This week on Next Portable Console, not one or two, but three Anbernic handhelds, Federico's early Retroid Pocket Nova impressions, and more.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

Anbernic Handhelds

• Anbernic RG DS Plus
• Anbernic RG 35
• Anbernic RG 55G1
• Anbernic RG34XX

AYANEO KONKR Pocket Advance

• KONKR Pocket Advance First Impressions (Retro Handhelds)

Retroid Pocket Nova

• Retroid Pocket Nova
• Retroid Pocket 6
• Cocoon
• RetroArch
• Guide: Shaders and Overlays on Retro Handhelds — Retro Game Corps
• Zelda: The Wind Waker 4K Texture Pack — Henriko Magnifico

Software and Firmware

• GammaOS

Upcoming Handhelds

• This Tiny Game Boy Clone Plays Physical Cartridges (Time Extension)

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 

Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

Leave Feedback for John and Federico

• NPC Feedback Form

Credits

Show Art: Silvia Gatta
Music: Will LaPorte

Follow Us Online

On the Web

• MacStories.net

Follow us on Social Media

• Federico is @viticci everywhere
• John is @johnvoorhees`everywhere

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, John and Federico are joined by Sam Rosenthal of The Game Band to talk about the studio's history, including Where Cards Fall and Blaseball, and of course, their new game, Dartwords.

Also available on YouTube here.

• The Game Band
• Sam Rosenthal

• Where Cards Fall (App Store)
• Where Cards Fall (Steam)
• Where Cards Fall Available for Apple Vision Pro on May 30th (Snowman)

• Blaseball
• Dead Man's Party: A Knives Out Game (Netflix)
• Announcing Dead Man's Party: A Knives Out Game (The Game Band)

• Dartwords
• Wordle meets Clippy in this new word game

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Silvia Gatta Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net

• Federico is @viticci everywhere
• John is @johnvoorhees`everywhere

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC, the guys cover a new mobile phone controller teased by Abxylute and dig into several stories about SteamOS.

Also available on YouTube here.

• ABXYLUTE M6/M5 Mobile Gaming Controllers
• Steam Deck gets one of PS Portal's key features
• SteamOS being optimized for Android
• SteamBoy

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, folding phones and gaming, updates on upcoming handhelds, and GammaOS on the RG Rotate.

Also available on YouTube here.

• Samsung's Z Fold 8 Ultra is more of the same, but better than ever
• iPhone Fold: Everything We Know

• Retroid Pocket Nova 8GB model gets $10 price increase effective August 6
• AYANEO KONKR Pocket Advance gets full specs, pricing, and live order page
• Mangmi Air Y and Air Y Pro get pre-order dates and pricing
• MagicX reveals four-variant Mini Dream handheld lineup with OLED display
• GammaOS Nano v1.4 launches for Anbernic RG Rotate as a ground-up micro-OS rebuild

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC: Next Portable Console, handheld news and a nerdy look at the recomp and decomp scene that is rapidly expanding to new operating systems.

Also available on YouTube here.

• Retroid Announces Nova Shipping Dates
• Qualcomm reportedly notifies hardware partners of impending chip price hikes

• Pokemon Gen 1 Recompilation adds HD-2D to the original games
  • A mod team has made a recompilation of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow
  • The Dramatic Shape Voxel Mod which turns the game into a full 3D voxel-based experience.
• Ocarina of Time decomp on iOS
  • Also Mario Kart 64 iOS decomp.

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, the refreshingly complete announcement by Anbernic of the RG SP, Ticci buys a handheld, and people are tired of months-long hardware reveals.

Also available on YouTube here.

• Anbernic Announces the RG SP With Almost Everything We Need to Know
• Retroid Pocket Nova Gets Hands-On Treatment Ahead of Release
  • See also Russ' video at Retro Game Corps
• AYANEO Restocks the Pocket Micro 2 Again
• MANGMI AIR Y and AIR Y Pro Full Spec Sheet Finally Revealed
• Handheld Makers Need to Stop Turning Every New Handheld Into a Month-Long Reveal

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, AYANEO is chasing the classics again, teasing a Game Boy Advance clone, while Magmi is getting vertical. Plus, a Mechanism desk stand for your handheld, 8BitDo's FlipPad, and the GPD Win Max 3 challenges blurs the lines between laptop and console.

Also available on YouTube here.

• KONKR Pocket Fit 8 Elite review: excessive power in a comfortable package
• Mangmi announces the Air Y, a new vertical Android handheld for 2026
• GPD WIN Max 3 detailed with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and a unique detachable 97Wh battery
• 8BitDo Opens Pre-Orders for the FlipPad Phone Controller
• Mechanism's desk stand turns your handheld into a tiny desktop

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC: Next Portable Console, Brendon and John go it alone with more bizarre news from AYANEO, a new tease and OS update from Anbernic, Valve's E-Ink Steam Machine faceplate, Armada brings SteamOS to Android handhelds, and more.

Also available on YouTube here.

• AYANEO teases a GBA
• AYANEO CEO livestream teases second-half 2025 lineup but offers little new information
• Valve open-sources Steam Machine "Inkterface" e-ink faceplate for DIY builds
• Anbernic pushes major "RG Ecosystem" software update to entire T820 handheld lineup
• Anbernic RG 55G1 gameplay video hints at Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 with Turnip drivers and possible OLED
• EmuDeck for Android adds Rift Frontend launcher and gains Armada/SteamOS compatibility
  • Armada
• TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U Might Be Dead Before It Even Ships

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, Steam Machine ordering follow up and Sony's many controversial announcements.

Also available on YouTube here.

• Follow Up
  • Steam Machine launches today! - Steam Hardware
  • YouTube on Game Boy Color - ThroatyMumbo/GBCYouTube
  • Getting YouTube to Work on a Game Boy Color - Throaty Mumbo
  • Watch YouTube On A Game Boy Color With A Special Cartridge (Hackaday)
  • Delta iOS Gains Physical Cartridge Support Thanks To Epilogue
  • GB Operator
  • SN Operator
  • Anbernic RG 55G1 is a Switch Lite Inspired Handheld Powered by the Snapdragon SoC (Yanko Design)
• Sony's Big Bad Week
  • An update on PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita
  • Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles
  • PlayStation Boss Teases New On-the-Go Console Experiences -Also:
  • AYANEO Pocket Vert Review: Premium Meets Portable, With a Dash of Disappointment

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, Federico, Brendon, and John consider the Steam Machine's pricing and early reviews.

Also available on YouTube here.

• Steam Machine launches today! (Steam Hardware announcement)
• Valve prices the Steam Machine at $1,049 (The Verge)
• Steam Machine officially priced at $1,049 and $1,349 as Valve describes brutal RAM supply crisis
• The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I've ever played (The Verge)
• Even Valve is Disappointed – Steam Machine Review (Linus Tech Tips)
• Steam Machine Review: Valve's New Console/PC Hybrid (IGN)
• Steam Machine Review: Beautiful Hardware, But What About Performance... And Price? (Digital Foundry)
• Valve will finally let you build your own Steam Machine with SteamOS for desktop (The Verge)

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

• NPC Feedback Form

Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte

• MacStories.net
• Wavelengths.online

• NPC
• Federico
• John
• Brendon

• NPC
• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees
• Brendon Bigley

Affiliate Linking Policy