👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0166

15th September 2025

Issue 166 is here, and in this weeks newsletter we cover the Pico-boy and the Game Bub bringing new life to the Game Boy, the Virtual boy is back, Mario’s’ new film and a lot more.

Thanks as ever for reading, liking and sharing the newsletter.

News

👾 A fan-made Sega Genesis port of Final Fight may soon include support for three-player gameplay, expanding on the original arcade experience (Time Extension).

🎮 A third-party accessory allows the Nintendo Switch to function like the Virtual Boy, bringing the retro 3D experience to modern hardware (TechEBlog).

🚀 The acclaimed 16-bit-inspired shooter Earthion is set to launch on PS5 and PS4 next week (Push Square).

🧩 LEGO’s Sega Genesis Controller (40769) gift-with-purchase promotion is now live for collectors and fans (The Brick Fan).

🕹️ The FPGA-powered SuperStation One, designed to play PS1 games with modern accuracy, has been shown in a physical prototype for the first time (Time Extension).

📱 Atari has launched the Gamestation Go, a new handheld console aimed at retro gaming enthusiasts (Gagadget).

📼 Limited Run Games’ CEO has acquired rights to multiple FMV titles from Night Trap developer Digital Pictures (Time Extension).

🐾 Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is now available digitally, bringing together the cult platformer series (Gamers Heroes).

🎬 Nintendo’s reveal of a Super Mario Galaxy movie has split fan opinions on its direction (Creative Bloq) (below).

🧟 The cancelled arcade game Chimera Beast is being revived through the Polymega Collection Series (Time Extension).

📟 The Pico Pal, a Game Boy Color-style retro handheld, is set to launch soon (NotebookCheck).

🔧 Crowdfunding has begun for Game Bub, an open-source FPGA-based Game Boy clone (Time Extension).

🧩 A new Game Boy puzzle adventure was fully funded on Kickstarter within just four hours (Adventure Gamers).

📼 NES and SNES titles that were cancelled decades ago may finally see release through new preservation efforts (Time Extension).

Features

🌲 An interview reveals how Nintendo’s Treehouse team used Super Mario 64’s Princess Peach to help explain Animal Crossing’s concept to Western audiences, ensuring the game’s successful localization — Time Extension

📺 A retrospective looks at Sega’s Game Gear TV Tuner, an accessory that let players watch analog television on their handheld system — TechEBlog

🧱 A first look showcases LEGO’s upcoming Sega Genesis controller gift-with-purchase set, tied to the brand’s retro gaming collaborations — Brick Fanatics

🥋 Digital Eclipse is bringing Mortal Kombat 4 and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance to the Game Boy Color Kollection, expanding its preservation of classic fighters — EventHubs

🎮 RetroHandhelds reflects on the anniversaries of Sony’s PlayStation (30 years) and Sega’s Dreamcast (26 years) in the U.S., highlighting their legacies — Retro Handhelds

💿 Data shows the top-selling Sega Saturn game in North America, a title that might surprise some players, but fits industry expectations — Time Extension

🕹️ Polygon commemorates the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation in North America, reflecting on its industry-changing influence — Polygon

📖 A new book celebrates the PlayStation’s 30th anniversary in North America, exploring the console’s lasting cultural and industry impact — Time Extension

🔌 A guide explains different methods for connecting retro consoles to modern TVs and monitors, covering adapters, upscalers, and cables — GamesRadar

💻 A former Microsoft programmer reveals a bug in 3D Pinball that allowed the game to run at 5,000 FPS, caused by skipping a frame limiter when porting from Windows 95 to NT — Tom’s Hardware

🧙 A PC Gamer feature revisits Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone, a PS2-era action RPG seen as a spiritual successor to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers — PC Gamer

🏆 Over 52,000 retro gamers voted in a poll to determine the best retro console of all time, with results now published — Retro Dodo

🍄 A retrospective series explores the first decade of Super Mario, charting its history from Donkey Kong through the late 1980s — Vocal Media

💰 A rare Super Mario speedrun cartridge has been valued at $1.6 million, reflecting the rising market for Nintendo collectibles — SCMP

📺 Inverse looks back on 30 years of the PlayStation in North America, revisiting the console’s landmark games and cultural impact — Inverse

🚨 Reports detail a Sega-led police raid that uncovered Nintendo development kits, raising questions about competition and legal boundaries — The Verge

Lists & Rankings

🎮 A list of the best SNES games highlights titles that make a Nintendo Switch Online subscription worthwhile, showcasing classics that remain influential today — DualShockers

🕵️‍♂️ Several lesser-known James Bond games are explored as being superior to GoldenEye 007 in gameplay and design but remain largely forgotten — XDA Developers

💾 Batocera’s unique features are detailed as reasons why it stands out as a leading retro emulation operating system — XDA Developers

🕹️ An analysis of classic retro game consoles shows how certain designs caused physical discomfort and hand strain for players — TheGamer

📀 A ranking of the best-selling PlayStation 1 games of all time reveals the top titles that defined Sony’s first console (below) — Insider Gaming

💿 A breakdown of the best-selling Sega Dreamcast games lists the top performers on the influential but short-lived console — Game Rant

🍄 A feature ranks the 40 best Super Mario games ever made, covering decades of the franchise’s history — Video Games Chronicle

📼 A retrospective looks at overlooked SNES games that deserve more recognition despite being overshadowed by bigger titles — CBR