Retro Game Corps

Heads up that AYN Thor pricing will increase next week due to the ongoing RAM shortage.

- They are still accepting "Batch 2" pre-orders until 20JAN, at the current price.
- "Batch 2" pre-orders will begin shipping 15JAN.
- "Batch 3" pre-orders will start 20JAN, with the following price increases:

AYN Thor Base (8GB/128GB): $309 ($10 increase)
AYN Thor Pro (12GB/256GB): $369 ($20 increase)
AYN Thor Max (16GB/1TB): $449 ($20 increase)

Affiliate link: tinyurl.com/ThorRGC
Non-affiliate: www.ayntec.com/products/ayn-thor

Here are some of my main videos about the AYN Thor:

Review video: https://youtu.be/DeGFRB0Mor8
Impressions video: https://youtu.be/B2sUrakqWt0
Dual screen handheld starter guide: https://youtu.be/SQ5xUqXgON8

1 day ago | [YT] | 941

Retro Game Corps

I'm heading to CES in Las Vegas tomorrow so things will be a little quiet here for the next week, but expect some videos when I return.

One current hot topic in the handheld community right now is AYANEO and their delayed shipping fulfillment status over the past year. I have discussed this in previous videos, including my recent AYANEO Pocket VERT review video, since their track record demonstrates that pre-ordering their devices carries a significant risk of delay. In short, the company missed their international shipping deadlines by months for many devices in 2025, with little transparency about fulfillment. Some devices like the KONKR Pocket Fit Elite have been quietly removed as a pre-order option with no definitive plan for fulfillment on existing pre-orders. It's been exacerbated by domestic scalpers re-selling products overseas faster than the company itself. You can read more about it in their unapologetic (and frankly tone deaf) statement posted the other day: www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/konkr/pocket-fit-pre…

I also believe the fact they continue to use crowdfunding websites for their pre-order campaigns is bad for customers. IndieGoGo recently changed hands to new ownership, and their platform change is objectively worse for buyers: cancelling or getting a refund requires you to deal with AYANEO's (historically bad) customer service channels, and shipping/taxes aren't collected until after the campaign has finished, leading to price uncertainty when pre-ordering. Other companies like AYN immediately removed their products from IndieGoGo once the platform changed, and I think that is the right move. It's paradoxical that they continue to use crowdfunding when a) they are an established company, not some startup project, and b) they already have their own retail shop on their website.

In summary: AYANEO keeps missing their shipping deadlines, you can buy their products from re-sellers on sites like Best Buy and AliExpress and get them faster, their use of crowdfunding websites is unacceptable, and yet they continue to announce new handhelds faster than everyone else, even Anbernic.

So what does this mean for Retro Game Corps? I have always considered this channel as a service to potential buyers, and I get a lot of requests to review AYANEO handhelds. When given the opportunity to review any product during its pre-order campaign, I feel an obligation to try and do so; my rationale is that if I can provide a detailed, objective (as much as possible) hardware review before someone commits money to a pre-order product, that is a service to the community, especially because it's often only during the pre-order period that AYANEO devices are priced competitively. I put myself in my own shoes as a viewer: if I was buying a device, I would want to know as much about it as possible, both good and bad, and to get it for as cheap as possible. If a buyer is only relying on AYANEO's hyperbolic marketing materials or surface-level showcase videos, then they are not making an informed decision. My service to the community is to describe and demonstrate what it would be like to own a piece of hardware, for better or for worse, and most importantly to warn about potential issues as I find them.

This review style has certainly ruffled feathers with the company, there have been extended periods in the past where they have not sent me products, and I have had to resort to buying retail units (or using loaners from others) for review. I find this less than ideal, only because it means my reviews are less helpful as they come out AFTER the majority of customers have committed their money. There's a common sentiment that reviewers are beholden to companies because they want free stuff, and it's hard to articulate just how untrue that is for me; I have more handhelds than I could possibly enjoy, and when a unit arrives in the mail, all I see is the 40 hours of work that will be required to properly review the product. Receiving a "free" review unit doesn't influence my review findings, and I donate these devices to other reviewers or the community after they have run their course.

Other creators (like the ‪@retrohandhelds‬ crew) have made the decision to boycott AYANEO reviews going forward. I applaud them for taking this stance, and have seen some requests from community members that I do the same. I can see the value in boycotting them, as it may force AYANEO to make real changes to their pre-ordering and shipping processes (which absolutely need to improve, and is discussed in my videos too). But I'm also hesitant to do a full boycott for one reason alone: it forces buyers to make less informed decisions, since I won't be providing my candid and detailed review (other channels still make great reviews, so it's not like the world will end). For perspective, other reviewers in the larger tech space will continue to review hardware (say, a smartphone or an NVIDIA GPU) even if they feel the company is bad for customers, rather than wholesale boycott their products. And as I mentioned, I consider my service to the community to be reviewing hardware so that potential customers make informed purchasing choices. I'd hate for someone to pre-order an AYANEO handheld because they have flashy marketing and they didn't watch a balanced review for the product.

So as you can imagine, I am torn about where to go from here. I see this going three ways: 1) I can continue to review pre-release devices as soon as possible so that buyers can make informed decisions (while still giving warnings about the company and buying experience), 2) I can purchase devices and review them once retail units arrive so I can also incorporate the buying process as part of the review, or 3) I can boycott the company altogether. Each of these options have their benefits and drawbacks; I likely cannot afford to buy every single AYANEO handheld so I will have to be choosy about which retail units to purchase for review, and the reviews will come so late that they won't be of benefit to anyone considering a pre-order. Boycotting the company certainly makes a statement but also leaves buyers the least informed.

In the spirit of my channel being a service to others, I'm opening a poll so you folks can help me decide which service benefits you the most. I intend to defer to the results of this poll but I also don't want a Boaty McBoatface situation; so I'll just say that I will check these results and take all of your thoughts and opinions into consideration, because I do find them valuable, but will ultimately make my own decision based on this feedback.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,371

Retro Game Corps

GammaOS has been released for Anbernic 8300 devices (RG477M, RG557, and RG477V) for the first time! This is a big improvement over the stock OS experience, here is a short list of some features:

- global black frame insertion for better motion clarity across all emulators
- HDMI output that properly scales to your screen
- RetroArch pre-configuration/optimization
- improved stability and better performance profiles
- adjusted analog stick calibration and sleep mode

github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/GammaOSNext/releases

Note that GammaOS releases are available to Patrons only for the first 60 days, and then they will go public after that. I'll be sure to make another post once they are free for everyone. If you'd like to support this development work, here is their Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/gammaos/about

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 922

Retro Game Corps

Two last-minute Amazon sales:

Samsung 1TB microSD card ($70)
Affiliate link: amzn.to/4rIXuzr
Non-affiliate: www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Smartphones-Nintendo-Switch…

I posted about it a couple weeks ago; this is close to its historical low (it hit $68 at one point over the summer). You can find cheaper 1TB cards (Teamgroup, Silicon Power) but I prefer the reliability of the Samsung EVO line.

GameSir X5s ($40)
Affiliate link: amzn.to/3MOhmku
Non-affiliate: www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Controller-Lightweight-Er…

The X5s and X5 Lite are some of my favorite telescopic controllers released this year. The X5s is the BT version and it works on iOS, Android, Switch 1/2, and Windows, and has interchangeable face buttons. I personally prefer the X5 Lite because it's lighter and has a faster USB-C direct connection, but if you are looking for a cheap BT telescopic controller this one is excellent. Here is my video review: https://youtu.be/oo-RIoPzpRA

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3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 860

Retro Game Corps

The Anbernic RG477V is now up for sale. Here is my review video: https://youtu.be/gkPmfUMy_vo

Anbernic direct: tinyurl.com/AnbernicRG477V
Non-affiliate link: anbernic.com/products/rg477v

AliExpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3FMCZvj
Non-affiliate link: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256810393653791.html

The pricing is a bit lower for the first 72 hours, and will revert to retail pricing after that. Note that these prices don't include shipping, which will vary by region. They should cost the same on their direct website and AliExpress, but you can use coupon codes on AliExpress to potentially reduce the price. If you are in the US, you can use code "USFL25" to reduce the price by another $25.

Early bird price (first 72 hours):
$199.99 (8GB/128GB)
$239.99 (12GB/256GB)

Retail price:
$219.99 (8GB/128GB)
$259.99 (12GB/256GB)

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,218

Retro Game Corps

Some recent updates to Retroid Pocket 6 and Odin 3 pre-orders:

Retroid Pocket 6:
- The RP6 pre-order discount period is now over, so it's now the retail price of $230 for the 8GB RAM model, and $280 for the 12GB RAM model.
- Pre-order fulfillment is still on track (shipping begins early January), but all future pre-orders will be in "batch 2" which starts shipping in March.

AYN Odin 3:
- Due to RAM price increases and shortages, the Odin 3 Ultra (24GB RAM option) shipments will be delayed until mid-January.
- Customers can email them (info@ayn.hk) to downgrade the Ultra model to the Max model (with a refund of the price difference) if they want their device before Christmas, or wait until the mid-January delivery.

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 1,027

Retro Game Corps

Several retro handheld creators (myself included) contributed to this holiday gift guide from ‪@RyanRetro‬. Check it out! https://youtu.be/KZiPrxGYUrw?si=o4H00...

1 month ago | [YT] | 161

Retro Game Corps

UGREEN is having a big Amazon holiday sale, with some pretty good deals on battery banks, wall chargers, cables, and docks.

Affiliate link: amzn.to/49aedEk
Non-affiliate: www.amazon.com/stores/page/2EFB84C6-B1FC-4B1B-990F…

The link above should list out all of the sales, and here is a list of some deals I found. Their wall chargers come in various sizes and are excellent for traveling, and I picked up their "FineTrack" AirTags (4 for $20) that have replaceable batteries. I also have (and love) their 5-in-1 HDMI switch, which lets me connect many various gaming devices to my TV at once.

Wall chargers:
45W USB wall charger ($20)
65W USB charging hub ($23)
65W USB wall charger ($24)
100W USB wall charger ($33)
100W USB retractable charger ($50)

Battery Banks:
10,000mAh (22.5W) power bank ($20)
20,000mAh (45W) power bank ($28)
25,000mAh (145W) power bank ($66)

Mag-Safe Battery Banks:
10,000mAh (20W) MagSafe bank ($23)
10,000mAh (25W) Qi2 MagSafe bank w/ cable ($60)
20,000mAh (25W) Qi2 MagSafe bank w/ cable ($82)

Miscellaneous:
Revodock 5-in-1 USB dock ($11)
FineTrack 4-pack AirTags for iOS ($20)
5-in-1 HDMI switch ($26)
USB-C cables 100W 2-pack ($7)
8K HDMI 2.1 cable ($9)

1 month ago | [YT] | 561

Retro Game Corps

Looks like Samsung has one last microSD card sale before the holidays, $70 for their 1TB EVO Select card. This is close to its historical low (it hit $68 at one point over the summer). You can find cheaper 1TB cards (Teamgroup, Silicon Power) but I prefer the reliability of the Samsung EVO line.

Affiliate link: amzn.to/4rIXuzr
Non-affiliate: www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Smartphones-Nintendo-Switch…

If you're looking for a 1TB microSD Express card (required for the Switch 2), Lexar now has one, and it's on sale for $186 (usually $220). I think that price point is still a little steep, so I continue to rock my 512GB microSD Express card.

Affiliate link: amzn.to/48u52OX
Non-affiliate link: www.amazon.com/Lexar-microSD-Express-Nintendo-Swit…

I'll keep an eye out for more deals before the holidays, let me know if there is anything specific I should be looking for.

1 month ago | [YT] | 865

Retro Game Corps

Anbernic has fixed their RG DS Android software (thanks in large part to community developer GammaSqueeze), and now both screens maintain a consistent 60Hz refresh rate. Working on a video update now, look for it later this week.

GammaSqueeze also has an early build of his GammaOS software working, which should have a public release in the future too. You can see it in action here: https://youtu.be/o6gxsTiQgTI

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 2,345