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Famous cyberpunk racing game with a strong narrative dimension, Screamer is set to make its big comeback thanks to a reboot planned for 2026. Announced at The Game Awards, this new installment is being developed by the Italian studio Milestone.

The developers are well known for their expertise in racing games. MotoGP, F1, Monster Truck, Hot Wheels... so many diverse franchises that have captivated a wide community of players, notably thanks to rich and well-packed content.

The goal now is to revive a legendary franchise from the 90s. Originally developed back then by Milestone (then known as Graffiti), Screamer is an arcade racing game released on PC, inspired by titles like Ridge Racer and Daytona USA. It offered a fast-paced, intense, and very colorful racing experience, in the pure tradition of arcade halls.

The game had several sequels (Screamer 2, Screamer Rally, Screamer 4x4), but the very first remains an important milestone in the history of PC racing games, often cited as one of the best arcade titles from the mid-90s.

A gameplay video of the reboot was released this weekend, offering a glimpse of the game running on PS5. It showcases a graphic style marked by colorful cel-shading, set in a nighttime atmosphere bathed in retro-futuristic neon lights.

We also see the possibility of performing takedowns and what appear to be power-ups. While the aesthetics are promising, the game seems—at this stage of development—to lack dynamism and feels a bit stiff. But many months of production are still ahead, and the resources involved give hope for a strong evolution.

“Drawing inspiration from 80s and 90s anime and manga, the game’s narrative and visual universe will be its heart and soul,” states the press release.

“The game benefits from collaborations with leading partners, including animated cinematics created in partnership with Polygon Pictures (Love, Death + Robots, Star Wars, Transformers, Godzilla…), one of the oldest and most renowned Japanese animation studios, as well as the participation of Troy Baker, famous American actor and one of the most iconic voices in video games (The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite, Uncharted…).”

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for this new project that we leave you to discover in the video below:

If you’re a fan of shoot’em ups, you surely know R-Type Delta. Released in 1998 on the original PlayStation, this entry marked a turning point for the series with its 2.5D style and impressive graphics for the time. Good news: R-Type Delta is coming back in a remastered version, called R-Type Delta HD Boosted!

Announced during the latest IGN Live, this remaster is developed by City Connection and published by Clear River Games. It will launch sometime in 2025 on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC (Steam). If you want to brush up on the saga, know that the R-Type titles are playable on Recalbox.

For younger players or those who missed the train back then: R-Type is a cult series born in 1987 on arcade machines. Created by Irem, the franchise quickly established itself as a genre-defining reference with its biomechanical enemies, dark atmosphere, and massive bosses. Delta marked the series’ move into the 3D era while maintaining precise and challenging 2D gameplay.

This HD Boosted version promises a modern visual overhaul while respecting the original gameplay. The exact release date is still unknown aside from a vague “2025,” but one thing’s for sure: the Bydo Empire better watch out!

And that’s not all: fans of the franchise can also look forward to the arrival of R-Type Tactics I & II Cosmos, also scheduled for 2025. Needless to say, it’s shaping up to be a great year for the saga’s enthusiasts.

We often say it, but it’s always a pleasure to see these classics that have marked video game history come back. R-Type Delta HD Boosted promises a great opportunity to (re)discover a shmup masterpiece in the best conditions.

Commodore is much more than just a computer brand. For an entire generation, it represents the dawn of personal computing and an era where innovation went hand in hand with accessibility and creativity. The Commodore 64, a true icon of the 80s and 90s, continues to captivate the hearts of retro computing enthusiasts well beyond its golden age.

Today, a dedicated team of fans has embarked on an ambitious project called Let’s Buy Commodore, aiming to bring this legendary brand back to life — not just as a nostalgic tribute, but as a genuine revival driven by the community itself. These are the people who grew up with these machines, loved and used them, and now want to revive the Commodore spirit.

A Community-Driven Project

Over the years, several initiatives have tried to keep the flame alive. Among them, Mike de Clanto has worked to preserve and distribute Commodore ROMs, thus keeping the memory of the past alive. But it is especially Shawn Donahghue, founder of My Retro Computer Limited, and Leo Nigro, creator of dedicated systems, who have injected new momentum. They even launched an official computer, the Commodore 64X, despite heavy financial difficulties and high licensing fees imposed by the current rights holders of the brand.

They understood that the survival and revival of Commodore can only come from a united community capable of bringing together creators, enthusiasts, and investors around a clear and sustainable project. Together, they began to devise a plan to negotiate an exclusive license with Commodore Corporation BV to allow fair and equitable use of the brand.

A Clear and United Vision for the Future

The project does not stop at reissuing computers or accessories. A significant part is devoted to the social dimension, with the creation of a Commodore Care fund. The idea? To provide underprivileged children access to technology through Commodore computers installed in hospitals, schools, or care homes. A meaningful gesture, fueled by nostalgia but focused on the future.

This initiative also benefits from the support of historic Commodore figures, such as Jerry Ellsworth, a recognized industry veteran who brings his expertise and advice.

On the economic front, the team proposes a simple and transparent model: a moderate royalty fee, far from the heavy constraints that hampered previous projects. A license designed to encourage creation while respecting the brand’s heritage.

Toward a New Commodore Era

Today, Let’s Buy Commodore embodies the hope of a true revival. It is no longer just about collecting memories or mourning a bygone era, but about building a future for Commodore together. A future where fans and creators regain their central place, where the brand regains its shine and coherence, and where the passion for retro computing continues to inspire.

This story is far from over. With the determination of this team and the strength of the global community, Commodore may well write a new chapter worthy of its legend.

If you want to learn more about the project, check out the Retro Recipes video below:

If you think you've mastered all retro games, it's time to discover RetroAchievements: the retro version of PlayStation Trophies or Xbox Achievements!

What Are RetroAchievements?

RetroAchievements are unlockable achievements tied to your favorite old-school games. For example:

• Finishing a level
• Defeating a boss
• Finding a hidden bonus
• Completing the game 100%

Each game includes a variety of challenges—some quite tricky—that give classic titles a fresh layer of excitement.

How to Activate Them on Recalbox

1. Go to retroachievements.org and create an account.
   ⚠️ Avoid using special characters like $, !, etc. in your password to prevent login issues.

2. On your Recalbox:
   Go to Start > Game Options > RetroAchievements Options.
   Enable the feature and enter your username and password.

3. Launch a compatible game and start unlocking achievements!

Useful Tips

• Most supported games are in NTSC (U.S.) versions.
• Press Hotkey + Y while in-game to view available achievements.
• Check your profile on the site to see:
  • Your progress
  • Recent games played
  • Completion percentage
  • Your global ranking

Hardcore Mode

Looking for a real challenge?
Enable Hardcore Mode in the RetroAchievements options.

This mode disables all emulator aids:

• No save states
• No rewind
• No cheats

You'll be playing like back in the day—with just the original console, your controller, and your skills!

In Summary

RetroAchievements are a fantastic way to:

• Rediscover retro games
• Push your limits with new challenges
• Track your accomplishments in an international community of fans
• Even find similar games based on your preferences!

Don't forget to join us on Twitch, YouTube, and Discord for livestreams, tutorials, and tech support!
Want more details about RetroAchievements? Check out the video below:

Every two weeks, you can take part in a new challenge hosted on the Recalbox Discord. This challenge is open to everyone!

The concept is simple: try to achieve the highest score on a randomly selected game, often from the arcade catalog.

Selected Game: Aqua Rush

🚀 For this seventh challenge of 2025, the chosen game is Aqua Rush!

Summer is here, and what better way to cool off than by diving into the refreshing underwater world of this original puzzle game from Namco?

Developed and published in 1999 on arcade hardware (System 12), Aqua Rush is often compared to Tetris but brings several fresh gameplay mechanics:

• Unlike Tetris, where the pieces fall down, in Aqua Rush they rise from the bottom of the screen.
• Each piece consists of three columns of bubbles: you can’t rotate them, but you can individually adjust the height of each column using three dedicated buttons. So if a piece doesn’t fit, you can adapt it by increasing the height of one or more columns.
• The goal is to fill gaps and clear full lines (called "rushes") to make your way up to the ocean’s surface.

💡 The game is relatively unknown in Europe, as it was never officially released outside Japan, remaining exclusive to Japanese arcade machines.

Challenge Rules

• 🎯 Objective: get the highest score on a single credit.
• 📅 From June 3 to June 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
• 🔁 You can try as many times as you want during the challenge period.

How to Participate?

1. 🎮 Launch the game (ROM: aquarush).
   ⚠️ Unlike previous challenges, the game must be launched using MAME, not FBNeo.
2. 🏹 Play and aim for the highest score.
3. 📸 Take a screenshot or a photo of your final score.
4. 📤 Share your score in the Discord channel #challenges
   or use the command: /submit score leaderboard

Fair Play Rules

To ensure a fair competition:

• The score must be achieved on a single credit.
• No save states, rewind, cheats, or auto-fire allowed, unless the game includes auto-fire by default.

🎁 Rewards & Sportsmanship

The challenge is all about discovering games, sharing tips, and having fun, all in a friendly and competitive spirit!

🏆 The winner will receive a game key (Steam, GOG, etc.) of their choice from a list of around 200 titles.

📌 If you’ve won a challenge in the last 3 months, the reward will go to the next player on the podium.

Good luck everyone, and may the highest score win! 🌊

The Nintendo ROM hacker Infidelity, already known for porting classics like The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Punch-Out!!, and the first five Mega Man games from the NES to the Super Nintendo, has now added Mega Man VI to his collection.

Developed by Capcom, this is the sixth and final episode of the Mega Man series released on the NES. The game originally came out in Japan under the name Rockman 6: The Greatest Battle in History!!. Despite the technical limitations of the console, Capcom managed to make the most of it with more detailed backgrounds and polished sprites.

Often seen as a kind of best of the previous entries, Mega Man 6 combines the key elements of the saga while refining the experience. Released late in the NES's life cycle, it unfortunately suffered from less visibility, overshadowed by the arrival of the Super Nintendo.

This port by Infidelity pays it a great tribute by offering a smoother version, free from the NES's performance issues, notably by expanding the ROM size. This allows for improvements impossible on the original hardware, such as better quality audio or even FMV-style cutscenes (Full Motion Video, which are pre-recorded video sequences).

It’s therefore a new opportunity to dive back into the adventure: face the eight Robot Masters, copy their weapons, and progress to the final boss. This port even lets you choose between the Japanese and American versions of the game — a relevant choice for preserving the authenticity of the different versions of this title.

Source: Time Extension

Retro gaming fans and Recalbox users, get ready for a unique event! On Saturday, June 14th, the Recalbox team invites you to Lyon to celebrate the highly anticipated release of the RGB JAMMA 2 and the RGB DUAL 2. A full day of gaming, community and good vibes!

A program tailor-made for retro fans

The day will kick off with a lunch at the restaurant with the Recalbox team. Please note: places are very limited and exclusively reserved for patrons who are available at noon. To attend, contact digitalLumberjack directly via private message on Discord. It’s a great chance to share a meal and chat with the people behind Recalbox.

From 3pm to 5pm, a VIP session will take place at The Box arcade, again exclusively for patrons. During this time, you’ll get a first look at the new hardware, hands-on testing of the RGB JAMMA 2 and RGB DUAL 2 on real setups, and one-on-one conversations with developers and fellow enthusiasts.

At 5pm, the event opens to all attendees for an evening packed with gaming fun! You’ll be able to enjoy retro games on arcade cabinets and CRT screens — just like in the old days. And yes, snacks will be available to keep your energy up.

Limited spots – don’t miss out!

This event is strictly limited to 50 people, ensuring an intimate and high-quality experience. Registrations will be open to patrons only for the first 3 days, then available to the wider community. So don’t wait!

👉 Book your spot now on HelloAsso

Why attend?

This is the perfect opportunity to get a sneak peek at Recalbox’s latest hardware, talk directly with the team, and connect with other passionate retro gamers. Whether you're a pixel veteran or a curious newcomer, this gathering promises to be a memorable experience.

We’re looking forward to celebrating retro gaming with you in Lyon!

See you soon,
Digi & the Recalbox team

A new indie racing game, LINEAR 直線的 S, is set to thrill retro gaming fans. Developed by Advent Softworks, this ambitious title aims to faithfully recreate the distinct graphical look of the Sega Saturn, all powered by Unity3D.

A faithful immersion into the Saturn era

LINEAR S is more than just a visual tribute. Built on a custom development framework called PROJECT S, the game reproduces several technical limitations of SEGA’s console: a cap of 2000 polygons per second, no modern transparency, separated rendering layers, and intentional texture blurring to mimic the original aesthetic. Even the framerate is locked at 30 FPS (with an optional 60 FPS mode), to stay true to the classic experience.

Arcade-style gameplay inspired by the greats

On the content side, LINEAR S features three tracks (Beginner, Advanced, Expert) and three game modes: Arcade, Championship, and Time Attack. Two special EX modes can also be unlocked by meeting certain conditions.

The gameplay focuses on accessibility without sacrificing depth: a simplified three-gear transmission, built-in drifting mechanics, and an intentionally old-school handling model reminiscent of Daytona USA and Sega Rally.

Four cars for 90s nostalgia

You’ll get behind the wheel of four cars inspired by Japanese models from the 1990s, each offering its own unique driving feel. This attention to detail further enhances the game’s authenticity and retro arcade atmosphere.

A passion project for Saturn fans

Scheduled for release on PC, LINEAR S promises an experience that’s both nostalgic and demanding, designed for those who miss the raw visuals and direct sensations of Sega Saturn racing games.

For more information, check out the original article on RetroRGB.

At Recalbox, we love original ideas and projects that help grow the world of retrogaming. And recently, Time Extension highlighted one of those projects: a web manager for the Game Boy Camera.

Remember: the Game Boy Camera, an official accessory developed by Nintendo, was released in 1998. It’s a miniature digital camera that plugs into a Game Boy (classic, Pocket, Color models, etc.). At the time, it was one of the smallest digital cameras in the world.

With this accessory, you could of course take black and white photos, with the ability to add frames, stickers, filters, and more. It was also possible to edit the photos, add text or stamps, create stop-motion animations, play mini-games, and even print your pictures with another accessory: the Game Boy Printer.

Until now, however, there simply wasn’t any modern tool to easily manage photos from the Game Boy Camera. That’s exactly what Marc Robledo set out to change with his excellent Game Boy Camera Manager.

This tool, fully usable directly in a web browser, allows you to extract photos from a save file, convert them to PNG, add dates, and of course edit them. It’s even possible to add new frames—some of which were previously inaccessible in the original version.

This tool highlights the enduring popularity of the Game Boy Camera, now a cult object. Whether in the world of retrogaming or in the world of art, some artists continue to use this accessory as part of lo-fi photography, an artistic practice that involves creating photos using unconventional devices.

If you’d like to try the tool, head over to this page.

Illustration image: Marc Robledo

The major gaming event of 2025 will undoubtedly be the release of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The arrival of a new console, along with new exclusives, is always a big moment in the world of video games — but also a time for questioning, especially regarding certain marketing decisions.

It's perfectly understandable that Nintendo would want to highlight its new console, even if it means overshadowing the original Switch, whether through exclusives or features that leverage the enhanced power of the Switch 2.

But it's precisely some of these features, showcased through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack (Nintendo’s subscription service), that are currently sparking debate within the community.

New features for N64 games — but not for everyone

Starting June 5, classic Nintendo 64 games will receive a small modernization boost:

• You’ll now be able to configure controls,
• rewind gameplay,
• and apply a CRT filter to recreate the look of old CRT TVs.

However: both rewind and the CRT filter will be exclusive to the Switch 2.
Owners of the original Switch will only get access to the control configuration feature.

A questionable decision

This is a debatable move, especially considering the minimal resources required to implement a CRT effect or a rewind system. Platforms like Recalbox have offered these features for several generations of Raspberry Pi, and many neo-retro game developers include them by default. In fact, some emulators in Recalbox have used these features for over twenty years...

So this is clearly not a matter of the original Switch’s technical limitations, but rather a marketing choice aimed at artificially boosting the appeal of the Switch 2 — at the expense of the millions of first-generation Switch users.

A reactive community

The gaming community didn’t waste time expressing its surprise on social media — as shown by the many responses under Nintendo’s tweet.

With a policy of high prices (for both console and games) and sometimes questionable exclusive services, Nintendo, still a cornerstone of the gaming industry, is certainly stirring strong reactions among its fans as the Switch 2 launch approaches.

You've tried Recalbox at a friend's house, you're following our news on social media, your thirst for retrogaming is growing, V10 is coming, the RGB DUAL 2 is catching your eye... but you're still hesitating to jump in, afraid it might be too complicated. Don’t worry: Recalbox is made to be accessible for everyone.

Before we explain how to get started with Recalbox, keep this in mind: Recalbox was specifically designed to be plug and play, so anyone can install the system and relive their childhood games without complex steps.

Of course, the project also allows users to go further by customizing the experience and adapting it to their specific needs. But in this guide, we’ll show you the simplest and most universal way to use Recalbox.

All the steps explained here are also available in the video at the bottom of the article: Recalbox Tutorial 2024: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide.

Recommended Hardware

If you want to build your own retrogaming console, we recommend installing Recalbox on a Raspberry Pi 5 (4Gb). Why?

• Because it’s affordable
• Because everyone has the same Pi 5, avoiding the need to manage dozens of different setups
• Because it’s reliable hardware
• Because it will be dedicated solely to Recalbox, avoiding conflicts with other programs

What You’ll Need

• Raspberry Pi 5 Kit (includes the Pi 5, power supply, and HDMI cable) (4Gb model)
• MicroSD card (32GB is enough, and one is usually included in the kit)
• MicroSD card reader (if your PC doesn't have one)
• USB stick — 128 to 256GB recommended (at least 500GB if you have full sets or many CD games)
• 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller — Wired or Bluetooth. For Bluetooth, you’ll need a dongle per controller.
• Existing PS3, PS4, or Xbox One controllers are compatible with Recalbox.

Watch Out for Quality

For the MicroSD, USB stick, and controllers, go with recognized brands.
In retrogaming (as in many areas), buying cheaper often means buying twice. Many common problems are caused by low-quality peripherals.

• Controllers: Use official PlayStation or Xbox controllers, or reliable and stylish 8BitDo models
• Storage: Stick to SanDisk or Kingston; avoid generic brands

Setup and Installation

You’ve received your package and you're ready to go. Take your time and work in a quiet space.
Never handle your Pi 5 with the MicroSD or USB stick inserted—that’s the fastest way to damage them.
Place the Pi 5 in its case with the fan — don’t force anything.

Insert the MicroSD card into your PC (or adapter), ignoring any messages from Windows.
Go to the Recalbox download section and install Raspberry Pi Imager. Launch it:

• In "Choose Device", select Raspberry Pi 5
• In "Choose OS", go to Emulation and Game OS > Recalbox > Recalbox Pi 5
• In "Choose Storage", pick your MicroSD
• Click “Next”

The software will now flash Recalbox onto your MicroSD card. This process takes a few minutes. Once complete, unplug the MicroSD, insert it into your (powered off) Pi 5, connect to your TV, and power it on. Recalbox will finalize setup in seconds and show the home screen.

Controller Setup

Plug in your controller (or Bluetooth dongle if wireless) and pair using the designated buttons. Once detected, press:

START > Controller Settings > Configure a Controller

Follow the on-screen instructions to map all buttons. You’ll already be able to navigate menus to switch Recalbox to English (or your preferred language).

Note: The “Hotkey” button on 8BitDo controllers is the one with the pixel heart.

❗ You must do this for every new controller. It resolves most controller-related issues.

Games & BIOS Files

Recalbox does not include any copyrighted content: no games, no BIOS files.
You will see some games included — these are homebrews (community-authorized creations).

Don’t expect Super Mario Kart or Final Fantasy right away — you’ll need to add your own.

1. Format your USB stick on your PC: Right-click > Format > exFAT
2. Plug it into your Raspberry Pi (powered on). Recalbox will offer to initialize it — accept.
3. Unplug the stick from the Pi and plug it into your PC. You’ll see a folder: Recalbox > roms > with subfolders for each console. Add your games (PS1 in psx, Saturn in saturn, etc.)

Each folder has a “readme” file: read it! It tells you which formats are supported.

Adding BIOS Files

BIOS files must be added directly to the MicroSD card (not USB). You can access it:

• Via network (if your Recalbox is connected, it will appear on your PC)
• Or by powering off your Pi and plugging the MicroSD into your PC

Place the BIOS files into share > bios.
You can verify them in a dedicated Recalbox menu.

Scraping Your Games

At first, you won’t see covers, descriptions, or videos. You need to scrape them.
Go to the main menu > “Scraper”. There are several ways to enhance your library.

Follow Fabrice’s video for the best settings:

❗ Scraping can be long: you're downloading hundreds of images/videos.
If you support Recalbox via Patreon, you'll get access to faster servers — up to 40x faster.

Save & Exit Games

Useful shortcuts:

• Exit game: Hotkey + Start
• Save game: Hotkey + Square
• Load save: Hotkey + Triangle

You’re Ready to Begin the Recalbox Adventure!

You’ll gradually discover more menus and settings to personalize your experience.
Take time to explore and experiment — you’ll quickly get comfortable.

Keep Recalbox connected to the internet to ensure updates (bug fixes, stability improvements), and for support on Discord, you’ll need to be on the latest version.

We encourage you to join our Discord community — over 13,000 members ready to help, share passion for retrogaming, join challenges, discover new games… and just have fun.

You'll also find a YouTube playlist with over 100 video tutorials covering different setups and use cases (Arcade, JAMMA, NAS, etc.).

Finally, Fabrice hosts a live Q&A every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 AM on our Twitch channel — ask questions in the chat or join the live call if possible.

Are you passionate about retrogaming, curious to (re)discover classic games, or simply looking for a great time? Look no further! Here's the Recalbox stream schedule so you won't miss any of your favorite Twitch shows — with a special guest this Thursday.

📅 This Week’s Schedule

• Monday at 9 PM – Retro Gaming News
  100% retrogaming news: updates, new releases, projects to follow, highlights of the week.

• Tuesday at 9 PM – The gaming press of our childhood!
  A nostalgic dive into iconic magazines like Joystick, Player One, Console+, and many more.
  Flipping through pages, sharing memories, lively debates... all mixed with hands-on gameplay from the featured titles.

• Wednesday at 9 PM – Your retrogaming gems!
  Spotlight on forgotten, underrated, or cult games. A true pixel treasure hunt fueled by your recommendations and libraries.

• Thursday at 9 PM – Special neo-retro games!

🚨 Don't miss this one!
Interview with Damien from Aurora Game Studio, the developer behind Nightmare Busters Rebirth, a game in the works for Super Nintendo and modern consoles, currently enjoying great success on Kickstarter.

• Saturday at 10 AM – Live FAQ
  A special session to answer all your technical questions about Recalbox. You can even join Fab2Ris live via our Discord to ask your questions directly.

• Sunday

  • 10 AM – Live FAQ same format as Saturday.
  • 9 PM – Les Guignols: a quirky, humorous stream to wrap up the week in style!

👉 All streams are broadcast on our Twitch channel, and replays are available a few days later on our YouTube channel.

Recalbox is more than just a retrogaming system — it’s a vibrant community, regular events, and a whole lot of shared passion. So, are you ready to (re)play with us?

We often talk about it on this blog and during our Twitch streams: arcade closures have sadly become commonplace these days. While Japan is the main victim of this “trend”, other countries are suffering the same fate.

This time, it's the UK that sees one of its arcades shut down after just six months of existence. FreePlay Gaming Arcade had tried an original concept (which may have led to its downfall): by paying £10 for an hour, you had unlimited access to the venue’s twenty-seven arcade cabinets.

Discounted rates allowed visitors to extend the experience at a lower cost, and family or group packages made it easier to organize retrogaming-themed events. A model that, in the end, turned out to be unprofitable for its manager, who had to stop the bleeding before it was too late:

“The last six months have been a real burden, and this experience has drained me, exhausted me, and taken a toll on my mental health,” said Mike Saxton, the arcade’s manager.

“It’s just not working. I wish I could give it more time, as many have suggested, but what people need to understand is that even without income, the bills keep coming. The longer I wait, the more debt I accumulate. And if everything collapses, all my machines will be sold off to pay the debts instead of going back to the bank. I simply can't let that happen.”

And yet, it’s not for lack of quality. Sega Rally 2, House of the Dead, Time Crisis, Pac-Man, The House of the Dead… all of them are legendary arcade titles and highly sought-after cabinets at retro gaming events and conventions.

Apparently, this wasn't enough to attract enough customers to make the venue profitable. It needed around £500 in revenue per day:

“We lose money every weekend, and we barely break even during the holidays. Opening more days just wasn’t feasible. We tried weekdays, and most of the time, our income was ZERO… some days we made £30, £40, or £50. Everyone’s at work or school, and even afterward, people are caught up in their daily lives.”

“What I’ll really miss is the social aspect. People like me, passionate about video games, would stop by the arcade, and we’d get into long conversations – I’d often end up giving them an extra hour for free.” Saxton confides, heavy-hearted.

A sad conclusion in a world where arcade gaming still struggles to make a comeback in physical venues.

Source: Time Extension / Dorset Echo

Images: FreePlay Gaming Arcade

Released in 2002, the WaveBird, designed for the Nintendo GameCube, was Nintendo's first official wireless controller. At a time when wireless technology wasn’t yet standard in video gaming, it marked a turning point by offering a cable-free experience with remarkable reliability.

The WaveBird retains the design of the classic GameCube controller. It's slightly heavier and thicker than the wired version, as it houses two AA batteries in the back along with a radio module.

The controller operates via radio frequency (RF), giving it a range of 6 to 10 meters — much more stable and efficient than the infrared technology used in other wireless controllers of the era. It requires a receiver plugged into one of the console’s controller ports.

As with any small accessory, the RF receiver has one notable flaw: it gets lost! Or, more seriously, it can break — which is understandable after 23 years of use. And like many retro gaming accessories, it’s hard to find an original... or at least not without paying a hefty price.

Fortunately, a homebrew creator named Greg from LaserBear might make things easier by offering his own version of the RF receiver for sale. Compatible with all WaveBird controllers, this new receiver supports all firmware versions released for the controller.

There’s no channel wheel here to select one of the six channels and avoid interference: a simple pairing button handles synchronization. Just press it, then hold X and Y on the WaveBird until the connection is established.

The project is open source and available here. As for the device itself, it’s available for purchase at $25 on LaserBear's website.

Source: Retrorgb
Images: LaserBear

A few days after the launch of V10.0-patron-1, many of you have shown us your enthusiasm and support on social networks as well as on our Discord.

Your initial feedback on V10 is very important to us: on one hand, because it proves that the project makes sense and is moving in the right direction, and on the other hand, because it helps us stabilize this version by taking into account your various configurations.

This launch has also raised some questions: will V10 be available for "non-patrons"? What does it mean to be a patron?

Being a patron means actively participating in the Recalbox project thanks to your support, your feedback on beta versions, and your suggestions on the project's evolution through dedicated channels on Discord. This support gives you access to various benefits: goodies, autoscrap via Recalbox servers, exclusive playlists, discounts with our partners, and more.

You thus become fully part of the development process of Recalbox public versions. Thanks to your involvement, these versions reach a high level of quality and stability on the majority of configurations.

The Recalbox stand at HFS where many of you came to visit us

Deploying a new version is always an important moment — for you as well as for us. Making new versions available in preview allows us to test updates on as many configurations as possible, which we couldn't do with beta testers alone.

And believe us, considering the number of reports we received on the #patrons and #patron-alpha channels about this V10 in just a few days, this process is more than useful to us: it is mandatory.

So a big thank you to our patrons, from the entire Recalbox team!

This choice to allow our users to support Recalbox via Patreon was a real leap forward for the project. It allowed the core team to free up more time for development and made several projects possible that simply wouldn't have seen the light of day without our patrons — notably the RGB Dual and RGB JAMMA.

That said, Recalbox's philosophy is and will always remain the same: to offer an open source and free retro-gaming solution for everyone. V10 will therefore be available for everyone in its final version in a few months.

To all of you: thank you for supporting us for ten years now and for sharing your retro-gaming moments with us.

We are proud to present the new Recalbox hardware: the RGB JAMMA 2. As you know, the Raspberry Pi 5 marked a real evolution for Recalbox and retro gaming, thanks to its greatly increased power and radically different architecture.

This allowed us to develop the RGB Dual 2 with new features, and now enables us to upgrade the RGB JAMMA, which now benefits from several improvements, including:

• Interlaced display (480i), for an even more faithful image,
• Native support for the GunCon, for intense Time Crisis sessions (among others),
• Support for coin meters.

The development and production of the RGB JAMMA 2 represent a logical evolution of the first model, rather than a completely new project.
As such, there will be no Kickstarter campaign: it will directly replace the RGB JAMMA 1 on the Recalbox store.

The initial hardware is already mastered, and the addition of new features relies on components we already have in stock. It can therefore be produced quickly and will be offered at the same price as the first model.

Owners of the first RGB JAMMA will of course continue to benefit from support via Recalbox updates. As for whether you need to upgrade your hardware: the answer is simple, not by default.

Interlaced (480i), which allows an extremely sharp image for 480p games, is not liked by everyone due to flickering.
And perhaps you don't even play 480p games (Dreamcast, Naomi, Atomiswave).

The coin meter / counter is a JAMMA feature we had to add based on your feedback.
But if you are not used to hearing the little click of the counter each time you insert a credit, you can probably do without it.
In fact, some arcade cabinets no longer even have this feature.

GunCon support will also be usable on the RGB JAMMA 1 via an intermediate board, or a small hack of the board, for the more technical among you.
It will be less plug and play, but it will work.

If you were not yet familiar with the RGB JAMMA solution, it is hardware designed to connect a Recalbox system directly to an arcade cabinet equipped with a JAMMA connector, while taking advantage of a native RGB signal, for optimal image quality on CRT screens, and all plug and play.

You will find all the details on our dedicated wiki page, and of course, we remain at your disposal on our Discord to answer your questions.

8BitDo strikes again with a controller designed specifically for versus fighting. While the Chinese company is no stranger to arcade controllers, this time it targets a niche with a very specific pad.

A radical design: joystick-free

While the Arcade Stick follows the traditional arcade panel lines with a joystick and eight action buttons, the recently unveiled Arcade Controller drops the joystick — a bold choice resulting in a pad made entirely of buttons.

This choice targets demanding and expert versus fighting players. Directions are managed by buttons, not a joystick, to offer increased precision and faster execution. This way, there’s no “race” between left and right as there can be with a joystick.

This system allows pressing almost simultaneously two different directions. It also benefits from SOCD cleaning, which automatically manages sometimes conflicting inputs to avoid unpredictable behavior, for example:

• Left + Right → the controller returns Neutral
• Up + Down → usually priority to up

Programmable and interchangeable mechanical buttons

Like all 8BitDo gear, the buttons are programmable with the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2, allowing you to map your keys and create macros, enabling the programming of long sequences with a single button.

The buttons are mechanical and, as with 8BitDo keyboards, they are interchangeable — whether for aesthetics, gameplay feel, or repair, without needing to disassemble your entire panel.

They are Kailh buttons, from the Wizard series, known for responsiveness and durability. These are “low-profile” buttons, thinner than classic buttons, to ensure portability with only 2.2 cm thickness.

Compatibility and connectivity

The panel is designed to be used on:

• Switch (S-Input)
• PC/Xbox (X-Input)

A button lets you instantly switch layouts, with visual indication via the pad’s LEDs.

Regarding connectivity, the Arcade Controller offers:

• Bluetooth
• 2.4 GHz connection (with dongle)
• Wired connection

The battery promises 20 hours of gameplay with a 3-hour charge time.

Versions and price

There is a model in Xbox colors. If you like green and backlighting, you will love it. The RGB LEDs allow you to change the backlight color.

The Arcade Controller is priced at $89.99, with shipping scheduled from July 15, 2025.

The homebrew scene is of vital importance to the small world of retrogaming. It brings together passionate independent developers who create original games for retro consoles, often long after their commercial lifecycle has ended.

Thanks to their creativity and technical expertise, these enthusiasts breathe new life into our favorite machines, with brand-new titles often impressively high in quality. Today, we’re focusing on one of them, alx5962, for two reasons: first, he’s developing Mokhey, a Game Boy Color game; and second, he’s a Recalbox user. 😉

We had a chance to chat on our Discord, the perfect opportunity for a Q&A to learn more about him and his project, Mokhey:

Can you tell us about the game in a few words?

It’s a game for the Game Boy Color. It tells the story of a young monkey captured by poachers who wants to return to his adoptive family. So it’s a fairly narrative-driven game, but it also features action and puzzle scenes. You could call it a cinematic platformer/adventure, with a 90s-style gameplay. There are many hidden references throughout the game, so I hope some players take the time to find them. My game is available in both French and English, as I know many people prefer to play in their native language. That was actually quite tricky to implement!

The game also supports the Game Boy Printer (not many games have this feature, unfortunately), and I thought it was a cool way to stand out from other indie Game Boy titles.

How did you end up developing for the Game Boy Color, and why that platform?

It’s been a teenage dream of mine to create a game, but I didn’t have the skills back then. In early 2023, I finally felt ready and wanted to try developing for a low-powered console, since it requires fewer resources (especially graphically), making a quick prototype more realistic. I’ve also been doing pixel art for a long time, so the Game Boy seemed like an ideal choice. I started with GBDK (a Game Boy SDK), but later I read an article about the developer JohnDo, who made a Game Boy game about Dijon, which led me to discover GB Studio. I continued working on my game using that tool.

Did you develop it all by yourself?

Yes, I did everything myself: the story, graphics, code, music, the box—and I even flashed the Game Boy cartridges. I learned to do that during COVID thanks to an open-source project: the Sanni CartReader. My first test with a basic sprite and screen was in January 2023. I’ve spent countless evenings and weekends on it over the past two years. Most of the time, I was coding while watching Recalbox or Hyperion streams 😅

What was the biggest challenge?

Music, clearly! I’m used to MIDI setups or direct-input instruments, so I had to relearn everything. The Game Boy is super limited musically: four audio channels with only square or triangular waveforms… So I had to program every note and every effect! In the end, I composed 15 tracks, though not all of them made it into the final game. GB Studio is a great tool with frequent updates, but sadly there aren’t many tutorials available.

Mokhey is partly inspired by Mother 3. What other games influenced you?

The initial idea was to tell the story of Salsa, the monkey from Mother 3, who’s mistreated by his master. I wanted to give him an origin story. But later, I decided to write an original tale. My first major inspiration was Toby Fox, who started by modding the Mother series and later created Undertale and Deltarune. I’m a big fan of The Legend of Zelda, but there are already so many fan games inspired by Link’s Awakening that I wanted to do anything but a Zelda-like.

Have you tested the game on Recalbox?

Yes, of course. Several people even finished the demo on it. It’s also tested on real hardware—I have a flash cart on my Game Boy Color, which also has an AMOLED screen, great for graphics! I even showed the demo to the Recalbox team last year during the Avion meetup.

Any other projects in the works?

I’d love to remake all the game’s music in piano and lo-fi versions at some point. I’ve also been learning Unreal Engine 5 recently, but I don’t plan to make a full game with it just yet.

Big thanks to alx5962 for taking the time to answer our questions!
To follow his work, you can check out:

• His itch.io: https://alx5962.itch.io/
• His Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alx5962.bsky.social

And if you’d like to support his work, you can buy Mokhey on https://mohkey.com/. Note: all collector’s editions are already sold out, but the standard edition is available for €30 (shipping included). Only about 30 physical copies remain, and there won’t be a second print run.

And who knows—maybe Mokhey will come preinstalled on your Recalbox in a few months… 😉

As every two weeks, you can take part in a new challenge on the Recalbox Discord. This challenge is open to everyone.
The idea is simple: try to get the highest score on a randomly selected game, often from the arcade catalog.

🚀 For this sixth challenge of 2025, the selected game is Battle Circuit

After a short break due to the final stretch before the release of V10, it's time to score again on a good old beat'em all!

Developed and published by Capcom in 1997 on arcade hardware (CPS-2), Battle Circuit is one of the last games of its kind created by Capcom for arcades, following in the footsteps of titles like Final Fight or Captain Commando.
Despite its qualities, it remained under the radar for a long time, having never received a console port upon release — until it was included in the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle compilation in 2018.

The game stands out with its crazy and highly colorful world, typical of the late '90s. Set in a cyberpunk future, bounty hunters battle criminal organizations and bizarre creatures. The tone is intentionally absurd and humorous, with quirky characters blending cartoon, manga, and sci-fi styles.

While the game may seem simple in terms of controls — with only two action buttons — remember that this is a Capcom title. Several combos are available to chain enemies together:

• Holding the attack button
• Attack + jump for a super move
• Quarter-circle on the joystick + attack for a special attack
• And many more to discover

Each character and the bonuses selected at the end of each level bring unique variations. And those levels won’t be a walk in the park. The game supports four-player co-op, but you’ll be on your own to take on seven stages, each ending with one or more fierce bosses.

👥 Playable Characters

You can choose one of five bounty hunters with very different styles and moves:

• Cyber Blue: a classic hero with balanced attacks
• Captain Silver: an eccentric monkey-man
• Yellow Iris: a woman accompanied by a mechanical feline
• Pink Ostrich: a pink ostrich ridden by a young girl
• Alien Green: a mutant extraterrestrial plant

Each character has special attacks and can unlock new techniques between levels using credits, adding a light RPG element to the gameplay.

🏆 Challenge Rules

Playing as one of the five characters, your goal is to achieve the highest score on a single credit.

🗓️ The challenge runs from May 19 to June 2, midnight (UTC+2).
You can try as many times as you like.

📢 How to Participate?

1. 🎮 Launch the game (ROM: battlecir)
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 #challenges Discord channel
   or use the command "/submit score leaderboard" in the same channel

⚖️ Rules to Follow

To ensure fair play:

• The score must be achieved on a single credit
• No save states, rewind, cheats, or auto-fire (unless it’s part of the original game)

🎁 Rewards & Fair Play

This challenge is primarily about discovering games, sharing tips, and having fun, all in a spirit of friendly competition.
The winner will receive a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of about 200 titles.

📌 If you've won a challenge within the last three months, the prize will go to the next highest scorer 🥇🥈🥉

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

Images: Capcom

It's here! Version 10-Patron-1 is finally available for our Patrons! A lot has changed in this release… and yet, this is only the beginning!

This first Patron release of V10 took time to arrive: the entire technical foundation of Recalbox has been updated, which caused countless issues with emulators, Kodi, and many other components.
It took weeks of debugging and fixes to finally offer you a release as stable as possible.

🎮 New Systems and Emulators

Several new emulators are making their debut in this version!

• The highly anticipated Dolphin emulator is finally available on Raspberry Pi 5 (GameCube)
• The Xbox emulator is now available on PC, just like Virtual Pinball on PC and Pi5
• DICE, a 1970s arcade emulator, also joins the lineup!

MAME has been updated to version 0.274, with major improvements in emulation accuracy and speed, especially on PC and Pi5.

For microcomputer fans:

• New cores for Atari ST/STE, Apple II, and BBC Micro, for the best possible experience with these classic systems.

As for ports, you'll now find:
OpenLara (Tomb Raider), Julius (Caesar III), Corsix-TH (Theme Hospital), VVVVVV, and even... Tamagotchi!

Many other cores and emulators have also been updated.

💡 Bonus: advanced options for some emulators are now directly accessible from the Recalbox interface!

🧭 A More Intuitive Interface

Lots of changes in EmulationStation as well:

• New look: modern and colorful system logos, faithful to the original machines.
• Redesigned menus with a more intuitive layout and improved design.
• Improved search functionality.
• Smoother navigation through game lists.
• New icon-based information, new sorting options, and clearer visual markers.

And there’s more:

• Lock favorites and bring them back to the top of the list.
• ROM checks when launching games.
• Show/hide systems individually.
• Search by license (e.g., all Zelda games) or by alias (names vary by language or region).

📂 Add Your Games More Easily

Just copy your games into a roms folder:
Recalbox will automatically detect the changes and prompt you to update your library without restarting.

• New games? Recalbox will offer to scrape them right away (Patron exclusive), and only the new ones!
• Modify a gamelist.xml file? Recalbox will detect it and update the data on the fly.

User data from gamelists is now stored separately (automatic migration).
So if you scrape again with Skraper or delete your gamelist.xml, you won’t lose your favorites anymore!

🧱 New Hardware Support

• Raspberry Pi 500, Pi5 2GB
• Retroflag 64Pi and ArgonOne V3 cases

⚙️ System

Lots of new system-level features too:

• Major Bluetooth improvements (auto-reconnect on boot)
• Dynamic network shares
• Automatic bootloader update
• Support for RPi Imager settings (SSH key, Wi-Fi, etc.)

📺 CRT with RGB Dual / Jamma

Lots of improvements:

• Dynamic resolutions (change during gameplay!)
• Support for native resolutions
• Fixed RetroArch notifications and HDMI priority issues

As for Jamma, HDMI output is now possible and 24 kHz is supported!

And that’s not all…
To learn more, check out the full changelog here:
👉 Full release notes on GitLab