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He was a mascot in the shadow of Crash Bandicoot: Gex the Gecko, the classiest secret agent of the 32-bit era, is back on modern consoles.

There's no sequel or new episode here: the famous gecko gets a little facelift in a compilation that brings together the three Gex Trilogy games: Gex (1995), Gex: Enter the Gecko (1998) and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999). Owners of the original PlayStation or Nintendo 64 should feel a little nostalgic on discovering this re-release. The games were also released on 3DO (its original platform), Sega Saturn and Game Boy Color, sometimes in adapted versions.

This compilation will benefit from some welcome comfort additions: native 16:9 format support, smoother analogue controls, rewind function and the ability to save at any time.

The trilogy will be published by Limited Run Games and offered in three editions:

• Standard - $39.99: physical version with booklet (and the booklet is important!).
• Classic - $79.99: delivered in a PS1-style box, with steelbook, double-sided poster and CD containing a selection of music from the games.
• Tail Time - $199.99: includes all the contents of the classic version, plus a 30cm inflatable Gex, a 17cm Gex statuette, a pin, artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, and a CD featuring the complete soundtracks.

Pre-orders close on 6 July and deliveries are estimated to take place between 24 and 31 October. The trilogy is planned for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Gex is a humorous platformer series originally developed by Crystal Dynamics, with a sarcastic lizard as its hero. A TV fanatic, he travels through worlds inspired by TV genres (horror, science fiction, cartoons, etc.), throwing in jokes and pop culture references at every turn.

All three titles are playable on Recalbox and should put a smile on your face.

The Strong Museum has just inducted four games into the Video Game Hall of Fame. We told you about it a few weeks ago: every year, the Strong National Museum of Play organises a public and professional vote to elect the titles that will have the honour of being inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame.

This year's nominees included Frogger, Quake, Harvest Moon, Age of Empires, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Golden Tee, NBA 2K, Mattel Football, Defender and Angry Birds. Four games were finally selected, joining classics such as Pong, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

As you can see from the photo, it's Defender, GoldenEye 007, Quake and Tamagotchi that have been awarded the laurels and have joined the video game Hall of Fame:

• Defender: released in 1981, Defender proved that gamers were ready to accept more complex games in the arcade. It combined intense gameplay and a demanding control system with a side-scrolling space-shooter.

• GoldenEye 007: Released in 1997, GoldenEye 007 is best known for its hugely popular four-player multiplayer mode, which influenced many subsequent multiplayer games. It was the third best-selling game on the Nintendo 64.

• Quake: launched in 1996, this FPS's 3D engine became an industry standard. Its multiplayer mode contributed to the emergence of e-sports. The Quake code has influenced many titles and is still used in some modern games.

• Tamagotchi: launched in 1996, the Tamagotchi bridged the gap between toys and video games. This digitally-bred pet popularised the animal simulation genre, paving the way for titles such as Neopets and Nintendogs.

If you'd like to see the 49 games inducted since the start of this ‘competition’, go to this link.

French media outlet PlayStation Inside (now PSI) had the honour of interviewing Shuhei Yoshida, former president of PlayStation. It was an opportunity for the Japanese to share his views on today's video game industry, as well as an anecdote that will be of particular interest to retrogaming enthusiasts.

Remember: the release of Gran Turismo was a veritable revolution in the era of the first PlayStation. It was a revolution in terms of both graphics and simulation-based gameplay - an unusual choice at a time when racing games were largely arcade-based.

If you're one of those people who went straight into the first corner without thinking about braking, rest assured: you weren't alone. Even the president of PlayStation was surprised by the rigid gameplay, even more so than in the final version of the game.

You'll remember that on the cover it said that the game was a ‘real driving simulator’. And you know, I'm not a game designer, I'm a producer first and foremost. During development, Kazunori Yamauchi [President of Polyphony Digital, editor's note] showed me a prototype of Gran Turismo, and I was one of the first to play it. And to tell you the truth, he was really very serious when he talked about simulation declared Shuhei Yoshida.

It was extremely advanced, perhaps too much so. But at first, Kazunori Yamauchi didn't take my feedback at face value. So he brought together around thirty players to test the game. And, as I'd expected, they all crashed at the first turn, because the gameplay was so difficult.

I was at the back of the room with Kazunori Yamauchi. At that point, he turned to me and said I'd been right. It was from that point on that he softened the edges and reduced the pure simulation aspect a little to bring out the Gran Turismo you know today on PS1. In a way, I'd like to think that I saved Gran Turismo's destiny, at my level, and that I contributed a little to its success concludes the former PlayStation president.

A destiny saved, then, for a franchise that has sold over 90 million copies worldwide, and which remains a racing game behemoth to this day, to the point of being adapted into a film in 2023.

We highly recommend that you read the full interview with Shuhei Yoshida on the PSI website, which is both fascinating and informative.

The Recalbox RGB DUAL 2 campaign ended a few days ago.
During the campaign, you showed us incredible support and enthusiasm for this new project. Your feedback reinforced our vision of retrogaming and the Recalbox adventure.

We've experienced this feedback first-hand:

• Thanks to your commitment on Kickstarter, the RGB DUAL 2 has become the first Recalbox project to exceed €100,000 raised, with more than €123,000 raised thanks to almost 1100 contributors.
• Thanks to feedback from our testers and your receipt of their test videos.
• And also through your messages on the campaign, on our Discord, and on our social networks.

**For all this, a huge thank you!

What's the status of development?

For our part, development and the final testing phases are underway.
In the next few days, we'll be receiving prototype N°6, on which we've moved the jack to improve user comfort.

All our tests, in different configurations, confirm that the equipment is 100% plug and play.
No problems were encountered on this final stretch, which also enabled us to test V10 and the new themes designed specifically for RGB DUAL 2 directly.

On the RecalTower side, the final adjustments are also being made:

• Moving the jack
• Improved mounting system
• Optimisation of case ventilation

And now?

The components for the first 1,000 boards** are already in our possession, and another 1,000** are on their way.
This allows us to limit the risk of production delays for the Recalbox RGB DUAL 2 PCB.
We really look forward to your feedback!

👉 Don't forget to join us on Discord to chat with the team, ask your questions and follow the progress of the project.

Once again, thank you for your support and thank you for being part of this adventure.

We hope you enjoy playing with the RGB DUAL 2 as much as we enjoyed designing it.

For those of you who are late to the party, you can still pre-order a "Kickstarter Bundle “ model by clicking on ”I support this project" on the Kickstarter page.

Some consoles are harder to emulate than others. The Nintendo 64 is one of them, as is the Sega Saturn, well known for its complex architecture.

Many of you on our Discord have told us about performance problems on these two machines, whether on a Raspberry Pi, Mini PC or other device. Rest assured, these problems are not caused by your hardware or Recalbox.

And with good reason: emulation of the Nintendo 64 and Saturn has always been tricky. Due to a history of emulators cobbled together over the years, the results vary greatly from one game to the next. Some run very well, others much less so, as we explained in this article.

As far as Recalbox is concerned, the Saturn can be emulated via four different emulators: Mednafen, Yabause**, YabaSanshiro** and Kronos**. All of which means you can run iconic titles such as Nights into Dreams, Sega Rally Championship, Daytona USA, or the Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter series in the best possible conditions.

Gamekult today introduces us to a newcomer to the world of Saturn emulation: Ymir, which aims to simplify console emulation while improving performance.

For the time being, only the BIN+CUE, IMG+CCD, MDF+MDS and ISO game formats are supported. The CHD format is not yet supported at the time of writing, but the developer has confirmed on Reddit that it will be included sooner or later. Progressive rendering** is also under development.

Initial feedback from users on this same thread has been particularly encouraging, suggesting a bright future for this new project. For the moment, we haven't yet tested Ymir on Recalbox, but we'll be sure to keep you informed if it's implemented.

While Capcom has not been active in the crossover field since Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, fans are taking over. This is the case with Sega vs. Capcom: The Next Level, a fast-paced unofficial project that has sparked a lot of excitement among 2D battle fans.

The latest update, beta 2.75, has just been released. Adds two new playable characters: Axel, the cult brawler from Streets of Rage, and Batsu, from Rival Schools. Joining Sonic, Ryu, Akira (Virtua Fighter) and X (Mega Man X), for a total of six fighters. While knowing that a hidden boss is available if you finish the arcade mode without losing.

In the way of classics like X-Men vs. Street Fighter or Capcom vs. SNK 2, this fangame features 2 vs 2 matches with a tag system available at any time. The gameplay is based on a four button configuration*, and the current beta includes several modes: Arcade*, Versus*, Training, Arcade coop and even a 4-player Cross Fever*.

The work done by Madxruler, the developer behind this project, forces respect. The artistic direction, the rhythm of the fights and the animations allow to see a real potential, provided that the project can go through without legal intervention by SEGA or Capcom.

The game is clearly reminiscent of the golden age of Marvel vs Capcom 2 and 3 and this fan game, although limited by the choice of characters, is simply impressive from a qualitative perspective.

Beta is available for free at this address.

If you follow the retrogaming news and are a fan of SEGA Mega Drive, you probably know Earthion, a shmup that caused a sensation since its announcement.

The game impresses with its superb graphics, a gameplay that seems very dynamic, beautiful special effects and depth, as well as a soundtrack praised by fans, composed by Yuzo Koshiro.

The only shadow to the table was so far related to the release media: the Mega Drive and Steam. Not everyone owns SEGA’s 16-bit or plays on PC, and this exclusivity seemed quite limiting—including for the publisher, in terms of commercialization.

But good news: the developer has made official via their site the release of Earthion on Switch*, PS4, PS5 and *Xbox Series X/S. For the moment, no specific date has been communicated, except a vague “2025”.

Be aware that the physical game will be distributed by Limited Run Games.

By visiting the official website, you will be able to discover new screenshots as well as an updated summary of the game:

"With the earth’s resources depleted and its environment in ruins, most of humanity fled to Mars. But when hostile invaders launch an attack on Earth, humanity has no choice but to fight. As environmental researcher, Azusa Takanashi, you will fly the YK-IIA advanced space fighter and lead the largest counterattack in human history. Losing is not an option!”

Our friends at Time Extension have come up with a great find. A few days ago, the YouTube channel Higenekodo posted a video of Vertexer, a futuristic racing game cancelled by Taito in 1993.

It's always a special moment to come across videos of cancelled games, especially at such an advanced stage of completion as the one below. It's hard to imagine what the reception would have been like if this game had been released on an arcade terminal. Would it have been a minor revolution? A flop? We'll never know.

But let's not forget the quality suggested by this video, which is reminiscent of F-Zero. Vertexer offers an excellent 3D rendering thanks to its meticulous sprite management: the depth effect, the colours and the fluidity leave you dreaming.

The staging is also very well done, with neat menus (the ship is used as an ATH to select your race), as well as interactions with the other drivers in the middle of the race via a pop-up window, allowing your opponents to have their say, a bit like in Star Fox.

Around twenty Vertexer cards have been put into circulation, and a few collectors are said to be the proud owners. I strongly recommend that you take three minutes to watch the video.

If you thought, just a few years ago, that SEGA had been buried with its Dreamcast, you were wrong (even if we didn't come far). The Japanese company enjoys a great deal of love among gamers, and the last few years have only confirmed this trend.

With the successful and well-received Sonic film trilogy, and the success of SEGA-branded games (such as the recent Sonic x Shadow Generations), the Japanese giant intends to build on the popularity of its franchises in all their forms.

Remakes in progress (Shinobi, Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Virtua Fighter...), diversification of media with Sonic films, an OutRun film in the pipeline (signed Michael Bay / Transformers)... SEGA is determined to make a name for itself and reinvent itself by relying on genuine pop culture treasures.

On 1 May, the Japanese giant took a new step in its strategy by opening its first official shop in Shanghai, China. It's a shop where you can leave with your arms full of souvenirs, but also test out new products and enjoy immersive experiences. Much more than just a shop, this shop is intended to be a place where fans can meet and exchange ideas.

SEGA President Shuji Utsumi said: *I want to bring SEGA's charm to many people in Shanghai, where gaming culture is deeply rooted.

It remains to be seen whether the experience will be repeated in other cities around the world. Source : SEGA

Some game names have become arcade benchmarks, and OutRun is clearly one of them. With its ‘chill’ atmosphere, the game takes players through a variety of settings at the wheel of their Ferrari Testarossa, in charming company.

Released in 1986 and developed by SEGA, OutRun redefined arcade racing games, moving away from classic formulas. Here, there are no competitors to overtake, just a choice of tracks (musical and road) and you drive with your hair blowing in the wind. This innovative concept has marked several generations, aided by numerous ports over the years.

A console on which the game was not released? The GameBoy Color, due to an obvious lack of power (the game was nevertheless released on GameBoy Advance). This ‘oversight’ could soon be rectified thanks to homebrew developer Shane McCafferty, who is currently working on a port of the game for Nintendo's console.

The results, which can be seen on McCafferty's X page, are very promising. The game is remarkably fluid. Admittedly, some elements appear a little late and the term ‘pixel art’ takes on its full meaning, but the capabilities of the GameBoy Color are exploited to impressive effect.

If the name Shane McCafferty sounds familiar and you follow the Recalbox blog, that's normal. He's the developer behind Hero GP, a motorbike game also developed for the GameBoy Color, which we wrote about here. So there's no doubt about his talent.

Hamster Corp continues to revive the glories of the past with two new additions to its Arcade Archives collection: NebulasRay and Ridge Racer. Two cult Namco titles, never re-released on consoles in the case of the former, and only once on PlayStation 1 in the case of the latter, Ridge Racer was in fact a launch game for SONY's console.

NebulasRay: first console release

Released in 1994 on arcade terminals, NebulasRay will arrive on consoles for the very first time on 15 May, on Switch and PlayStation 4. This vertical shoot'em up, developed on the Namco NB-1 system, uses pre-calculated 3D sprites in the style of Donkey Kong Country, for a spectacular rendering at the time.

Masahiro Kimoto (Tekken 3) and Yuji Yamamura (Soul Calibur) are behind the project, while the soundtrack was composed by Takayuki Ishikawa and Masahiro Fukuzawa. The player pilots an experimental ship tasked with repelling the onslaught of a mechanical army dubbed ‘The Master Force’, across six challenging levels.

To give you an idea, if you liked the Raiden franchise, you'll have to like NebulasRay.

Ridge Racer: back to basics

Scheduled for release on 5 June, Ridge Racer returns in its 1993 arcade version, as we knew it on Namco System 22 kiosks. At one stage, this re-release was announced as exclusive to the forthcoming Switch 2, but it will now also be released on PS4 and PS5.

This port will feature the usual Arcade Archives functions: quick save, rewind, online leaderboard and time trial mode. A good opportunity to rediscover the racing game that marked the start of the 3D era at Namco.

Source : Time Extension

8BitDo has just unveiled its new Retro mouse: the R8 Mouse – N Edition If its shape seems familiar to you, it is normal: it takes the lines of the version in the colors of the Xbox, the Retro R8, that we present here.

The colors are different. This time they’re inspired by the NES, with off-white and red buttons. The mouse will be accompanied by its charging station, perfectly adapted to its shapes.

8BitDo is not a new player when it comes to adapting its devices to the Nintendo universe. A mechanical keyboard, already offered for several months, also takes the colors of the NES and the characteristic keys of our old mechanical keyboards. It must be said that the design and the level of finish are particularly successful.

The brand promises more than 100 million clicks, accuracy and latency in line with current standards. On the battery side, it announces up to 100 hours in Bluetooth. As with most of its mice, 8BitDo also offers many settings to adapt the use to your preferences.

Pre-orders are already open on US and UK Amazon stores for delivery on June 27, 2025. The official 8BitDo website also offers pre-order for the rest of the world, at a price of $49.99.

That’s a good idea: after carrying DOOM on a multitude of media – which is probably the most productive running gag in the retro gaming community – a programmer had the excellent idea to carry the game fromid Software onto... console!

But be careful, not just any console: the Atari ST. This 16-bit machine from the American giant has very limited technical characteristics, which did not facilitate the task of Jonas Eschenburg, the programmer behind this port.

The first version of the game only showed greyed tones, and Jonas had to publish an accelerated video as the game was running slowly during his first trials.

Through perseverance, he ended up sharing a second video that made the small world of retro gaming vibrate: DOOM turning in color (limited to 16 shades), with the following message:
«Goodbye grayscale: DOOM on the Atari ST, now in 16 colors with lots of dithering. Palette effects (screen turns red when damaged) are also supported.”

The dithering – or tramage in French – is a technique that allows you to simulate colors or brightness levels by distributing pixels in a specific way. It can give the illusion of thinner gradients, but also sometimes make the image a little blurry if it is misused.

It should be remembered that if the Atari ST was a high-performance machine in its time, running a pseudo-3D environment like that of DOOM at a smooth cadence is almost black magic – especially with such a small color palette.

For now, the programmer has specified that the game runs on a emulator:

"It runs much faster than an original 8 MHz machine. I am not yet at the point of implementing optimizations, but I have a lot of fun integrating the material (graphic, input) from the ST.”

"It runs in an emulator, with 14 MB and accelerated speed. I will start optimizing it once the basics are in place."

Jonas Eschenburg still has some work to do on this port. But let’s not forget that this is already a remarkable feat: turning the fundamental elements of such a demanding game on the architecture of the Atari ST – even in emulation – shows a considerable level of skill... and passion.

Here we are: the final week of the Kickstarter campaign for the latest Recalbox hardware, the RGB DUAL 2. First of all, we'd like to thank you for this unprecedented launch: thanks to you, more than €100,000 has been committed to the project, and more than 950 contributors are part of the adventure.

To all of you: Thank you!

A thousand and one boards

There are 5 days left to take part in this campaign! Of course, the RGB DUAL 2 will be available in our shop after the crowdfunding, but if you want to take advantage of the exclusive rewards reserved for the Kickstarter, you know what you have to do... and that's via this link.

It's been a month since we launched this campaign, which has enabled us to order and receive components for the first 1000 RGB DUAL 2s, meaning that the risk of shortage is 0% for these first orders (and therefore for everyone else at the time of writing).

And if you arrive after the first 1000? No worries: we've also ordered the components for the second thousand boards. Suffice it to say that everything's running smoothly as far as stocks are concerned, and we're starting to warm up to the task of packing everything up!

Last-minute optimisation

We're in the final stages of testing, which has enabled us to detect a problem with some jack cables.
As you know, it will be possible to connect your Recalbox to SCART and to jack, in order to output sound elsewhere than on your CRT TV (amplifier, active speakers, etc.).
Our beta testers noticed that some jack cable sockets were too long and could touch the SCART cable.

We did not encounter this problem with the jack cable offered as an add-on on the Kickstarter. But to ensure compatibility with all jack cables on the market, we decided to move the jack socket to the left of the RGB DUAL 2 (so it will be on the same side as the Raspberry Pi 5's USB ports).

First tests and opinions

To get full feedback, we also sent a few prototypes to some of our friends in the retrogaming scene, including Bigkam, Gros Nenesse, Bob from RetroRGB, GyuGyu and Doctor X-Dav.
On each of their YouTube channels you'll be able to find previews made with the prototypes, as well as their analyses and comparisons, according to their affinities and playing conditions.

A live event to round off the campaign

On Saturday 3 May, we'll be hosting a Kickstarter closing live stream on our Twitch channel.
We'll be going over the campaign and the project's features, and a prize draw will be held among all the viewers, giving you the chance to win a prototype of the RGB DUAL 2, which will be sent out the following Monday... Something to keep you waiting until the official Kickstarter shipments!

Square, Capcom, Taito and Sega are now making significant efforts to preserve their videogame heritage. These initiatives were highlighted during a presentation at SIGGRAPH Asia last December.

Although this conference is several months old, it recently attracted attention thanks to a BlueSky post by KevEdwardsRetro, a former developer at Software Creations and TT Fusion. He came across an article in Japanese on Gamemakers.jp, which was quickly shared on social networks and picked up by media such as GamesIndustry.Biz.

Concrete preservation initiatives

Speakers at the conference revealed the efforts made by their respective companies to archive their heritage.

At Square Enix, Youichiro Miyake presented the SAVE project launched in 2020, which aims to preserve a large part of the company's archives. Some of this data has already been presented at events such as SIGGRAPH Asia 2021, with the aim of raising public awareness and encouraging other companies to follow suit.

Capcom, with its Capcom Illustrations Archive System, focuses mainly on the visual elements of games, such as illustrations and logos. The initiative could be extended to other materials such as ROMs and music. This archive has been used in projects such as Capcom Arcade Stadium and the Capcom Town website.

Taito has a decentralised approach, with different teams working on the digitisation of various items, such as game designs, arcade cards, and printed materials. These archives have been used for events such as the 70th anniversary arcade exhibition and products such as the Darius Cozmic Collection.

For its part, Sega, which launched its own initiative in 2023, is focusing on several areas: the preservation of arcade hardware, software, development documents and illustrations. Some of these resources are already appearing in games such as Like a Dragon.

A long-standing challenge

Historically, the video games industry has been slow to preserve its archives. However, these recent initiatives show that major companies are finally taking steps to conserve their past and ensure that their history is preserved.

Source: Time Extension

**Do you remember Micro Machines, the cult miniature racing game on the NES?
Released in the early 1990s, this title developed by Codemasters left its mark on a whole generation of gamers. Inspired by the famous miniature toys from Galoob, Micro Machines featured crazy circuits in everyday locations: kitchen, bathroom, office... you name it.

With its top-down view, ultra-precise controls and addictive multiplayer, Micro Machines quickly became a classic. From the NES to the PlayStation, via the Mega Drive, the series has gone through many iterations, becoming a staple of arcade racing.

OctaRace: a retro-style challenger

Today, a new title aims to rekindle that nostalgic flame: OctaRace, developed by Pixel Almost Perfect* and published by PixelHeart*.

Scheduled for release in 2025 on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, OctaRace aims to be a spiritual successor to the famous licence. But before that, a Kickstarter campaign is underway to finance the game's physical production and support its long-term development (content, updates, online, etc.).

🔗 Support OctaRace on Kickstarter

A retro, family atmosphere

OctaRace is presented as an accessible and family-friendly arcade experience, with :

• Short, dynamic sessions
• Immediate learning curve
• A retro aesthetic inspired by the PlayStation 1
• An atmosphere reminiscent of Micro Machines V3.

Features to remember

OctaRace will offer a wide range of options to delight fans of multiplayer and customisation:

• Simple controls but deep gameplay
• 1 to 8 players, local or online
• Varied game modes: single-player, versus, co-op
• Unlock iconic vehicles
• Extensive customisation: fun items, driver style
• Original cast of playable characters

A welcome return to the roots

With OctaRace, the developers seem determined to resurrect the spirit of miniature racing games, while adapting it to the expectations of modern gamers. If you're a fan of Micro Machines or simply curious to discover a fun, fast-paced racing game, OctaRace is definitely worth a look.

**Watch out for it on Kickstarter and in the coming months.

🔗 Support OctaRace on Kickstarter

Limited Run Games is making a splash with a new collector's edition that's as surprising as it is fun: the "Will It Run?" bundle, which includes DOOM and DOOM II. And be warned, this edition is anything but ordinary.

Only 666 copies will be produced, a clear nod to the infernal world of DOOM... and that's not all: the price is also set at $666. The idea is clear: to play with the game's satanic imagery to offer a decidedly offbeat collector's edition.

But the real twist is the platform. This bundle doesn't offer the games on a traditional console, but... on a customized PC case shaped like the famous gray box seen everywhere in DOOM's labs. And this case really runs the games: it runs both titles via a special version of the GZDoom engine. This is in keeping with the spirit of the "But can it run DOOM?" meme, which consists of running DOOM on just about anything.

And to top it all off, this edition also includes:

• A playable version of DOOM and DOOM II on the "Will It Run?" box.
• A Cacodemon statuette... on which DOOM is also playable!
• Four audio cassettes containing the games' soundtracks.
• An exclusive metal box.
• A reproduction of the famous gray UAC crate.
• Trading cards
• A certificate of authenticity
• And a few surprises for longtime fans.

Planned for all modern platforms simultaneously (Switch, PS5, Xbox, and PC), this ultra-limited edition is above all a collector's item and a giant nod to DOOM culture and its incredible longevity.

All 666 copies have already sold out, just hours after being posted on the Limited Run Games website.

👉 Limited Run Games Product Page

Retrogaming continues to captivate gamers the world over, and a new project is emerging to celebrate this passion: Press Start Card. This innovative project, launched on Kickstarter, transforms our old retro video games into collectible cards, offering an original and interactive way to rediscover classic video games.

An innovative concept

Press Start Card offers a series of collectible cards that pay tribute to cult retro video games. Each card features an iconic game, accompanied by a detailed review, historical anecdotes and unique information about its development. This format allows collectors not only to discover landmark games, but also to explore their history and impact on the video game industry.

Each month, contributors receive boosters containing eight cards, some of which may be exclusive to backers of the Kickstarter campaign. These cards are not just physical objects: they offer an immersive experience, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of their favourite games while adding to their personal collection.

Why support Press Start Card?

The idea behind Press Start Card is simple: to offer a new way of celebrating retrogaming. By transforming video game reviews into collectible cards, this project creates a link between the digital and physical worlds. It allows enthusiasts to share their love of retro games, relive the memorable moments they experienced and discover new stories around iconic titles.

This project is not just a tribute to the video games of the past, but also a way of preserving and passing on the history of gaming to future generations. Press Start Card is a great opportunity to get involved in a gaming adventure and support a unique initiative for retrogaming enthusiasts.

Thanks to retrogaming.me for bringing this project to light.

Who would have thought that one day Street Fighter II would land on Atari XE/XL computers? But that's the challenge that Krzysztof “Vega” Góra, a well-known Polish developer on the Atari 8-bit homebrew scene, has set himself.

His new project aims to adapt Capcom's famous fighting game, released in 1991, for Atari's 8-bit machines. Góra recently unveiled the first video extracts from this version in development. He insists that this is still a very preliminary version, but enough to arouse the curiosity of enthusiasts.

Designed to run on a standard Atari XE/XL with 64KB of memory, the game will be distributed on cartridge. It is based on the Game Boy version of the title, with a number of additions specific to this adaptation.

Among the first features to be integrated are digitised voices for the introduction and conclusion of battles, as well as separate lines for the three playable characters at this stage: Ryu, Ken and Zangief. Each of them can already perform their iconic special attacks, and the game features eleven tunes to recreate the arcade atmosphere.

On the AtariAge forum, Góra details the technical challenges encountered, including audio limitations (4 KHz samples) and graphical constraints. In particular, he used the PMG (Player/Missile Graphics) technique to improve the display of the characters and test different colour palettes.

The project is supported by a talented team: the graphics are by S1M (known for Bubble Bobble on Atari), the music by Michael “Miker” Szpilowski, and the voices by Grzegorz “GienekP” Karpiel. All tested with the help of publisher Atariteca.

Still in the works, this port of Street Fighter II for the Atari XE/XL already impresses with its ambition. A project to keep a close eye on on the retro scene.

Available from 14 April 2025, Hero GP is a brand new motorbike racing game developed especially for the Game Boy Color. Designed as a tribute to the 3D racing games of the 90s, the title combines a retro aesthetic with an arcade feel.

The game has been designed by Shane McCafferty, a well-known name in the Game Boy homebrew scene, who is already behind Cave Dave, Nitro, Starseed 1 & 2 and Block Droppin'.

Hero GP is published by Thalamus Digital Publishing, who are offering it for the unbeatable price of $1 on their itch.io page. For this price, players receive two versions of the game: a ROM compatible with Game Boy Color emulators (or an Everdrive on the original console) and a ROM specially optimised for the Analogue Pocket.

The concept is simple: take part in demanding races around the world in a bid to become the ultimate champion. For fans of retro racing games that get straight to the point, Hero GP is clearly worth a look.

👉 Download Hero GP from itch.io

Warning: We have not tested this game on Recalbox.