👾 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








This whole thing with Nintendo dangling Virtual Boy games in front of but also requiring an expensive accessory to play them….impossible to be flabbergasted AND not surprised simultaneously?
Good stuff man, these newsletters are really good!