Canadian arcade developer Playmind has launched the Playbox 2.0, a new version of its Playbox arcade cabinet. The original Playbox arrived in 2021 and was later offered in different configurations, including a single-player setup. The Playbox 2.0 marks the company's return to the arcade hardware market after that earlier single-player model. via arcadeheroes.com
Emulators that run original Xbox games on Android devices have been receiving significant updates, according to a report. The improvements cover better game compatibility, performance gains, save state support and shader options. The original Xbox, released by Microsoft in 2001, has historically been a difficult platform to emulate due to its custom hardware based on a modified Intel Pentium III and Nvidia GPU. via retrohandhelds.gg
Rocketship Park and Thalamus are working on ZERO, a new futuristic racing game for the Game Boy Color. The project draws on the style of Nintendo's F-Zero, which launched on the SNES in 1990 and used Mode 7 rotation effects that handheld hardware could not replicate until the Game Boy Advance version arrived in 2001. ZERO aims to show how a similar high-speed racer could work on the more limited Game Boy Color hardware. via gamesasylum.com
Gamesasylum has published a roundup covering several new releases, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2. The piece discusses the original N64 game's enduring design and spectacle, noting how later Zelda entries expanded on its formula even from Majora's Mask onward. The roundup also covers other titles launching around the same time, including a Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee remaster. Ocarina of Time originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. via gamesasylum.com
Sega Saturn Shiro's #BestOfSaturn series has featured Vandal Hearts, a 1997 strategy RPG that was ported to the Saturn by Konami's KCE Nagoya team for the Japanese market only. The feature notes that, similarly to Konami's Castlevania conversion for the system, the Saturn version of Vandal Hearts lacks enhancements specific to the Saturn hardware. Vandal Hearts originally released on PlayStation and is known for its tactical, grid-based battles. via segasaturnshiro.com
A fan-made ROM hack called Secret of Goku has been released, retooling the classic SNES RPG Secret of Mana around Dragon Ball Z's Goku. Secret of Mana, originally released in 1993, is widely regarded as one of the best action RPGs on the SNES, often mentioned alongside Chrono Trigger. The hack reportedly brings the Dragon Ball Z character into the game's world and structure rather than building a new game from scratch. via retrododo.com
FiGGYZ has announced the Jet Set Radio – The GG's Box Set, a collectible set based on Sega's Dreamcast-era graffiti skating game. It includes three pixel-art FiGGYZ figures depicting characters Beat, Combo and Gum, each with a display base and wall mount, three reversible backplates and three exclusive holographic plates. The set also comes with a numbered commemorative coin. Jet Set Radio originally launched on the Dreamcast in 2000 and became known for its cel-shaded visuals and graffiti-based gameplay. via segabits.com
A version of Mario Kart 64 can now be played directly in a web browser, with support for online multiplayer races. Rather than needing an emulator or original Nintendo 64 hardware, players can open a website and race against others over the internet. Mario Kart 64 originally released in 1996 as one of the Nintendo 64's most popular launch-era titles. via retrododo.com
Itch.io has begun taking action against a build-up of low-effort AI-generated projects on its platform. The storefront is deleting spam listings and introducing filters that let users choose whether AI-assisted games show up when browsing or searching. Itch.io is widely used by homebrew and indie developers, including many making games for retro systems, so changes to how it surfaces AI-made content could affect how those releases are discovered. via retrohandhelds.gg
Developer cmyksoda has released a Wii port of Another Metroid 2 Remake, the fan-made reimagining of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The port is built on the Butterscotch GameMaker runner with a native GX renderer, and supports both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios as well as 240p and 480p output. It also includes scanline options aimed at users running the Wii through an HD CRT who want a 240p appearance. via retrorgb.com
Warren Spector has given an interview reflecting on his career following his retirement from video game development. Spector was a key figure behind influential titles such as Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss, System Shock, Deus Ex, Thief: Deadly Shadows and Epic Mickey, many of which helped define the immersive sim genre, where players use real-world mechanics to find emergent solutions. In the interview he draws a connection between the design philosophy of his own games and later titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He also worked on Wing Commander earlier in his career. via timeextension.com
The Centre for Computing History and the LEO Computers Society are holding an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of LEO, the Lyons Electronic Office, described as the world's first business computer. LEO was built by the J. Lyons and Co. catering firm in Britain, adapting early computer research to run business applications such as payroll and inventory. The anniversary event brings together the preservation society dedicated to LEO's history with the computing museum hosting the celebration. via computinghistory.org.uk
