Tag: Hardware - Page 5
News You Can Now Play NES Games On The Analogue Pocket
SNES functionality also recently made available
Here's something for retro gaming fans to celebrate this morning — thanks to Adam Gastineau, you can now play NES games on your Analogue Pocket. This tiny little handheld device can already play a number of retro handheld games with FPGA accuracy, and now you can add the 8-bit Nintendo console to...
News Nvidia Employee Comment Confirms Chip Rumoured To Be Used In 'Switch Pro' Is Real
An in-Tegra piece
There was a point a year or so back when it seemed every day brought with it a new 'Switch Pro' rumour, although things have recently been quieter on that front. However, an Nvidia employee has confirmed — apparently accidentally — the existence of a chip, the Tegra239, rumoured to have existed since 2021 and supposedly meant...
News Retro Fighters New Bluetooth Brawler64 Controller Is Switch-Compatible
And it's fully-funded!
We've covered Retro Fighters' rather-lovely controllers (and peripherals) a few times here at Nintendo Life, but the company's newest Kickstarter has just launched, and it looks like a fantastic upgrade to the original Brawler64 controller. The Brawler64 N64 Blu
Video Unboxing The New Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch OLED & Pro Controller
Felix takes a look
Splatoon 3 arrived on the Switch last week, and as part of this, Nintendo has also released a new themed OLED system and a new Pro Controller. If you've been wanting a closer look, but haven't been able to secure one just yet, don't worry - because Felix has! Check out the video above to see the new themed Switch in all its...
News Nintendo Reveals Colourful Pokémon-Themed Switch OLED
Launching just ahead of Scarlet and Violet
In addition to a brand new trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Nintendo has announced a special edition Switch OLED based on the new entries. Set to launch on November 4th, 2022 at a suggest retail price of $359.99, the Switch's Joy-Con controllers match the main colour themes of Scarlet and Violet,...
News Evercade EXP Handheld Will Come Bundled With 18 Classic Capcom Titles
Including Street Fighter, Mega Man, Strider, and more
Initially announced back in May, Blaze Entertainment's Evercade EXP looks like a natural progression of its original Evercade handheld, showcasing a streamlined design with a solid glass-covered 800x480 pixel 4.3-inch IPS screen and built-in Wi-Fi for firmware updates, along with a USB-C port and...
Random This Pokémon Crystal Bug Lets You Hack Game Boys Over The Internet
No Porygons were harmed
If you've not heard of the Mobile Game Boy Adapter, we don't blame you. This Japan-only Game Boy peripheral can connect to a Japanese mobile phone and play certain Game Boy games online. They didn't sell very well back in the day, but trust fans to track this peripheral down to find an unusual way of using it. And, a security...
Random Coral Switch Lite Was Inspired By Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Pretty in pink
The Switch Lite models are lovely little machines, aren't they? Perfect if you don't play on the TV. We thought the original three turquoise, yellow, and grey colours were all pretty swish, but the fourth colour, coral — released in April 2020 — was a very different but welcome addition to the line-up. And, as it turns out, the...
News Nintendo Once Again Reassures It Has No Plans To Increase Switch Prices
Following Sony's announcement
Nintendo has confirmed that it will not be increasing the price of Switch models any time soon. VGC reached out to the UK arm of the company to confirm that Nintendo does "not have any plans" to bump up the prices of the console yet. This statement follows the news that Sony would be increasing the price of both...
News The Aya Neo Air Is A $600 Switch Lite-Sized Pocket PC
Shame about the battery life, though...
While the Switch is selling briskly, there are many who feel the hardware is in need of a power boost – which is why rival handhelds like Valve's Steam Deck have attracted so much interest. While these portable PCs cost more than Nintendo's machine, they offer impressive technical specs – and this has...
News Nintendo President Says Switch Production Is "Uncertain" Next Year
"We only have a clear production outlook for this year"
In an interview with Nikkei, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa says that, while semiconductor supply issues are looking to improve for the remainder of this fiscal year, next year looks more "uncertain". This follows the publication of Nintendo's financial report for Q1 2022-2023. In last...
News Sega's Latest Mini-Console Is Cute, But Reviewers Are Complaining Of Bad Lag
Bad news for shmups
Sega's latest mini-console, the Astro City Mini V, has just been released, bringing 22 vertical shmups to people who may not have had access to many of these Japan-only, arcade-only titles before... but, let's be realistic, this teeny-tiny little cabinet is for the kind of hardcore arcade nerds that can afford to drop $180 on...
News Nintendo Switch Sales Surpass 111 Million
Though year-on-year numbers have dropped again
Nintendo's latest financial report for Q1 2023 (April - June 2022) has been published, and the Switch has just surpassed 111 million units sold. However, as with last quarter, there's been a drop in year-on-year sales. Citing the ongoing semiconductor shortage — and comparing this quarter's major...
News Nintendo Says To Stop Using Its Wi-Fi USB Connector Due To Security Concerns
"Please switch to a commercially available network device"
Nintendo has taken to Twitter in Japan, warning customers to stop using the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector and the (Japan-only) Wi-Fi Network Adapter due to concerns over the users' safety. The two devices, released in 2005 and 2008 respectively, allowed users to establish a Wi-Fi connection...
News Nintendo Reveals A New And Colourful Splatoon 3 Switch OLED
Plus a blue and yellow Pro Controller
Nintendo has just unveiled a brand new Switch OLED with a shiny lick of paint, and pre-orders are now open! The new Splatoon 3-themed Switch OLED features some gorgeous-looking Joy-Cons with gradient colourations and splats of paint all over them. The dock itself also has a lovely dollop of sunny yellow paint...
News Nintendo Appears To Be Stockpiling Raw Materials, Doubles Its 2019 Spending On Supplies
Making hay, or something else?
In the 2021/22 financial year, Nintendo spent more than double its previous highest Switch-era annual expenditure on raw materials and supplies, according to figures from shareholder disclosure documents. While the company hosted its 82nd AGM of shareholders on 29th June (and will soon publish translated notes on the...
News The Sega Genesis Is Getting A New 6-Button Controller, And It Will Work With Switch
Say hello to the 'Big6'
Back when the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis was first released, it came with a 3-button pad which – in 1988 – felt like the future. It wasn't square and boxy like the NES and Master System controllers but had a rounded, ergonomic shape which was more comfortable to hold, and it had one extra action button. Bliss! However, by...
Video Here's The Story Behind The Cancelled Wii Plush Toy Game 'Wiiwaa'
Wii want it
The Wii opened up a world of possibilities and creativity for many developers, and one, in particular, tried to jump on the creativity train with a unique video game that would be controlled with a soft toy. Zoink Games, known for developing unique adventure games with distinctive art styles such as Lost In Random, Flipping Death, and...
News The Switch Has Now Sold Over 25 Million Units In Japan
And Animal Crossing is still the best-selling game
In just over five years since it launched, the Switch has now sold 25 million units in Japan according to Famitsu. Just last month, the hybrid console overtook the 3DS to become the third best-selling console of all time in the country, and now it's smashed another milestone target. Shared on...
News The Aya Neo Air Is An OLED-Packing Handheld That Can Run Cyberpunk 2077 And GTA V
And it's "just" $650
Chinese firm Aya Neo has already made something of a splash in the handheld gaming arena thanks to its Windows-based portables, but they've always been held back by the fact that they're so expensive, often costing over $1000. However, the firm is expanding its lineup to include the Aya Neo Air, which will cost just CNY 4,399...
News After The Game Boy-Like GameShell, Clockwork Pi's Next Trick Is A Computer You Build Yourself
1983 called, and it wants its consumer tech back
Remember the Clockwork Pi GameShell? We covered this open source DIY handheld in 2018, mainly because it resembled a Game Boy and could run MAME, Game Boy Advance and NES titles. It raised $290,429 on Kickstarter and we really enjoyed tinkering around with it – so the news that
News Kickstarter DIY Kit Transforms GBA Into Console-Like HDMI System
No soldering required
A new Kickstarter campaign by IntecGaming aims to convert the Game Boy Advance into a console-like experience. Its 'GBA HDMI Kit' has so far raised just over $10,000 USD (with a goal of $49,697) and promises to be highly portable, easy to operate and a fun DIY device. It also comes with built-in Bluetooth receiver, allowing it...
News British Gas Advises Consumers To Turn Off Games Consoles To Save Money
"Vampire devices" strike again
British Gas has ruffled a few feathers today. In a report published by the BBC, the UK's biggest energy company has recommended that households should switch off what the company has dubbed "vampire devices". That's not a switched-on TV showing one of the many Dracula films on repeat, or even your Switch running the...
News The SNES Classic Is The UK's King Of The Micro-Consoles
N64 Mini when, Nintendo?
Prior to the arrival of the Switch, one of the most exciting developments in the world of Nintendo hardware was the NES Classic, a micro-console filled with 8-bit titles that made the company a tidy sum of cash. It was quickly followed by the SNES Classic Edition – not to mention similar products from the likes of
Random This Tool Lets You Play 'Just Dance' With Your Joy-Con On Any Console
But you'll need some tech know-how
We're the lucky ones on the Switch. Just Dance allows us to get straight into the groove of things by letting us use our Joy-Con. To play the 2022 version on either Xbox Series X, Series S, or PlayStation 5, however, you need to download an app on your phone. Alright, that's not really a lot of extra hassle, is...
News The Genki: Covert Dock Mini Is An Even Tinier Portable Dock For Your Switch
20x smaller than the original
The Genki: Covert Dock was already a stunning piece of portable kit that let you dock your Switch at a friend's house without having to lug around your bulky bit of plastic and your chunky AC adaptor around with you. We even said in our review back in 2020 that "The Genki Covert Dock is a top of the line product that...
Hands On 4K Gamer Pro - A 4K 'Silver Bullet' For Your Nintendo Switch?
Keeping up with the upscalers
The arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Series X has made 4K gaming a reality for millions of players, so it's understandable that many Switch owners are feeling a little left out and are seeking to make the resolution jump as well – despite the fact that Nintendo's console is now five years old. Rumours of a Switch Pro (and...
Random You Can Play SNES Games On A Toaster With This DIY Kit
ToastBound
When we think of custom consoles, the first thing that comes to mind is custom plates, portable versions of home consoles - like this portable GameCube, which, in the absence of GameCube games on the Switch, we need. Yes, need. We're going a bit beyond these examples today, though! Japanese manufacturer Columbus Circle, who creates parts...
News Who Needs Switch Pro? New Dongle Promises To "Instantly Upgrade Switch To 4K"
"Automatically upscaling to 4K resolution without any lag"
A new dongle promises to automatically upscale the Switch to 4K with zero lag, and it's coming to Kickstarter this April. The 4K Gamer Pro is the follow-up to the 4K Gamer+, which was launched in Asia in 2021. It's a plug-and-play device that takes the 1080p output of the Switch (and other...
Random Want To Turn Your Game Boy Into A Megazord? Just Attach Every Accessory
Go go, Game Boy rangerrrrrs
Want to know how to acquire the ultimate Game Boy or Game Boy Color? Well, you just need some spare cash and all of the accessories! In ye olden days, handheld consoles came with a plethora of add-ons and peripherals that would help enhance your gaming experience. Remember, the backlight didn't always exist. - you had to...
News Nintendo Sneakily Filed A New Controller Patent Last Year
One day it'll be for a new Power Glove
Nintendo is definitely one of the more secretive companies in the video game industry, but it's also one of the biggest innovators when it comes to technology, too. So leave it to a small discovery to get people's tongues wagging. One Twitter user has discovered a patent that Nintendo made made in July last...
Random Discover How Mode 7 Works On Super NES, In Just 10 Minutes
Who needs blast processing?
Mode 7 is definitely one of the coolest features of many SNES games. Remember hopping into your first go-kart in Super Mario Kart and seeing your favourite characters drive around "fully-3D" courses? Or playing Secret of Mana and getting on Flammie's back for the first time, and looking down at the world map? Don't forget...
Random Build Your Own Nintendo DS With Joy-Cons And A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
That's flippin' amazing!
We all remember the Nintendo DS fondly, right? The chunky grey thing that had two screens and let you play Super Mario 64 in the palm of your hands from day one? The handheld that brought us hundreds of classics such as Pokémon Black and White, Ghost Trick, Radiant Historia, and
Random Man Who Just Wanted To Play Duck Hunt With His Kids Built His Own Light Gun
"I thought Duck Hunt on a 50-inch TV would be amazing"
For many of us, the light gun was a part of our childhood. Whether it was grabbing your NES Zapper only to be mocked by a dog in Duck Hunt, or heading to the arcade and spending those few pennies of pocket money you saved up every week for a quick blast of Time Crisis, it captured the...
Random The NES-SY37 Is A Custom-Built Synthesiser That Pays Tribute To The NES
You wait for one NES synthesiser to show up...
Just yesterday, we reported on an app that you can download to turn your NES into a synthesiser (if you have the right tools, of course). But Swedish craftsman Love Hultén, known for creating bespoke technology fused with traditional woodcraft, has paid tribute to the classic console by building a...
Random Turn Your NES Into A Synthesiser With This App
We built this city on bleeps and bloops
If, when you first played Super Mario Bros. 3 or the original Metroid, you wanted to make music that rivalled Koji Kondo or Hirokazu Tanaka but also sounded just like it, well in 2022 you're finally in luck. Available on itch.io and developed by user Avicr, SynthNes is a ROM that runs on an Everdrive N8 Pro...
News Retro-Bit's GameCube Component Cable Will Save You Some Pennies
No need to sell a kidney!
Remember the GameCube's official component cable? Once upon a time, it was the best way to get a picture out of Nintendo's boxy-but-good home console, and its price reflected that – it cost around £60/$70 at launch but can fetch upwards of £200 these days. Thankfully, there are other options in 2022. We've got HDMI...
Hardware With One Change, These Hori Pokémon Controllers Would Be Perfect For Arceus
Feeling the (e)motion
We're no strangers to Hori's Split Pad Pro, having sampled both the original version and some of its more recent re-skins, but the Japanese accessory maker has given the product a fresh push in 2022 to coincide with the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Nin
Random This Disc Will Wipe Your Nintendo Wii Clean
Such power
As you'll no doubt know if you've used a games console in the past decade, the process of packing it up for resale or donation to another person is a lengthy one. It's no longer a case of simply unplugging said console and boxing it up for a new lease of life; most modern machines will have game installs, WiFi connection data and perhaps...
Random Hyperkin And Kraft Heinz Team Up For "Monumental" Collaboration
"Dedicated solely to gamer-friendly foods"
Hyperkin, the company behind a wide range of gaming hardware and accessories, has announced that it is teaming up with food giant Kraft Heinz to produce "snack-related gaming accessories" that make use of "the most popular snack brands that have been nourishing dedicated couch warriors for decades." Kraft...
Random Here's The Nintendo Switch-Like Steam Deck Compared To Some Other Stuff
It LORGE
The Steam Deck is very big. It is so big, in fact, that we're pretty sure it could beat up your dad and also eclipse the sun without breaking a sweat. People have been having a lot of fun comparing the Large Lad to a bunch of much smaller things, and even some average size things. The Steam Deck is bigger than a Nintendo Switch. We already...
Hardware This Wireless Portable 4K Screen Offers Cable, Lag And Dock-Free Switch Gaming
Wireless connectivity up to 20 meters
The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a hit with gamers thanks to the fact that it can be played both on your TV and in portable mode, but despite this unique selling point, there's still a market for super-slim mobile monitors that allow you to experience the big-screen effect while you're on the move. One of...
Feature These Incredible Game Boy Mods Are All By The Same Guy
He is the 'Game Boy' Boy
Some people are blessed with all the talent, and one of those people is Andy Sexton, who's not only content with being the Creative Director at Hi-Rez Studios (Smite, Paladins) — he's also a very good Game Boy modder in his free time. We can't be too mad, though, because he also takes wonderful photos of those mods and...
Feature Aya Neo Next Review: Could This $1,300 Switch 'Rival' Hold The Answer To Joy-Con Drift?
Aya Neo Next uses 'Hall Effect' sensors for its analogue inputs
Remember the Aya Neo 2021 Pro, the super-powered and super-expensive portable PC we covered a short while ago? Well, the company behind it is releasing a new handheld this year which boasts a feature that should be very interesting to long-suffering Switch owners. The Aya Neo Next is a...
Feature Masayuki Uemura, The Nintendo Engineer Who Helped Define The Modern Games Console
A look back over the career of the NES and SNES' lead architect
The sad news broke today that Masayuki Uemura, the lead architect on the NES and Super NES consoles, died on 6th December at the age of 78. Uemura was an instrumental figure in the formation of Nintendo as the video game company we know and love today — his hardware design credits...
News The 'Panda' GameCube Controller Kickstarter Has Been Cancelled
"An important and unfortunate update"
Well, here's some news you might not have been expecting. The Kickstarter for the 'Panda' GameCube controller, which instantly smashed the required goals earlier this month has been cancelled. Although it set records in terms of the funds raised, the creator feels it would be irresponsible to continue on with...
News This "Lost" Game Boy Add-On Could Have Pre-Dated The Smartphone
Say hello to the Page Boy
Last year, esteemed video game historian and occasional Nintendo Life contributor Liam Robertson uncovered the story of the Work Boy, an unreleased accessory that had the potential to turn the humble Game Boy into a powerful productivity tool. Now, a year later, Robertson is back with another investigation – this time...
News The Taito Egret II Mini Is Getting A Western Release
Thanks to United Games Entertainment
United Games Entertainment, the umbrella company for Strictly Limited Games/ININ Games, has revealed that it will be distributing the Taito Egret II Mini in the West. This arcade-focused micro system features a rotating 5-inch screen and is set for release in the New Year. Its Japanese release is scheduled for...
Hardware Up-Switch Orion Review - Turn Your Switch Into A Switch XXXL (And Make It Worse)
Bait-and-Switch
Not so long ago, we reported on the Up-Switch Orion, a crowdfunded accessory that promised to make up for the "underwhelming" and "minuscule" Nintendo Switch screen (Up-Switch's words, not ours). "By increasing your actual gaming screen size by 188% and upgrading your audio experience with the integrated stereo speakers, your...
News Sega's Astro City Mini Is Getting A 'TATE' Version Packed With Shmup Goodness
Batsugun! Battle Bakraid! Armed Police Batrider!
Sega's Astro City Mini is getting a new version that features a vertically-oriented screen, it has been revealed. The Astro City Mini V looks much like the original, but its screen is tilted 90 degrees to accommodate 'TATE' games. Taito is taking a similar route with its similar Egret II Mini, which...
