Bedrock exists because you can't run Java on consoles. Java version still exists because there's a deep history of modding and Microsoft knows that killing off the original will anger a large part of the fanbase. If they could get Bedrock's modding capabilities up to Java spec, that would allow them to kill the Java version.. but.. that's not possible because Microsoft needs to exert a certain level of control over the Bedrock version on consoles:

If users used copyrighted material (e.g. a Mario skin) they'd be held liable. If users changed Creepers to walking penises, they'd be held liable.

It's really a no-win situation, but they're doing the best they can.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Talk about scope creep. Now they're adding action adventures?

View this comment - View article - View full comments

You turn off the enhanced visuals and it'll probably still run on a potato.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Apparently someone in the community has managed to get it working on the Retroid Pocket 5 as well, so long as you're running a Linux distro (e.g. Rocknix) on it.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

All honesty, this is EXACTLY what I was hoping for-- A Steam Deck minus CPU, storage, video-- as long as it has the back paddles (and it most certainly will) it'll be replacing my DualSense for anything that doesn't need the Adaptive Triggers.

If it supported that feature, I'd practically never need another controller type again.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Just got out of a nerve ablation procedure, so I've got plenty of time to throw at trying out a new game. I'm in.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

This is not the same Atari that was involved in the lawsuit back then. Atari has changed hands so many times at this point that you practically need a genealogy degree to work out who did what and when. To make matters even more confusing, there also used to be an "Atari Games" that owned the arcade stuff post-1984 or so. That company is now part of what used to be Midway and in the hands of Netherrealm Studios, I believe.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

I know this is massively off-topic, but I'm curious as to whether this thing would work with a Nintendo Switch. I could imagine putting something like this behind a KVM with a few normally headless Pis (e.g. Pihole, Home Assistant), sometimes the Deck, and also plugging the Switch in occasionally.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: ShadowXeldronYet another interesting looking gadget that I probably won't get because I already have a Steam Deck, a MiSTer, a PSP and a 3DS.

Still, I wouldn't mind having access to another non-Android ARM device, especially one that means I don't have to move a ton of cables around to use it. What's Armbian like?

ARMbian is a nearly-stock Debian experience derivative targeting ARM SoCs. The only major issue with it is that the project lead has a weird idea on how dist-upgrades should be handled.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Retroid is one of the more reputable companies in the handheld emulation device market, so these will almost certainly end up being pretty good Linux-side.

If I were planning to pick up a non-FPGA-based handheld strictly for emulation purposes (I have a Deck, which is one major reason I watch this site) I'd probably go with something from Retroid; the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is the first sub-$300 handheld to do PS2/GC well and I expect the 5 line will be even better.

View this comment - View article - View full comments