NPC is a podcast about one of the hottest corners of the gaming world: portable hardware. Every other week, Federico Viticci, John Voorhees, and Brendon Bigley ...
Bridging to Switch 2: Rumors, Virtual Game Card Questions, and Nintendo's Today App
This week, Brendon, John, and Federico analyze the latest Nintendo Direct and what it reveals about the Switch 2’s rumored June launch. Then the trio dissects the many questions that Nintendo’s upcoming Virtual Game Cards system raises, explores the features of the Nintendo Today app, and debate the reported three-phase launch strategy for the next console. In the latest handheld news, they also cover the latest EmuDeck update, AYA NEO’s confounding mini PC, and an intriguing foldable from Huawei that’s perfect for DS emulation. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News EmuDeck 2.4 launches, with support for new emulators, improved BIOS checkers and more Update AYANEO AM01S mini PC has a retro design, a 4 inch flip-up display, and AMD Strix Point inside Huawei Pura X Huawei Pura X launched, a foldable phone with 1610 widescreen Huawei’s new flip phone is weirdly wide Nintendo’s Switch 2 Launch Plans Insider Gaming Nintendo Switch 2 expected June 2025, launch to have 3-phase plan Nintendo’s “3-Phase Launch Plan” for Switch 2 - Wavelengths Also, Best Buy says preorders for Switch 2 open on April 2nd Nintendo’s March 27, 2025 Direct Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here. Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy
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39:33
A Portal Surprise, ONEXSUGAR Chaos, and A Steam Deck Miracle
This week, Brendon shares his surprising early impressions of the Ayn Odin Portal. Then Federico, John, and Brendon dive into Nintendo Switch 2 pricing rumors, explore the performance issues of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on M4 Macs despite being Steam Deck verified, and break down Qualcomm’s confusing new G-series chips powering upcoming handhelds. Then, the treo reacts to OneXPlayer’s chaotic ONEXSUGAR handheld and AYANEO’s new devices. Plus, Federico has exciting news about a DLSS plugin for Steam Deck that improves performance on games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, turning blurry gameplay into a sharp, high-settings experience. Links and Show Notes Follow Up Federico attempted Portal mod Brendon’s Portal First Impressions Controller typing - signs of life for Windows handhelds The Latest Portable Gaming News Switch 2: analysts predict $400+ price and biggest console launch ever in June Xenoblade Chronicles X hints at Switch 2 performance improvements Assassin’s Creed Shadows is Steam Deck verified Qualcomm launches Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, G2 Gen 2, and G1 Gen 2 chips for gaming handhelds Snapdragon Announcements Next Generation Snapdragon G Series Portfolio Uplevels Handheld Gaming Experiences Retroid Confirms Pocket Classic SoC and Teases a New Handheld OneXSugar The OneXSugar asks what if Nintendo Switch could transform into Nintendo DS The Dual-Screen ONEXSUGAR Debuts at GDC 2025 3DS Emulator Azahar’s First Release Candidate Now Available AYANEO AYANEO Gaming Pad is an 8.3 inch gaming tablet with Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 AYANEO Reveals Pocket S2 and Gaming Pad - Retro Handhelds Topics Decky Framegen - Game compatibility list!
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49:46
Retroid's Rocky Road and Microsoft's Portable Plans
This week, Brendon, Federico, and John dive into the ongoing Retroid Pocket Mini controversy, discussing the scaling issues, community reactions, and what it means for consumers in the retro handheld space. After addressing Retroid’s troubles, they explore the Retroid Pocket Classic and pricing information for the Flip 2. To wrap up the week’s news, they cover SteamOS news, AYANEO’s confusing new teaser for the “Pocket Ace,” examine important new reports of Microsoft’s collaboration with ASUS on an Xbox-branded Windows handheld. Links and Show Notes Listener Question Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 Retroid Follow-Up Joey’s Retro Handhelds - the whole story NPC and the Retroid Controversy Retroid reportedly backtracks Pocket Mini return limits Screen teardown here The Latest Portable Gaming News SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview In better Retroid news Retroid Pocket Classic specs What is going on with AYANEO? AYANEO Pocket Ace AYANEO Pocket S2 announced soon Is Anbernic About to Shake Up the Retro Handheld Space - Retro Handhelds Photo An ‘Xbox’ handheld in 2025?: Xbox’s new hardware plans begin with a gaming handheld in 2025 Microsoft isn’t launching its Xbox handheld this year, but Asus might be Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy: https://www.macstories.net/privacy-policy/
John, Brendon, and Federico are back for another week of handheld news, including a tiny bit of Switch 2 news, an up and down week for Retroid, DS handhelds inch forward, Samsung wonders if thumbholes are the perfect complement to thumbsticks, and AYANEO decides thumbsticks aren’t worth the trouble. Plus, Brendon shares NextUI and the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Controller. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Switch 2 info from the FCC The Nintendo Switch 2 will have NFC and Wi-Fi 6, FCC filings show The Verge Retroid’s mystery background device revealed Retroid Pocket Classic Unveiled A Return to Form - Retro Handhelds Six button version There’s a Six Button Retroid Pocket Classic - Retro Handhelds Retroid Mini Screen Issue It’s Official Retroid Pocket Mini Shader Issue Cannot Be Fixed - Retro Handhelds MagicX Targets DS Emulation with Zero 40 Specs Reveal - Retro Handhelds RPCS3 for Android Shares First Alpha Build - Retro Handhelds Samsung unveiled a prototype foldable handheld AYANEO Deletes Sticks & Reveals New $179 Pocket Micro Classic Topics MinUI Next 8BitDo Ultimate 2 First Impressions From 8BitDo From Amazon Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy: https://www.macstories.net/privacy-policy/
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47:39
AYANEO Cancels Then Resurrects the Flip
This week, Retroid Pocket Flip 2 specs are out, the Legion Go S disappoints, and we try to decipher what AYANEO is doing before reminiscing over a PictoChat clone on the iPhone and discussing the benefits of having a personal videogame shopper in Japan, and Brendon’s experience with the black Miyoo Flip. Links and Show Notes Introducing NPC XL - More NPC, Every Week NPC: Next Portable Console is now weekly for everyone. Enjoy a new episode packed with handheld gaming news and other topics every Tuesday. We’re introducing NPC XL, a brand-new, members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon at $5/month. The video version of NPC will be published here going forward and includes all of the show’s back catalog as well as bonus material. NPC is joining the (awesome) TWG Discord server with a dedicated channel for community feedback and participation. Follow-Up Quiet Retro Handhelds Anbernic RG Cube TrimUI Brick Miyoo Flip The Latest Portable Gaming News New details about the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 https://liliputing.com/retroid-pocket-flip2-is-a-faster-handheld-game-console-with-upgraded-controllers/ Legion Go S reviews Lenovo Legion Go S review an overpriced, underachieving handheld Lenovo Legion Go S review feels good, plays bad Federico’s handheld update Sold: - ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 See: MacStories Unwind Godzilla vs. Ticci’s Surprise, Part 2 AYANEO is teasing a new version of the Pocket Micro https://x.com/AYANEO__/status/1892869316410036575 Speculation is it’s a version with no analog sticks - https://liliputing.com/ayaneo-classic-will-probably-be-a-tiny-gaming-handheld-with-simplified-controllers/ AYANEO kills its Flip AYANEO says the Flip handheld isn’t cancelled after all Epilogue Operator news The SN Operator from Epilogue is close to taking pre-orders, and the company is working on a 64 Operator. Plus Game Boy Camera support for the original operator is close. The Game Boy Camera as a Webcam I Used a Game Boy Camera for FaceTime Video Calls in iPadOS 17 and It Was Glorious Interesting project to make Windows better on handhelds Winhanced Brings SteamOS-Like Experience to Windows Handhelds - Retro Handhelds Winhanced - A better Windows Handheld Also Mentioned: Playnite Topics PicoChat or PictoChat Can You Tell the Difference - MacStories A visit to the in Kyoto Brendon’s thoughts on the black Miyoo Flip Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy: https://www.macstories.net/privacy-policy/
NPC is a podcast about one of the hottest corners of the gaming world: portable hardware. Every other week, Federico Viticci, John Voorhees, and Brendon Bigley cover portable gaming news and share their experiences with everything from the simplest retro gaming handhelds to cutting-edge handheld PCs.
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