Retroid's Rocky Road and Microsoft's Portable Plans
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Microsoft's Stepping Stone: Xbox Comes to the Ally X
NPC: Next Portable Console
Returning from summer break, the NPC crew discusses Microsoft and ASUS’s Xbox handheld announcement at Gamescom. They also cover the upcoming release of Silk Song, Nintendo Direct rumors, and growing concerns about Switch 2’s strategy, particularly the lack of third-party dev kits and exclusive titles. The episode closes with an exploration of wild new handhelds from Abxylute. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through...
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Nintendo Faces Tariffs, But Keeps Switch 2 Pricing Steady
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon and John mind the show while Federico is on vacation, covering Nintendo’s pricing changes, the latest on Retroid’s second screen accessory, the TrinketOS Android front end, Manic EMU for iOS, and more. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Switch and Switch 2: Tariff’s and Pricing “Yesterday, the that a 20 percent tariff on goods from Vietnam — where Nintendo produces its Switch 2 consoles — will begin next week. That’s double the introduced in April that Nintendo used to forecast earnings for the...
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Brendon's Bad Fur Day
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon KONKRs AYANEO’s two-day announcement-fest and is joined by John and Federico for diversions into 3DS repairs, the GPD Win 5, Gamescom, and more. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News US Tariff Exemptions are Ending GPD Win 5 Gamescom and Silksong It’s AYANEO All the Way Down Lego Game Boy 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...
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The Multitool of Handhelds
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon and John cover the ONEXSUGAR Sugar 1 dual-screen handheld, Sony’s power-saving and controller updates, and the latest ES-DE update for Android. Then John reports back on the MagicX Zero 40 homework that Brendon gave him last week. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News ONEXSUGAR Sugar 1 goes up for preorder Sony’s beta controller update - power settings and multi-pairing controllers Also mentioned: The MagicX Zero 40 Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content,...
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Hello from 1998: Revisiting Past Handhelds
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, John kicks off NPC with a return to 1998, before the crew digs into 8BitDo’s new Pro 3 controller, Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosures and docks, TrimUI’s ponderous Smart Pro Mini, and Federico and John’s first impressions of the MagicX Zero 40. Then, Brendon, John, and Federico bring a handheld they haven’t used in a while back to the show, and as you might expect, Federico’s choice was a bit of a surprise. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes John’s Game Boy Streaming Setup cartridge using window capture, cropped Zoom set to the OBS virtual camera Follow-Up ...
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Joy-Lock™: Dbrand Trademarks Its Do-Over
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week on NPC, lots of follow up about microSD Express cards, the Switch 2 Dock, XR glasses and the dbrand Killswitch, plus Retroid’s second screen accessory, Windows handhelds, a new eGPU, and more. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Follow Up Follow up on microSD Express cards briefly showed up on Amazon for $184 but sold out now - much less than we expected. Meanwhile SanDisk’s 512GB card is showing August shipping dates on Amazon Switch 2 Dock Follow up XR Glasses and the Switch 2 dbrand Killswitch followup Do you have...
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Switch 2 Dock Mysteries
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Federico, John, and Brendon cover REDMAGIC’s Android tablet, rumors of an Ayn Odin 3, and other news before digging into the mysteries surrounding Nintendo’s Switch 2 dock. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Also, Nintendo’s Mysterious Switch 2 Dock , aka the - 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...
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You’re Holding It Wrong: Dbrand and the Joy-Con Gap
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week on NPC, John and Brendon cover Hori webcam woes, a creative new Game Boy Camera app for iOS, and dbrand’s Killswitch case troubles for the Switch 2. They also dig into the ambitious but flawed MagicX DS-style handheld, Brendon’s ongoing Tokyo Pro Controller hunt, and more. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Brendon’s Mario Kart World review 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...
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What's That Smell? The RG Slide
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, we have RG Slide pricing and penguins, along with new AYANEO news, and a cool aluminum TrimUI Brick. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News RG Slide First Impressions, Pricing, and Penguins pretty sparse site so far but promising TrimUI Brick Hammer 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...
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From Italy to Japan: Brendon Goes Hands‑On With the Switch 2
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week on NPC, Brendon shares his first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2 after UPS Japan comes knocking, and all three hosts cover a chaotic week of handheld news—from the RG Slide to a surprise ASUS/Xbox handheld. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News 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...
info_outlineThis 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
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
- 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
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