With the incredible success of the NES and SNES Mini consoles over the last year or so, offering a modern and easy way to play classic games from those historic systems, many are now wondering whether or not we'll be seeing more consoles receive the same treatment. Potentially pipping Nintendo to the post, however, peripheral developer Hyperkin is planning to release its own remake of the Game Boy.
Currently called the 'Ultra Game Boy', this remake is hoping to improve upon the original console without affecting the gameplay that many of us so fondly remember. With a body made from aluminium the system should be plenty durable, as well as reportedly having a satisfying weight to it as you pick it up. It will also feature a dial which allows you to adjust a new backlit LCD display; this can also be turned off if you'd prefer to enter full-nostalgia mode, however.
In addition to this new dial, the Ultra Game Boy will include a built-in six-hour battery, a USB-C port for charging, a pair of stereo speakers, and even left and right audio-out connections for a much more impressive sound experience.
Unlike Nintendo's recent classic console offerings, the Ultra Game Boy will not be pre-loaded with a set amount of games; instead of this approach, the system will actually support real, original Game Boy games. Of course, if you're the proud owner of numerous games for the original system, this could well be a great way to play all of your favourite titles. If you don't, though, you'll probably be looking at a very expensive eBay adventure if you want to play through the system's greats.
Hyperkin plans to release the Ultra Game Boy this summer with a price tag of under $100. Are you interested? Let us know if you want one in the comments below.
[source gizmodo.com]
Comments 42
I hope the screen w/ light looks a little better in person than it does in the videos... doesn't really look that nice
I could see myself getting something like this at some point. Got so many old games, would be nice to play them and actually see what's going on
Looks lovely! Just a shame I have so many functioning Game Boys still at home
well it has to be a game boy color or it is no deal
Meh. The GBA SP says "hello".
And I imagine that a GB Classic would be quite cheap to produce (get on it, Nintendo!).
I have an old & scratchy GBA SP, which works really well with old gameboy games. I was curious, but don't yet see the point in this product. :/
The blue LCD looks awful
I'm very tempted, my backlit modded GBC isn't very bright and I've been eyeing up biverted GameBoys with various different coloured screens on eBay. This aluminium finish with rechargeable battery could be the GameBoy I've been waiting for... that said, I will have to wait and see to make sure the emulation isn't wretched, stereo speakers don't mean much if the music is all out of tune and scratchy like some clone systems!
@Bunkerneath It has to be green, of course!
Why get this when GBA SP is a thing? I think I’ll pass. Would Nintendo ever put Gameboy games on the virtual console?
The Gameboy kind of passed me by as a Child, I was quite happy with my SNES. I've always preferred home consoles to handhelds.
Without the Nostalgia factor I don't think this is something I'd be interested in as the games don't appear to have aged very well.
I want one!
In before C&D letter is sent out.
seems very expensive for what it is
I've still got my original Gameboy. I like retro games and all but don't see the point in reinventing the GB.
@SimplyCinnamon53 they're on the 3DS VC at least. Maybe on Switch one day.
Seems a bit odd to me to make a GB clone rather than a GBC clone. Hopefully the LCD is an exact aspect ratio/pixel match to the original - that's typically my biggest complaint with these clone systems. The shell also seems a little plain. It's awesome that it's aluminum, but hopefully they do something to spruce it up a bit before retail launch.
Retrobit had a cooler Gameboy. I wish they would’ve released it.
this looks pretty cool but as I already own nearly every iteration of the game boy including 3 SP's I doubt I'll be investing in this. think they've missed a trick by not making it display as a GB color or SP would.
Is 6 hour battery life not a bit short for something that plays old game boy games?
It's cool that this is even commercially feasible, but I already got all GB games I'd ever want to play in my 3DS.
Looks amazing. Hopefully, some of those modern indie "retro" game developers will release new "old" cartridges in boxes with manuals and stuff.
Six-hour battery life for a Game Boy Light clone? That's rubbish! Anything less than the 20 hours is an insult. One to avoid!
I'd be interested if it played GBA-games too, as it stands, getting a backlight-modded GBA off eBay is still a better option for me...
But... Can it play Tamagotchi Osutchi to Mesutchi? Otherwise what's the point?
no thanks. i still have all of my gameboy systems from back in the day. all four of them....
The should call it
New gameboy xs
While I love the NES and SNES Classic systems, and look forward to an N64 Classic, I think I'll be sitting out on a GB version. I have a GBA that plays all old GB cartridges and I have a DS Lite that plays my GBA carts with a backlit screen so I'm good.
Hmm, is the screen coloured or just blue? Does it play Color games, in colour?
Prob not, I'll wait for the next version if that's the case.
It's a nice idea, but as with the modern day versions of the NES and SNES by Analogue, the problem is sourcing the games affordably if you don't already have a collection. I wish someone would figure out a way to manufacture new games cartridges at a low price, but I guess re-releasing them these days would run into all sorts of licensing issues, especially if the companies that made the games originally have gone out of business, leaving a mess with rights and who owns what.
I'm interested.
It looks dull as sin, though. I'll stick with my childhood red GBC, thanks.
I hope that theres's a possibility that they play GBC games. If it's just a GB clone I'll have to pass. The main reason I'd be interested is simply to play one game and that Kirby Tilt'n'Tumble. It really isnt all that great to play on my sp due to the clamshell design of the system. In addition the gbc I have doesn't have a backlight and it's getting rather old w/inconsistent power. Last my gb micro I have doesn't play gb/gbc games so my sp is more or less my only option.
@boatie It looks almost exactly like the Game Boy Light screen.
Make it a GBC. And with better battery life, then one would consider. Also the price is too much as it is over a hundred?
If Nintendo doesn't make a Gameboy classic, I'll buy one. I want a rechargable, backlit Gameboy. I like the sp but want one fashioned after the original. I doubt there are many people like me out there though but don't tell these guys that. Lol
Why are they naming it the Ultra Game Boy? Didn't they heard that Nintendo recently sued another company for $40 million a few hours ago. Unless they change the name I don't think this product would last.
Sorry if this is a bit of a stupid question, but how do these companies not get sued? As in other news, merely having a similar joystick configuration has got that Japanese mobile company in trouble. What am I missing?
As someone who grew up with, and loved the Game Boy line...
I don't miss the old screens. If I buy a remake/clone system, I want a modern screen. Some will probably disagree with that, but original Game Boys are not rare. I still have mine, and played through Pokemon Blue as recently as summer 2015. It was as nostalgic and fun as it was ugly.
What would be cool is a Nintendo Game Boy Ultimate. With many of the best games from the Game Boy and GBA lines and a modern, really nice screen. THAT I would throw money at like none other!
Why wouldn't they include GBC support? I'd consider it if they had that.
I have a 101 model SP that still works like a charm (probably one of my favourite systems), but I have considered buying one of those modded GBA models on ebay because I hate how the GB/GBC carts stick out of the bottom of the SP like a growth.
I've already got something even better. It's called a Game Boy Advance. Sure, it runs on AA batteries and doesn't have a backlit screen, but it does also play GBA games, and I won't have to shell out an extra $100.
I still have my old GB & GBAs. I still love playing them. Would love to have the new one to add to my collection.
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