thing off in the distance, I received an update notification after my all-thumbs hand oh so not gently tapped the GameNative app on my AYN Thor. Now I’m saddled with […]
News & Stuff
Oct 14, 2026
Anbernic RG DDS First Gameplay Shows More Than 3DS
Less than a week after introducing the RG DDS, Anbernic released a first look at the handheld today on YouTube. Nintendo 3DS emulation might be the ideal fit for Anbernic’s Dream Dual Screen, but we know gamers will always push the limits of a device once it’s in their hands. With that in mind, today’s […]
News & Stuff
Oct 14, 2026
Genome Guardian 2 Mixes Bullet Hell With Mad Science
Does anyone else use their personal Steam Calendar? No, just me? That’s fine, I don’t mind being the lone wolf. I often start my morning perusing the calendar, looking for the latest shiny object to grab my attention. This morning, I landed on Genome Guardian 2. The bright colors immediately caught my eye, as something […]
News & Stuff
Oct 14, 2026
Shockwave Triggers out today on consoles
While PC gamers have been enjoying Shockwave Triggers on Steam for some time, today is the day console gamers get their shot. Even shmups need a story, right? Do they? Well, Shockwave Triggers is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up where you can choose between two pilots. Your options are the fast and versatile Amira, […]
News & Stuff
Oct 13, 2026
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction arrives February 2027
Life can be full of regrets, and like many, I have my fair share. As a kid, I had quite the He-Man collection. One might even call it serious. I played the shit out of He-Man. However, as a pre-teen, my love of toys shifted to sports and then music. When I heard Black Sabbath […]
News & Stuff
Oct 13, 2026
DroidDeck updates keep coming
DroidDeck 0.4.0 was released yesterday, and it’s a rather substantial update. What started as a way to run Steam on Android handhelds is becoming a more complete PC gaming environment, with additional storefronts, a proper Linux desktop, improved controller support, and performance optimizations. This is arguably a bigger update than 0.3.0 in terms of functionality. […]
News & Stuff
Oct 13, 2026
AYN Teases the Odin 3 Portal
Like many in the handheld space, I awoke today to news of a new handheld announcement. I know, I’m slack-jawed too, and unsure how I’ll put one foot in front of the other. AYN has officially teased the AYN Odin 3 Portal on its Discord server and via an Instagram post today. While not many […]
News & Stuff
Oct 12, 2026
M2 Celebrates 10 Years of ShotTriggers With Four Shmup Announcements
On October 10, M2 celebrated the 10th anniversary of ShotTriggers with four announcements. Hold up, press the pause button. I’m getting ahead of myself. Does anyone know what M2 is? What about ShotTriggers? Are you kind of out of the loop, like me? M2 is a Japanese game developer that specializes in bringing classic video […]
News & Stuff
Oct 11, 2026
MagicX Dreams Big With Its Mini Dream
MagicX might not be as recognizable as Anbernic or Retroid, but the Chinese handheld manufacturer has been making a name for itself with affordable, compact retro gaming devices. Previous releases include the XU10, XU Mini M, Mini Zero 28, and the Nintendo DS-inspired Zero 40. I own a couple of these handhelds myself, and I’ve […]