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Just a few years ago, it was hard to imagine playing our childhood games online. Multiplayer was limited to sofa evenings with several controllers and split screens, or even, a little later, to LAN games on PC.

Let's face it, it's hard to recapture that feeling today, so much so that we often raise the positive point when a modern game offers split-screen... Fortunately, there's now a way to network play your childhood games with your friends on Recalbox: Netplay! 🚀 Here's how to take advantage of it.

🛠️ Prerequisites

✔️ Have Recalbox up to date (9.2.3 at the time of writing).

✔️ Connect your Recalbox to the network, preferably RJ45 📶 (Wi-Fi can be unstable).

✔️ Have the same ROMs as your friends to ensure compatibility.

⚠️ Points of attention before you get started

Not all systems are compatible with Netplay ❌. Don't worry if you want to score with several people on arcade, MAME and FBNeo are compatible. Other consoles are of course compatible such as Mega Drive, NES, Super NES and many others that we are trying to update as we go along.

We invite you to watch 🎥 Fabrice's video (from 1 min 40) for more details and to join us on the Netplay channel of our Discord 💬 for the full list of compatible systems (and to find gaming partners!).

⚙️ Set up Netplay

1️⃣ Go to Game Options > Netplay Options.

2️⃣ Activate Netplay, enter your nickname and note down the port number, which you can use later.

3️⃣ Leave the Netplay Relay Server set to "None" (only useful on certain public networks).

4️⃣ Set a password to privatise your parts.

5️⃣ Activate "Hash ROMs" to guarantee compatibility with your friends.

🎲 Host a game

1️⃣ Choose your game and launch it by pressing Y (triangle on PS1) instead of A (X on PS1).

2️⃣ A pop-up will appear to set up password protection.

3️⃣ Click on Start to launch the game!

🎮 Join a game

1️⃣ Stay on the system selection screen and press Y (triangle on PS1).

2️⃣ A list of games in progress will appear: 📌

On the left: the games concerned.

👤 On the right: the host nickname + other useful info (compatibility, core used, etc.).

3️⃣ Select the game and choose whether to join as a player or spectator.

4️⃣ Enter the password provided by the host and... off you go! 🚀 ---

⚡ Maximise compatibility and reduce latency

To improve the stability of your connection, you can open the ports on your box.

1️⃣ Connect to the administrator interface of your box (specific addresses of operators at the bottom of the article under the video).

2️⃣ Add the port number indicated in the Netplay menu.

3️⃣ Result: improved compatibility and reduced latency.

📺 A detailed demonstration is available from 10 minutes in the video below, with an example on the BBox. As each box has its own settings, you can easily find tutorials on the Internet.

🏠 Netplay locally

If you have two Recalboxes connected to the same network and want to play Netplay together, you'll need:

🔧 Change the port number on one of the two Recalboxes.

📡 Add this port in the administrator interface of your Internet box.

✅ This will prevent conflicts between the two Recalboxes and ensure a stable connection!

🎉 Ready to play!

Now you're ready for your online adventure!

🎮 Whether you are using HDMI, RGB Dual or RGB JAMMA on an arcade terminal 🕹️, these different pieces of hardware do not interfere with Netplay.

💡 The main thing is to have the same ROMs (hashed), the same core and the same version of Recalbox.

📺 Below, find Fabrice's video 🎥 on which this tutorial is based.

📢 Need help? Join us on Discord 💬 !

More details on our Wiki

ACCESS YOUR BOX MANAGEMENT INTERFACE:

▪️ Orange - Livebox 4/5/6/7 : http://livebox/ Adresse IP : 192.168.1.1 Identifiant : admin Mot de passe : 8 premiers caractères de la clé WiFi

▪️ Orange - Livebox Play : http://livebox/ Adresse IP : 192.168.1.1 Identifiant : admin Mot de passe : A définir lors de la 1ère connexion

▪️ Free - Freebox (tous les modèles) : http://mafreebox.freebox.fr Adresse IP : n/a Identifiant : n/a Mot de passe : A définir lors de la 1ère connexion

▪️ SFR - NB4 / NB6 / Box Plus : n/a Adresse IP : 192.168.1.1 Identifiant : admin Mot de passe : clé de sécurité WiFi

▪️ SFR - Box THD (câble) : http://monmodem Adresse IP : 192.168.0.1 Identifiant : admin Mot de passe : Mot de passe indiqué sur l’étiquette sous la box

▪️ Bouygues Telecom Bbox (modem blanc) : https://mabbox.bytel.fr Adresse IP : 192.168.1.254 Identifiant : n/a Mot de passe : A définir lors de la 1ère connexion

▪️ Bouygues Telecom Ancienne Bbox : https://mabbox.bytel.fr Adresse IP : 192.168.1.254 Identifiant : admin Mot de passe : admin (par défaut)

Mega Cat Studios recently shared an update on their highly anticipated shoot’em up ZPF scheduled for Mega Drive / Genesis, and which we already told you about a few weeks ago. On this occasion, a new trailer (which you will find at the bottom of the article) focused on the game’s story was unveiled, along with an important announcement: the release date for Kickstarter and pre-orders rewards is postponed from Q1 2025 to May.

A dive into the world of ZPF

The new trailer is narrated by a mysterious character named Quigely who introduces the three playable heroes and the game’s three distinct worlds. Each character has its own story and is presented in a beautiful pencil style:

• Knight is an ancient armor forged by forgotten gods, now piloted by a magician of great talent.
• Gold is a cyborg who takes on dangerous missions for the authorities of a futuristic city.
• Gladius is a ship piloted by one of the last survivors of a space colony decimated by an alien invasion, seeking revenge against these mutant abominations.

Fate brings the three protagonists together through a series of time-lapses that push them to face an unknown evil force.

Development almost completed, but inevitable delay

According to the developers, ZPF is almost finished and the team is now focusing on final adjustments. However, unexpected "delays from suppliers during the holiday season" forced Mega Cat Studios to postpone release. This additional time will allow to refine the game by performing extensive tests to ensure a smooth and seamless experience.

Kickstarter success

ZPF made a splash in its fundraising campaign on July 2024, reaching more than 1000% of its original target. This success is a testament to the enthusiasm of players for this project that combines frenetic action, impressive boss battles and a survitaminated soundtrack.

With this slight delay, fans of shoot’em up retro will have to wait a little longer before they can get their hands on this promising title. Meanwhile, the new trailer provides a foretaste of the epic adventure ahead.

You couldn't miss the election of the new President of the United States, Donald Trump. The 47th President of the United States is not one to mince his words. The proof is in the forthcoming imposition of customs duties, particularly on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.

These tariffs are of particular concern to the retrogaming community in the United States, for one simple reason: almost all retro hardware comes from China. The YouTube channel Retro Game Corps, which lists many handheld consoles, looked into the matter:

*"I'm seeing a lot of questions about US tariffs on handheld consoles, especially since the de minimis exception (which previously allowed 25% tariffs to not apply to handheld consoles) has been suspended. To

give a concrete example, this would mean seeing the Anbernic RG353M Recalbox compatible console in France rise from €159.90 to around €214, which considerably reduces its appeal.

RG353M

Mike Chi, the creator of RetroTink, is also concerned about the speed at which these new duties will be applied:

"New trade regulations are a source of uncertainty, especially as importers have little time to adapt. We strive to maintain the same experience for our domestic customers, but if this situation persists, US shipments could see their prices rise due to tariffs and compliance costs."

"Small businesses may face the greatest challenges in adapting to complex and often changing regulations, due to limited resources."

"The biggest concern at the moment is how sea and air shipments will be affected by the 4 February implementation date."

Other well-known names in the US retrogaming community, such as HD Retrovision (renowned supplier of quality AV cables) or modder Voultar, point out that new stock will be immediately impacted:

"I had hoped to stock up by the end of January, but I think all the inventory (including DIY edge enhancers) will be restocked in February. The new tariff has changed everything."

"Please support small businesses! It's"

important to note that the retrogaming community is largely made up of small businesses run by enthusiasts. These businesses, often financially fragile and operating in a niche with little room for manoeuvre, are likely to suffer from these new provisions.

Source: Time Extension

We regularly feature 8BitDo accessories, a manufacturer renowned for its high-quality, aesthetically pleasing controllers that are compatible with Recalbox.

These accessories also include keyboards. A few weeks ago, we brought you editions paying tribute to the Sega Saturn and the Xbox to mark the anniversaries of these consoles.

Until now, the entire range of 8BitDo keyboards has only been available with a layout US, in other words "QWERTY " keyboards. This situation is changing with the arrival of two models for the European market.

The C64, in the colours of the Commodore 64, will be available in a "British UK Layout " version, while the "N Edition ", in the colours of the NES, will be available in AZERTY for France, Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries.

Apart from this adaptation of the layout, no other changes are planned. There are still 87 keys, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, and two programmable “super buttons”. The technical specifications remain exactly the same as those of the versions released a few months ago.

Initial tests of the US versions have praised the quality of the 8BitDo keyboards, highlighting their materials, their solid colours and their resolutely retro design, faithful to the mechanical models of yesteryear.

These European versions will be distributed by Game Outlet Europe, a company specialising in video games and accessories.

8BitDo began shipping the retro mechanical keyboard in Europe in 2023 with great success," said David Karlsson, CEO of Game Outlet Europe, in a statement carried by Time Extension. "The demand for European-style layouts has been strong, and we are now delighted to launch a mechanical keyboard for our European customers, tailored to their region and offering both incredible functionality and unique retro style."

The "N Edition" AZERTY keyboard is already available on Amazon. Fingers crossed that other models will be adapted in the future

As every fortnight, you can participate in a new challenge proposed on the Discord of Recalbox. This challenge is open to everyone. The principle is simple: try to achieve the highest score on a game drawn by lot, often from the arcade catalog.

🚀 For this second 2025 challenge, the game selected is Gunbird 2

Released in 1998 on arcade, it is the sequel to Gunbird, released in 1994. Shoot 'em up vertical scrolling developed by Psikyo, Gunbird 2 offers six “hunters” each with their own gameplay. The game offers a colourful universe with steampunk/piracy sauce.

The game has a cute and colorful art direction, as well as very inventive bosses that have impressed minds with their difficulty. It was later ported to the Dreamcast and PlayStation.

🏆The rules of the challenge

At the controls of one of the six protagonists, your objective will be to achieve the highest score in a single credit.

Each character has its own abilities, thus allowing multiple attempts to find the right shoe for you. Like any shoot 'em up that respects itself, you will benefit from a main shot, a charged shot, bombs and a special melee hit, devastating but very risky.

💡 Some tips to shine:

• 🎯 Destroy with precision, aim at the source of enemy fire.
• ⚔️ The attack to the melee will be paramount.
• 🎮 Strategically dismantle each part of the bosses.
• 🔄 Persevere and “learn” the boards, the game is very difficult.

📢 How do I participate?

1. 🎮 Launch the game. (rom "gunbird2")
2. 🏹 Play and try to beat the high score.
3. 📸 Take a screenshot or photo of your final score.
4. 📤 Share your score on the Discord channel #challenges or use the command /submit score leaderboard on that same channel.

⚖️Rules to follow

To ensure fairness in the challenge:

• The score must be achieved in a single credit, without save state, rewind, cheats or auto-fire (unless provided for in the game).

🎁 Rewards and fair play

The challenge is mainly to discover games, share tips and, of course, have fun, all in a spirit of competition always welcome!

The winner will win a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of over 80 titles. Note that if you have won a challenge in the last three months, the prize will go to the next 🥇🥈🥉.

Good luck to all, and may the best score win! 🎮 🔥

As you probably already know, your support via Patreon entitles you, among other things, to discount codes on certain online shops. Three new partners are joining us and two are returning, so here's an update:

Four new shops, and not the least, are joining us!

• Tenzen Arcade: The new player in the retrogaming community. Tenzen Arcade will unearth original arcade terminals for you. With a stock displayed in real time and the possibility of placing an order if you want a specific model, any purchase of a Japanese candy cab, such as (New) Astro City, (New) Net City, Blast City, Aero City etc... (excluding NUC) from Tenzen Arcade entitles you to a free Recalbox RGB JAMMA + Pi5 kit.

• SmallCab: The essential site for components for your arcade cabinet, with more than 2000 references on offer. Created in 2008, it is now a leading site for DIY kiosks. Take advantage of an 8% discount on your basket.

• Neofid: The French studio behind DaemonClaw, Demons of Asteborg and Astebros is offering a 15% discount on its shop. You'll find physical cartridges for Mega Drive, Neo Geo and Game Boy Advance, as well as dematerialised ROMs for their games.

• Kubii: Do we still need to introduce the official Raspberry supplier in France? The store offers the entire range marketed by the Raspberry Foundation, and much more besides: Retroflag cases, 8BitDo controllers and sticks, arcade hardware, and even Recalbox goodies and clothing! Take advantage of a 5% discount on purchases of €50 or more.

Two partners are back!

• L'Écureuil Noir : We're back with €10 off, discover a wide range of books dedicated to video games and the Pop Culture that marked our childhood.

• Red Art Games: Back with a 10% discount, this publisher offers a wide range of neo-retro physical games for Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. The titles selected are of consistently high quality, and are often featured on Fabrice's live shows.

Two partners are always on hand.

• Killer Laser: Take advantage of a 10% discount on laser-cut and laser-engraved decorations designed to enhance your gaming room.

• Flex Arcade: These French designers of retro metal arcade machines offer customisable models with premium finishes, designed to last a lifetime. A €150 discount is offered on their creations.

Benefits on Recalbox hardwares.

Finally, don't forget that your support also entitles you to a 10% discount on our shop, which offers the RGB Dual and the RGB JAMMA. These plug-and-play solutions are ideal for bringing your CRT screens and JAMMA kiosks back to life. And who knows, maybe some new hardwares will join this catalogue soon..

To take advantage of these discounts, you'll find your ‘promo codes ’ in your Patron area.

For those who don't know, Patreon allows you to financially support a project (such as Recalbox). This support is optional, and there are several formulas available to suit everyone's possibilities, with no obligation.

Because your support is essential to us, we owe these ‘Patrons ’ benefits to you. Other exclusive benefits reward your support: priority scraping, exclusive music and wallpapers, dedicated channels on Discord... All this is a way of saying thank you. Thank you for supporting the project, thank you for pushing us to go further, and thank you for making Recalbox what it is today.

I'd also like to say a final word of thanks to our partners, for their trust and generosity, and for proving that Retrogaming is above all about community.

Many people want to restore an arcade cabinet or create one from scratch in the neo-borne style. We thought it was important to take a look at how this project works and to highlight the mistakes to avoid before getting started.

First of all, know that the aim is not to discourage you. In 2018, I created a bartop myself, and I can assure you that, in terms of DIY, hardware and software, I was far from an expert.

However, it's essential to be aware of a few things before taking the plunge, so as not to spend money unnecessarily, waste time, and above all, avoid getting discouraged.

This post is being written at a time when, on our Discord #support channel, we're seeing a lot of people getting stuck at various stages of their project. But these obstacles could have been avoided. Amos, our beta tester and support, reminded us of these crucial points, which we'll expand on here.

1️⃣ Learn about the arcade

The arcade is a fascinating world 🕹️: its history, its machines and the iconic games it has spawned. Take the time to find out more. Explore Facebook groups, check out forums, join our Discord, watch videos, but above all, never rely on just one source. You run the risk of encountering untruths or sincere opinions, but limited by a single point of view.

This research will also familiarise you with the vocabulary and codes of the arcade, which will naturally point you in one of two directions: restoring an original terminal or creating a terminal from scratch. The path will be quite different.

Personally, I find it much easier to create a bollard from scratch. You'll have full control over your components and know your “baby” inside out. What's more, it's much easier to find the components you need.

Restoring a vintage 🛠️ bollard (like the Aero City, Astro City, Naomi... models) requires more knowledge of the hardware and a bit more DIY.

🎛️ The RGB JAMMA solution with Recalbox

If you have a JAMMA bollard, Recalbox offers a Plug and Play solution: the RGB JAMMA. This kit is compatible with JAMMA, JAMMA+ and CHAMMA terminals.

The JAMMA system, which first appeared in the 80s, standardised the connection of signals, making it easier to change games on the same machine. This was a major advance at the time, because previously each terminal corresponded to a single game.

2️⃣ Restoring an arcade cabinet: the key steps

If you're embarking on the restoration of a vintage cabinet, here are a few essential steps:

🔍 Find and inspect the cabinet

✔️ Check the dimensions: some cabinets are bulky and heavy. Make sure you have enough room and a way to transport it safely.
✔️ Inspect the general condition: damaged wood, screen out of order, faulty wiring, etc. Make sure that not too many parts are missing, especially if it's a rare model.

🛠️ Test and repair

✔️ Electronics: test the power supply, check the motherboard (PCB) and change the capacitors if necessary.
✔️ Display: the original terminals are fitted with CRT screens, so check that the screen is not marked (burns due to static images). If the screen is too damaged, you can replace it or try to adapt an LCD screen.
✔️ Buttons and joystick: if these elements are worn or defective, complete kits are available to replace them (more on this below).

For greater peace of mind, you can also call on professionals to find you the terminal you want. Some of them have stocks, including Tenzen Arcade, a French company with whom we have a partnership if you support Recalbox via Patreon.

3️⃣ Creating a "Neo-Borne" bollard: from A to Z

If you prefer to create a "Neo-Borne " bollard (a made-to-measure bollard), you have several choices:

🔹 If you're a DIYer 🏗️: you can create the structure from scratch, usually in wood, then integrate the electronics, screen, buttons, etc.
🔹 If you're not a DIY enthusiast 🛒: several sites offer assembly kits, often in the form of wooden structures to be assembled.

⚠️ Be careful with ready-made models sold online, which often lack transparency regarding hardware and software.

Here too we can recommend one of our partners, Flex Arcade (pictured). With a metal chassis and quality components (Sanwa, Seimitsu), these terminals are destined to last and embellish your living room with their neo-retro style. If you're a 'Patron', you'll get a €150 discount on their creations.

4️⃣ Pay attention to the quality of materials and equipment

An arcade terminal project does not rhyme with saving money 💰. If you try to compromise, the final quality may suffer.

✔️ Structure: choose solid wood that can bear the weight. Don't overlook the quality of the panel, which houses the buttons and joysticks 🎮.
✔️ Hardware: avoid no-name products and go for recognised brands such as Xinmotek, Brook, PS360+ for encoders, and Sanwa, Seimitsu for joysticks and buttons.

SmallCab offers more than 2,000 references to supply you with components, buttons, joysticks, etc. If you are a Patron, you will receive an 8% discount on your basket.

5️⃣ Anticipate your choices before you start

It's essential to think your project through before buying materials and starting your project. It's much easier to change your mind before the work begins than to have to adapt during the project... which is sometimes impossible.

6️⃣ And what about Recalbox?

A quick reminder 📢 : Recalbox is open source software, designed to facilitate emulation. We are not hardware resellers (Kubii, 8BitDo, Xinmotek), but we do recommend certain brands.

Recalbox can help you with :
✅ The RGB JAMMA and RGB Dual to simplify hardware

✅ Software updates and support available on our Discord

📢 Before you buy, ask us! Ask us your questions and describe your problems precisely (example: "I'm on Raspberry Pi X, RGB JAMMA, Recalbox 9.2.3, and here's what's happening... ").

7️⃣ All in One project

We are currently developing the All in One, a hardware dedicated to arcade terminals that will clip onto a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5. This plug-and-play system will manage power, buttons (up to 8 per player), joysticks and amplified stereo sound....

📅 Expected release in 2025 😉

8️⃣ Recalbox resources 📖

To find out more, check out our wiki:

📌 The arcade: explains how arcade emulation works

📌 The Arcade in Recalbox : technical details on MAME, ROMSETS (Split, Merged, Non-Merged), BIOS, CHD...

If these terms seem complex to you, you should know that it's important to understand them to optimise your installation.

🎮 A word of personal advice: You'll soon want to load your terminal with dozens and dozens of systems with hundreds or even thousands of games, which isn't necessarily very useful, and as you can guess, arcade emulation isn't "turnkey", so many systems can mean so many software complications. **For my part, I only use FBNeo (10,000 compatible games), and that's more than enough for me!

With the release of the Raspberry Pi 5 a few months ago, many people are looking to upgrade from the Pi 3 or 4 to the Pi 5. We can only recommend this upgrade: the Pi 5 offers greater comfort in the Recalbox menus and improved performance on demanding games (certain “Cave” arcade games, PS1, Dreamcast, Saturn, etc.). What's more, with the arrival of version 10, new systems will require the Pi 5 to work properly.

However, there is one major obstacle preventing some users from taking the plunge: the fear of losing their data (games, backups, BIOS). This tutorial explains how to migrate safely. It's taken directly from Fabrice's video, which you'll find at the bottom of the article.

We assume that all your data (Recalbox, games, etc.) is stored on a microSD card before this migration.

📌 Step 1: Check Recalbox is up to date

Go to Main Menu > Update and make sure you have the latest version.

📅 At the time of writing, the required version is 9.2.3.

📌 Step 2: Back up your games, saves and BIOS

We're going to create a backup:

1️⃣ Switch off your Recalbox and remove the microSD card.

2️⃣ Connect it to a PC. Two partitions should appear: "RECALBOX" and "SHARE".

If either is missing, right-click on "Start", then open "Disk Management". Add a letter to the invisible partition, it will be displayed immediately.

3️⃣ In the "SHARE" partition, copy the ROMS / SAVE / BIOS folders and paste them into a "backup" folder on your desktop.

🛑 To avoid any compatibility problems, limit yourself to these three folders.

📌 Step 3: Download and install Recalbox on the Pi 5

Use Raspberry Pi Imager:

1️⃣ Select Raspberry Pi 5 as the model.
2️⃣ Choose Recalbox in the "Emulation and game OS " tab.
3️⃣ Select your microSD card as the storage device and start writing.

💡 Important advice :

• Use a microSD U3 for best performance (optimal read/write).
• Choose recognised brands** (SanDisk is a good choice).
• A 32GB card is more than enough**, your games will be stored elsewhere.
• This operation will erase all the data** already on the card.
• Once writing is complete, remove the microSD from your PC.

📌 Step 4: Install and configure Recalbox

1️⃣ Insert the microSD card into the Pi 5 switched off, then turn it on.
2️⃣ Let Recalbox install and configure your settings (language, display...).

📺 If you want more details on the settings, go to Fabrice's video from 9 minutes onwards.

3️⃣ Systematically configure your controller, even if it seems to be detected correctly.

4️⃣ Update the bootloader (in the advanced settings).

5️⃣ Restart Recalbox to save settings.

📌 Step 5: Prepare your external media to store your games

To avoid losing your games in the event of a problem with the microSD, we always recommend using external media (USB key, hard drive...).

1️⃣ Format your media to exFAT, even if it's brand new.
2️⃣ Connect your Recalbox on.
3️⃣ A message appears: Select "Initialise " (not "Move SHARE"!).
4️⃣ Once the operation is complete, unplug your external media and plug it into your PC.
5️⃣ Go to the folder Recalbox > roms and paste your ROMS folder saved in "backup " into it.

💡 Windows will ask you if you want to replace or keep the duplicate files: keep them.

📌 Step 6: Restore your Recalbox and BIOS

1️⃣ Power down your Recalbox and remove the microSD.
2️⃣ Connect it to your PC and open the "SHARE " folder.
3️⃣ Copy the BIOS and SAVE folders from your backup (on your PC) and paste them into "SHARE " (on your microSD).

4️⃣ When Windows asks to replace or keep files, keep them.

💡 If you don't want to use external media, you can ignore step 5 and copy your ROMS directly into "SHARE " on the microSD along with your saves and BIOS.

📌 Step 7: Finalise

1️⃣ Insert the microSD into the Recalbox.
2️⃣ Turn it on, then plug in your external media.
3️⃣ A message is displayed to re-launch the interface: Accept.
4️⃣ Check that everything is recognised (scrapped games, saves, BIOS).

🎉 Your migration is complete! You can now enjoy your Raspberry Pi 5 with Recalbox.

🚨 Good practices and support

✔️ Never unplug the microSD when the Raspberry Pi is switched on.
✔️ Cleanly eject the microSD before removing it from the PC.
✔️ If you have any doubts or specific configuration, go to the channel #support on our Discord.

🎥 Find Fabrice's video below for a visual accompaniment!

The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has just launched Early Access to its digital library, a unique resource for journalists, YouTubers and video game enthusiasts. This ambitious project aims to preserve and make accessible a wide variety of historical documents related to the video games industry.

Since its creation in 2017, the Video Game History Foundation has been working to digitise and archive magazines, press kits, CD-ROMs, videos and other essential documents, which are often difficult to access or threatened with disappearance. Thanks to this new platform, users can now explore these resources freely via an advanced search, making it possible to find games, publishers or even game styles.

From its launch, the library offers six major collections, including :

• The guides and documents for the first twelve editions of E3.
• An exclusive collection of FromSoftware promotional material.
• Over 100 CD-ROMs of artwork and press releases from the GamePro archives.
• Over 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage of Cyan's development of Myst.
• The archives of Mark Flitman, former producer at Konami and Acclaim.
• A selection of rare magazines and other period media.

For the time being, all the documents are in English. It is not yet certain that French-language archives will be added to the collection, but we can remain optimistic in view of the many resources held by certain enthusiasts, notably Recalbox users, and the French footprint in the world of video games.

Phil Salvador, who initiated the project, is urging archive holders to get in touch with the Video Game History Foundation:

"On the internet, magazines often tend to be either a bunch of PDFs on a torrent, or a very large collection that is only available in person or is locked away. While we have a lot of respect for all those who make documents available, we want to give researchers a structure. I hope that this will encourage people who have access to rare and interesting documents to give priority to open access and to find a way of organising it so that it is useful to users." He saids for Time Extension.

Access to this library is free, but those who wish to support the project and ensure its development can do so via Patreon.

With this initiative, the Video Game History Foundation hopes to encourage the preservation of videogame heritage and encourage studios and collectors to share their archives with the community.

Photos: Video Game History Foundation

From 23 to 25 May 2025, come and meet the Recalbox team at HFS Summer 2025!

This event will take you back to the atmosphere of the arcades, with over 150 arcade machines, pinball machines and retrogaming consoles available for free access! It's a great time to share with family and friends, in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

If you're feeling competitive, there will also be LAN tournaments:

• Family tournaments for fun
• International tournaments with top players

Get ready for spectacular clashes on Street Fighter, Fatal Fury, Capcom vs SNK, Virtua Fighter, Windjammers... A unique opportunity to see players from the Fighting eSport scene go head-to-head in a supercharged atmosphere!

A not-to-be-missed retrogaming event

For its 11ᵉ edition, HFS Summer has established itself as a key retrogaming event. Fans of arcade terminals and partners are coming together to offer you meetings and non-stop gaming, at the heart of the French and international retrogaming community.

📍 Location: Halle des Expositions, Évreux
🎟 Prices and bookings on billetweb.fr:

• 3-day pass: €49
• Friday: €19
• Saturday: €24
• Sunday: €19
• Free for children under 8.

📅 Tournament registration before 9 May 2025.

Organisation and broadcasting

A dedicated Discord is available on Billetweb to help you organise your journey. Don't forget to share your arrival on the Recalbox Discord to organise meetings between users and Recalbox staff on site.

Follow the event live on the Twitch HFS Summer channel.

Photos: HFS Summer / Eric Sztelma / Healmely

It's through trademark registrations that some retrogamers are nurturing the hope of a comeback. This time, it's SEGA that's making that promise, having re-filed the trademarks Skies of Arcadia and Arcadia Eternal (the Japanese equivalent) on 16 January.

No official announcement has followed these filings, which leaves us uncertain as to their intentions. It could simply be a matter of ‘protecting’ the trademarks, or it could be a project in the pipeline. But what kind of project? A remake, a sequel, or even a new medium? For now, the mystery remains.

Whatever the case, a wind of optimism is blowing through RPG fans. SEGA is particularly active at the moment with projects for its iconic franchises, such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Virtua Fighter. Meanwhile, Skies of Arcadia has a strong fan base, and a sequel or remake has long been called for.

Released in 2000 for the Dreamcast, Skies of Arcadia made a lasting impression with its fresh universe, storyline and flying boat combat mechanics. The game was then improved and re-released on GameCube in 2002 under the name Skies of Arcadia Legends. No sequel or remaster has been released since.

The game is playable on Recalbox via the Dreamcast version. We recommend using the Raspberry Pi 5 for the best experience.

Retrogaming fans, you've probably already heard about the next hot FPGA machine: the SuperStation One. Retroremake, the group behind the project, has just revealed the details of the console and its price.

Retroremake is already well known to the retrogaming community, thanks in particular to its MiSTer FPGA project, an open source platform designed to recreate retro consoles and computers in hardware form.

A console dedicated to the original PlayStation

As its name suggests, the SuperStation One focuses on the original PlayStation, with a design inspired by the PS One (the ‘slim’ version of the PS1). The console can read PS1 ROMs thanks to an FPGA circuit, eliminating the need for emulation, as the device is designed to faithfully reproduce the original hardware.

Nevertheless, in order to meet the expectations of potential buyers, the developers have specified that the console will be compatible with the MiSTer FPGA platform. This will make it possible to play titles from other retro systems thanks to the addition of new cores.

An experience designed for purists

For those who want to use their original PS1 CDs, Retroremake is offering a dock called SuperDock, which attaches to the underside of the SuperStation One and lets you run your physical discs.

The console has two ports for original PS1 controllers and two memory card slots, as on the PS One. In keeping with the retro spirit, the Power button and Eject button are positioned exactly as they were back in the day. However, the Eject button has been redesigned to act as a Reset button.

Comprehensive connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the SuperStation One does not disappoint:

• Video outputs: HDMI (1536p/1446p), Composite / RCA, VGA, DIN and Component.
• A Mini Jack output for connecting an external audio system.
• One Audio Digital output (optical).
• Two USB ports.
• One Ethernet port. Integration of Bluetooth and WiFi.
• A MicroSD port, particularly for back-ups.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Pre-orders now open

The SuperStation One is available for pre-order at a price of $179.99, with a choice of three colours: grey, black or translucent blue.

Due to its FGPA nature, this console is NOT compatible with Recalbox (like all FGPA consoles), our solution being an emulation solution unlike FGPA systems.

Photos: Retro Remake

Released in the arcade in 1993, Mortal Kombat II has been ported to numerous platforms. Gamers on Game Boy, SNES, Mega Drive, Amiga, Master System, Sega Saturn and PlayStation were able to enjoy the famous fatalities right in their living rooms.

Now a group of independent developers have brought the game to a platform that was neglected at the time, the 3DO.

A long-term project

Le projet, présenté en 2023 par le développeur 3DO HD, a considérablement progressé depuis. A recent video posted on their YouTube channel reveals advanced gameplay and confirms that the port is now ready for launch. The first images show an impressive respect for the original arcade version, with sprites and backgrounds faithful to the original game.

Technical challenges

With its memory and resolution limitations, 3DO posed a number of challenges for the developers. Despite these constraints, the port features :

• All the original characters and stages,
• A single-player mode, a VS mode and a training mode with no timer or life bar,
• A stage explorer mode and even secret fighters to come.

However, some concessions were necessary. For example, fighter-specific fatalities are not yet included, and Shang Tsung can currently only transform into the opponent he's fighting. 3DO HD saids:

"This is still a BETA version. At the moment, the latest version is 5.01, as shown on the Start menu screen. I will continue to post patches on the same link. The Mortal Kombat intellectual property is owned by MK / Netherrealm. This is a non-profit fan project for a 30 year old console that has never received a port.

There will be bugs. I'll fix them as I find them. If you're playing with a CD, there may be slight audio skips when the scenery changes in the intro and ending. There are no fighter-specific fatalities in this version. Shang Tsung can only become an adversary. Soon I'll start work on the ‘full’ version, which will include fatalities, babalities, friendships and the fact that Shang Tsung can turn into anyone."

A promising beta version

Although still in the beta phase, version 5.01 is already available for download. The developer is continuing to make improvements and is planning a full version, with all the game's iconic features.

To download this port, go to 3DO HD's Google Drive. If you'd like to support their work, a Ko-Fi page is also available, as are their other ports, such as Tetris 1&2 for 3DO, accessible on their GitHub page.

Source: RetroRGB, Time Extension

Zetof, one of our users and an active member of our Discord, has informed us of the availability of the first demo of Cronela's Mansion, a point-and-click game inspired by the LucasArts classic, Maniac Mansion, released in 1987 for Commodore 64 and Apple II.

The brainchild of Spanish homebrew developer Straynus, Cronela's Mansion will be available on NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PC/MS-DOS and even Nintendo Switch!

For the time being, the demo is only available on the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and NES versions. Zetof has tested the NES version on Recalbox and reports that it runs perfectly.

If you'd like to try it out, the demo is available at itch.io. The developer points out that you can flash a cartridge to play on a console, or use an emulator. He particularly recommends playing on a CRT TV for a ‘magical’ experience.

Four years in the making, the game oozes passion and has been given special care in its visuals. The story promises to be rich and will take place in an open world. Straynus told Time Extension:

"Players will only control Tommy. The other characters are the family who live in the mansion (enemies or allies?). Cronela is Anibal and Hedda's mother, and the zombie (Pavel) is Cronela's brother (and Anibal and Hedda's uncle). The reason why Tommy has to go to the mansion is still a secret. The game will be an open world, so we won't be limited to the mansion."

If you're interested in the game, you can download the demo and sign up on the project's Kickstarter to be notified once it's online so you can take part in the fundraising. By taking part in the fundraiser, you'll also have the chance to buy physical versions of the game for your preferred platform, along with exclusive goodies from the game's universe.

Finally, the announcement of the game was accompanied by a tasteful animated trailer, which we invite you to discover below:

As a watch fan, I couldn't resist sharing the news that my bank account will be depleted in just a few days' time.

But there are no Rolexes, Mauboussins, Tudors or Apple Watches in my drawers. If I had to choose just two brands, they would be Swatch and, of course, CASIO. And if I had to sum up what these Japanese watches represent, I wouldn't go any further than the source of this article: Retrododo, which I quote:

"They're iconic, instantly recognisable, have a retro design and could probably withstand being dropped off a cliff after being stolen from your wrist by an eagle. Battery life also seems to be one of the greatest mysteries of our childhoods - I swear mine never gave up the ghost!"

If CASIO is of interest to us today, it's because of the collaboration announced at the end of the year on YouTube (video at the bottom of the article) and relaunched a few days ago on the brand's official Instagram.

To celebrate 50 years of watches and 45 years of PAC-MAN, CASIO has teamed up with Bandai to bring us four watches featuring the little yellow gobbler and his ghosts.

From left to right in the photo illustrating the article:

• A168WEPC-7A: with its instantly recognisable ‘CASIO’ design, dressed all in grey with its brushed metal strap, the watch has a blue light that displays a WAKA-WAKA message, also visible on the clasp. On the face of the watch, the pastel blue PAC-MAN features surround the dial, and the ghosts are never far away. Advertised price: €79.95.

• F-91WPC-1A**: with exactly the same design and features, but this time in black with a black biosourced resin strap. Advertised price: €59.95 (the cheapest in the range).

• ABL-100WEPC-1B**: the connected watch in this collection (Bluetooth). The dial features an image of the game in black and white, while a splash of colour appears at the bottom with two PAC-MANs and the famous cherry that offered bonus points in the game. The black metal strap lets you show off your geekiness while remaining sober. Advertised price: €130 (the most expensive in the range).

• CA-53WPC-1B: the calculator watch in the collection. No more sobriety, here the predominant colour is firecracker yellow! Beneath the dial displaying the time are the 16 calculator buttons arranged in the game's maze. Advertised price: €79.95.

The watches are not yet available in France via the official CASIO website, but some retailers are already stocking them.

Note that this is not the first collaboration between CASIO and Bandai, who have previously offered the A100WEPC-1B, among others, with the partnership existing for over forty years.

Dreamcast ports have been prolific in recent weeks. After Minecraft and GTA 3, it's now the turn of Valve's iconic franchises, Half-Life and Counter-Strike, to show off their polygons on SEGA's console.

A Russian developer by the name of Maximqad is currently working on a port of the Xash3D engine, designed to be compatible with Half-Life. This ambitious project paves the way for the adaptation of numerous games using this engine, including Counter-Strike. Thanks to his work, it is now possible to play online games of Half-Life Deathmatch: Source (2006) and Counter-Strike (2000) on Dreamcast, a technical feat that is already generating a great deal of enthusiasm in the community.

Dreamcast specialist developer Falco Girgis recently shared images of Counter-Strike running online, although he warned that the project is still in its early stages:

"WHAT KIND OF ENGINE IS THIS? That ‘very special’ new Half-Life compatible engine, Xash3D, that @craf7y24 barely ported to the Sega Dreamcast the other day? ...Well here's a direct hardware capture of that engine that brings us back online with COUNTER-STRIKE 1.6 running on the DC!".

For the moment, no specific optimisations have been made to the console's hardware, but it does suggest that there is considerable potential for improvement. Other videos also show two players on a Half-Life map.

Despite graphical bugs and adjustments that are still needed, Maximqad's progress shows that the Dreamcast, although old, continues to fascinate fans and independent developers alike.

SEGA's latest console, which is similar in architecture to the PCs of the early 2000s, remains a favourite playground for homebrew developers, who are constantly pushing the limits of this machine with ports that are as surprising as they are ambitious.

Source: MagMO5, Time Extension

In a press release published on Friday, Atari congratulated itself on its resolutely retrogaming strategy.

Hardware true to its heritage

On the hardware front, the American company recently re-released updated versions of its iconic consoles: the 2600 and 7800. Unlike the ‘mini’ re-releases offered by Nintendo and SEGA, which include around twenty pre-installed games, Atari is banking on authenticity by allowing these new consoles to read the original 2600 and 7800 cartridges, thus strengthening its link with its heritage.

Software successes in 2024

On the software front, Atari also enjoyed great success in 2024 with titles such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind, The Thing: Remastered and RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic. The company also consolidated its position in 2023 by acquiring two major retrogaming players: Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios.

"The 2023 acquisitions of Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios have significantly deepened the company's expertise in retro games from the 1970s to the early 2000s on PCs and modern consoles, and strengthened the company's skills and reputation for rights acquisition and content development around some of the world's most beloved intellectual properties," said Wade Rosen, Atari's Chairman and CEO.

A successful fourth quarter

Wade Rosen also praised Atari's performance in 2024:

"It was critical for Atari to execute our retro strategy in 2024, and I am extremely pleased with the company's performance across all of our businesses. Ending the year with such an enthusiastic response to our fourth quarter games - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind and The Thing: Remastered, as well as the release of RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic on Nintendo Switch - I am confident that our strategy will lead to even greater success in 2025."

Retrogaming in 2025

Atari is fully committed to its retrogaming strategy, banking on the nostalgia and popularity of its historic licences. The year 2025 promises to be full of re-releases, new games and, who knows, hardware surprises.

Source: Time Extension

The original game Prince of Persia, released in 1989 for the Apple II, can now be played on Dreamcast.

The title was a huge success thanks to its captivating world and, above all, its avant-garde animations for the time. These used the rotoscoping technique to reproduce realistic movement dynamics.

This port is based on SDLPoP, an open source disassembly of the DOS version of the game, which has already been adapted for many other platforms.

For this port, homebrew developer memorix101 used the Dreamcast SDL2 library, designed by programmer Troy Davis. A solution that necessitated the adaptation of a number of features.

Nevertheless, the developer has succeeded in integrating the ability to perform Dreamcast-specific quick saves (VMU) into his port, which, in return, takes time away from players' runs.

Currently in the alpha stage, the project is available for download (CDI image) from GitHub. For fans of the Prince of Persia saga, it's worth noting that the first opus, its many ports and its sequels can also be played on Recalbox on a number of platforms.

Source: Time Extension

This is the story of an exceptional book. Three years ago, author and illustrator Philip Summers set off on a Kickstarter adventure to fund hand-illustrated guides to classic games from the 80s.

The campaign was a runaway success, with almost 4,700 contributors raising $322,000. But the enthusiasm wasn't enough to bring the project to fruition, for one simple reason: Philip Summers didn't own the rights to the franchises he was working on.

The project had to be abandoned on the last day of the fund-raising campaign.

Motivated by the support he received, Summers continued to work on his drawings while working discreetly to negotiate the rights that would allow him to publish an officially licensed guide.

And so, in partnership with NF Publishing and with Capcom's blessing, Philip Summers is offering his very first official hand-drawn guide: "Hand-Drawn Game Guides: Mega Man ’.

Launched just three days ago, the project has already raised almost €70,000 of the €19,302 requested, thanks to 1,404 contributors at the time of writing. In fact, the target was reached in just 12 minutes!

As well as making it possible to produce the book, this success could encourage Capcom to repeat the experience with future projects in the same spirit.

We invite you to discover the Kickstarter page, which reveals some illustrations taken from the book. After all, these are not just drawings: the entire guide is hand-drawn.

Characters, levels, tips, traps... everything is meticulously drawn with a remarkable pencil stroke that exudes passion and attention to detail. This 200-page guide will help you rediscover the secrets of the original Mega Man adventure (1987) and Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge (released on Game Boy in 1991).

Photos: NF Publishing

Source: mag.mo5.com

The PlayStation Plus catalogue will be expanded on 21 January with the arrival of a number of new games, including a title from the PlayStation Classic range that is sure to delight fans of retrogaming.

Medievil II, released in 2000 on PlayStation, joins over a hundred classic titles. A direct sequel to MediEvil, this game takes us back to the world of the skeletal hero Sir Daniel Fortesque, awakened after 500 years of well-earned rest for a new adventure set in England.

The version on offer is a remastered version: the original game, developed by SCE Studio Cambridge (now Guerrilla Cambridge), has been given a slight visual facelift. So it's not a complete remake, unlike the first MediEvil, released in 2019 and developed by Other Ocean Interactive, which offered a modern reinterpretation of the game.

MediEvil is an iconic franchise of the early PlayStation era, on a par with Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider. It stands out for its technical quality, quirky universe, charismatic hero and clear inspiration from the world of Tim Burton.

To enjoy MediEvil II, you'll need to subscribe to the PlayStation Plus Premium service or buy it individually. Note that the first instalment of MediEvil is also available, allowing you to discover the story in chronological order.

Finally, for fans of retrogaming, MediEvil titles can be played via Recalbox on PlayStation 1.