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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.

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.

Following the announcement of his retirement, Shuhei Yoshida has given an interview to media outlet Kinda Funny Games, in which he looks back on his long career at Sony and shares some interesting observations on the failure of the PS Vita.

If the name Shuhei Yoshida isn't familiar to you, but you've been a PlayStation gamer, then you owe him a good portion of your gaming sessions.

Recruited by Sony in 1986 from university, Yoshida rose through the ranks working on iconic titles such as Gran Turismo and Ape Escape, before becoming president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios from 2008 to 2019.

The Time Extension website reports on Yoshida's comments in the two-hour-plus interview.

The context of a failure

Building on the success of the PSP (which sold 80 million units), Sony decided to launch a new handheld console: the PS Vita. However, this ambition came up against a major competitor. Nintendo's 3DS was a runaway success, selling almost 76 million units. The PS Vita, on the other hand, has struggled to make an impact, selling only around 15 million units.

However, Yoshida stresses that competition is not the only factor holding back the Vita.

Lack of development resources

Yoshida explains that Sony had split its teams between the PS Vita and home consoles, in particular the PS4. With a limited number of studios, the company had to make choices, and it was the PS4 that was prioritised. In comparison, more recently Nintendo has managed to consolidate its teams to work on a single hybrid platform, the Switch, a strategy that Yoshida considers to be one of the keys to its success.

Proprietary memory cards: a costly mistake

Another point raised by Yoshida concerns the PS Vita's proprietary memory cards, often criticised for being prohibitively expensive. He admits that this choice weighed heavily on consumers:
*It was a mistake. People have to spend more money to get a memory card.

Standard SD cards, such as those used by Nintendo for its 3DS, would have been a more economical and practical alternative. Note that for some games, this memory card became compulsory.

Questionable hardware choices

The PS Vita included innovations such as a rear touchscreen and a high-quality OLED screen (which was later removed in favour of an LCD screen), but Yoshida now admits that these choices increased costs without adding any real value. These elements, although attractive during the prototyping phase, were not essential in the end.

In addition, the lack of a TV output on the commercial model was also detrimental to the console. Yoshida reveals that this feature was present in the development kits but was removed to save on production costs. A regrettable decision considering the positive impact of TV compatibility on the Switch's success.

An analysis after the fact

It's always easier to draw lessons after the fact, especially in the face of the Switch's success, which now seems to be a given in terms of design. However, there's no denying that Sony tried to innovate with the PS Vita, delivering a quality product that was forward-thinking for its time, not least thanks to its OLED screen, rear touch surface and impressive graphics for a handheld console released in 2011.

After hearing Yoshida's words, we can't help but wonder how successful the PS Vita might have been if it had been dockable or, at the very least, compatible with a TV output, a feature that the Switch brilliantly exploited five years later.

Warner Music Japan has opened pre-orders for a vinyl set that should be high on the wish list of Super Mario collectors and fans.

The Super Mario World soundtrack will be available from April 30, 2025 and will come in the form of a three-disc box set featuring no fewer than 179 tracks featuring music from the titles Super Mario Bros to Super Mario Bros 3. Notably, the B-side of the third disc contains 118 sounds, mainly sound effects from the games.

According to RetroRGB, the tracks appear to be based on the CD version of a compilation released in 1991.

At present, the vinyls are only available on two Japanese sales platforms, but these are expected to offer international delivery.

This boxed set of three vinyl records is priced at 11,550 yen, or around $74, from these two addresses:

Tower JP / HMV.CO.JP

You may be familiar with the Arcade Archives range from Konami, which offers re-releases of the Japanese firm's classics on modern platforms. This time, the surprise comes in the form of Escape Kids, an arcade game released in 1991 that has never before been brought to home consoles.

With its colourful style and very ‘toonesque’ animations, the game asks you to complete three laps of each race, the aim being to come out on top while beating the black-clad champion.

There are several circuits to choose from, each with its own variety of scenery and obstacles. Along the way, you can collect coins to improve your stats: endurance, crash recovery and even braking.

To add a little spice, bonuses can appear on the ground. These can be used to make up a substantial deficit, or to see your opponents swooping down on you.

Escape Kids will be available from 16 January on PlayStation and Switch.

Source: Time Extension, Famitsu

A few days ago we told you about an innovative CAPTCHA that lets you play Doom, and now fans of the franchise and of technical tinkering can rejoice: the famous 1993 first-person shooter has been ported... to a PDF file. This feat is the work of a high school student known as ading2210 on GitHub, inspired by a similar project for Tetris.

Using the capabilities of Javascript in PDF files, ading2210 used Emscripten to compile Doom in asm.js format, making the game playable in Chromium-based browsers. The rendering, minimalist but functional, is based on a palette of six ASCII-art colours.

Admittedly, it lacks sound and the original palette, but players can still wander around level E1M1, eliminating demons and zombies, simply by typing commands or clicking on on-screen buttons, which allow them to move the character, shoot and switch from one menu to another.

Because of the PDF format, you'll understand that there are a few constraints, notably a response time of 80ms, which in itself isn't really a problem but isn't up to the standards of the genre.

This port continues the long tradition of running Doom on improbable objects, such as toasters, fridges, pregnancy tests and treadmills (you'll find here this long, improbable list).

For those who want to try out this offbeat version, the project is available on GitHub and at this address.

Sources: IGN, Time Extension

A few weeks ago, GOG announced its preservation programme entitled ‘Preserved by GOG’. It's an initiative designed to safeguard the great classics of video games, in order to preserve these works while making them compatible with today's PCs.

The programme currently includes just over 100 titles, including Diablo, Fallout: New Vegas and System Shock 2. These games have been tested and optimised to offer a DRM-free experience, with manuals included, technical support and much more.

This ensures continued compatibility and support, so that these iconic titles will be around for years to come.

Retro News today announced that GOG has reinforced this commitment by joining the European Federation of Video Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects (EFGAMP).

Founded in 2012, this federation brings together more than 20 institutions across Europe, including the French association MO5.com.

This step marks a further commitment by GOG to the preservation of videogame heritage, by collaborating with recognised associations in the field of video games and retrogaming.

Andreas Lange, Director of EFGAMP, welcomed the move:

"GOG brings a unique perspective to EFGAMP as Europe's leading digital distributor of games [...] its experience in making classic games accessible to modern audiences complements the work of our existing members by bringing additional digital expertise to our collective efforts".

At a time when dematerialisation is playing an increasingly important role, it is reassuring to see that this can coexist with the protection of our heritage, and that major players such as GOG and Sony, with its game library, are taking steps to address this issue.

Source: Retro News

8BitDo has become accustomed to more elaborate accessories than the one presented here. The manufacturer, well known for its Recalbox-compatible peripherals, offers controllers of excellent quality, with exemplary finish and few bugs.

This time, the accessory manufacturer is unveiling a "Mobile Clip ’, a simple plastic clip designed to attach a phone to a Micro or Zero 2 controller from the same brand (these are very small controllers).

With the disappearance of physical buttons on smartphones, many users of retro games find themselves frustrated by the often uncomfortable grip of touch screens.

The solution proposed by 8BitDo has the merit of offering an alternative that allows you to have a controller in your hand and your smartphone, offering a slightly more natural gaming position while remaining close to your phone screen.

The quality and finish of this clip remain to be seen. Let's hope it has a little foam to protect the screen and a system that's strong enough to hold both the controller and the phone, without requiring excessive effort.

However, given the high standards to which 8BitDo has become accustomed, it's regrettable that the brand has opted for such a simple and, let's face it, somewhat ‘cheap’ accessory compared to its usual products.

The Mobile Clip is available for $9.99.