The retro scene had a very interesting week again, from new handheld devices to fan translations and the rescue of nearly lost pieces of PlayStation history. AYANEO introduced the Pocket Block, a vertical handheld inspired by the classic Game Boy design, which the company describes as the first “AI gaming handheld.” However, it is still not entirely clear what that AI part specifically means, as details about the hardware and actual capabilities have not yet been fully clarified.
Fans of Japanese PlayStation 1 oddities will soon finally be able to play Kowloon’s Gate in English. The fan translation team Hilltop announced an English patch for the cult adventure from 1997, with a release planned for June 9, 2026. This is a game that has gained almost mythical status among fans of experimental and surreal titles over the years.
An interesting news also came from Lenovo. The company confirmed that the G02 emulation handheld is a real product, but created through a regional licensing agreement for the Chinese market, rather than as part of the official global Lenovo offering. The device attracted attention due to its retro design and potentially problematic issue of pre-loaded games.
SuperStation One, an FPGA system strongly focused on the PlayStation 1 experience, has received a new version of its memory card. The new prototype was shown with a D-pad, which should make it easier to use and navigate virtual memory cards.
Finally, a real little retro story: a large Spyro: Year of the Dragon statue from the E3 2000 fair has been found and rescued after standing forgotten for years. This former promotional prop from the PlayStation era has thus been given a new chance, serving as a reminder of how much gaming history is still hidden in unexpected places.
