The RetroN 3 had support for NES, SNES and Genesis games

Hyperkin has been producing hardware clones for a few years now — clones which provide a decent alternative for those moments when your trusty SNES dies on you and you can't abide the feeling of buying a second-hand replacement. We've already covered the RetroN 3 and SupaBoy Portable on this site, and found them to be cheap and reliable pieces of tech.

Hyperkin is currently working on its next system, which is set to be the most versatile yet. The RetroN 4 will allow you to play NES, SNES, Genesis / Mega Drive and Game Boy Advance games, as well as use your existing controllers for that authentic feel. The addition of HDMI output should appease AV experts, and the console will even have its own user interface with "modern" features — one of which is rumoured to be the ability to use save states, like the ones on the Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console services. The RetroN 4 will be compatible with NTSC and PAL software and will also ship with a wireless Bluetooth pad.

Here's the full press release from Hyperkin:

EL MONTE, CA (MARCH 2013) – Hyperkin will be unveiling their new console, the RetroN 4, at this year’s Midwest Gaming Classic at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin, on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM CST. The RetroN 4 plays NES, SNES, Genesis and GBA cartridges all in one convenient console.

The RetroN 4 will have four cartridge slots as well as two controller ports for each system, allowing for users to use their original controllers. What will differentiate the Retron 4 from other iterations of retro consoles currently in the market are several key additions that add a modern twist. The RetroN 4 will have an HDMI output, which will allow for users to play their games on high-definition televisions. When users boot up the machine, they will find the “Perdana” digital user interface which opens a wide variety of modern gaming features such as selecting systems, button reassignment and other features that will be named at the Midwest Gaming Classic. The console will also allow users to play both NTSC and PAL cartridges and will incorporate Bluetooth technology, with a completely new, redesigned wireless Bluetooth controller.

“We have had great success with the SupaBoy and RetroN 3, and we wanted to create an entirely new console that has the modern amenities that will allow users to utilize current technology,” stated Steven Mar, Hyperkin’s Executive Director. “As this is an ambitious project for Hyperkin, our goal for this system is to combine modern gaming convenience to not only cater to the retro gaming community, but to also introduce a new generation of gamers to the classic games that have shaped the present gaming landscape.”

RetroN 4 Points of Interest:

  • 2 Original Controller Ports for Each Platform (6 Total)
  • Wireless Bluetooth Controller
  • 4 Cartridge Ports for NES, SNES, Genesis and GBA cartridges
  • HDMI Output with Digital Signal Conversion
  • “Perdana” Digital User Interface
  • PAL and NTSC compatible

Will you be saving your pennies, or do you prefer original hardware?

[source gonintendo.com]