Several retro hardware companies are exiting the US market.

      Qualcomm

      At least two different retro gaming hardware companies have halted shipments to the United States due to Trump's tariffs, citing concerns over potential delays and lost packages. Last week, Retrotink announced it would temporarily stop its U.S. orders on April 28, followed by Anbernic, which has updated its shipping policies accordingly.

      Retrotink CEO Mike Chi stated, “Due to the uncertainty surrounding the collection of tariffs starting May 2nd, we’ve made the tough decision to temporarily suspend shipments to the U.S.” He noted that there is some reserve stock in the U.S., so Retrotink devices may still be available for a limited time. “We also anticipate that this situation will eventually be resolved – though it’s impossible to determine when or how,” Chi mentioned.

      Anbernic has revised its shipping policies to express a similar view. “In light of the changes to U.S. tariff policies, we will be suspending all shipments from China to the United States effective immediately. We highly recommend prioritizing products shipped from our U.S. warehouse, which are currently unaffected by import duties and can be purchased confidently.”

      Once again, the company does not appear to believe these changes are permanent. The policy indicates, “As soon as we have confirmed updates regarding import duties, we will promptly inform our customers and update our revised policy on the website.”

      The tariffs have significantly impacted the gaming industry. Although the Nintendo Switch 2's price remains unchanged, many of its accessories and related products have experienced price increases. Other companies, such as Razer, have also paused shipments to the United States for similar reasons. While some businesses are finding alternatives to maintain supply without raising costs, others have chosen to withdraw from the market until economic conditions stabilize.

      Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

      Retro-inspired Halloween, Evil Dead platformers arriving this October — with a twist

      RetroRealms Announcement Trailer

      Remember when Boss Team Games announced it was developing two games based on the 1978 slasher classic Halloween? The studio has now revealed that one of those titles is a 16-bit action platformer, scheduled for release in October.

      Two Game Boy-inspired handhelds launching soon

      Two new retro handhelds are hitting the market. Ayaneo, known for its numerous handheld consoles catering to various gaming niches, unveiled the Game Boy-inspired Ayaneo Pocket DMG and Pocket Micro on Wednesday, expanding Android and game emulation options.

      The Pocket DMG closely resembles a classic Game Boy, though it is a more advanced device. It features a 3.92-inch OLED screen, a 6,000mAh battery, and a Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chip. This means it is fairly powerful, likely to have a long battery life, and will deliver excellent visuals. Weighing only 9.8 ounces, it will be highly portable and won’t strain your wrists during extended play sessions.

      Your favorite video game is now considered retro

      What defines a retro game?

      Back in the 2000s, during the peak of The Angry Video Game Nerd's popularity and the rise of retro-style games like Cave Story and Mega Man 9, this question seemed simple. It referred to games from the Atari 2600 and NES periods. Two decades later, the answer is far more complex. We are just as distant from the first episode of AVGN as that video was from the Famicom's launch in Japan. Comedy videos are now being created reflecting on the age of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Xbox is even asking players on X (formerly Twitter) if they feel nostalgic about game franchises that began in 2000 or later.