NPC: Next Portable Console

This week on Next Portable Console, SteamOS on Mac is another sign of how AI is eating the emulation world, plus news from Ayn, AYANEO, and more.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
FX Steam Launcher
Modders bring full SteamOS to Apple Silicon Macs, Windows games already playable
Modders bring Steam Frame build of SteamOS and all of its translation layer goodness to Mac
Hypervisor framework
Proton
FEX
DXVK
VKD3D-Proton
MoltenVK
Mesa
Metal
Xbox Games on Android
DroidDeck
DroidDeck 0.6.0 release notes
DroidDeck 0.6.0 adds experimental Xbox and PC Game Pass integration and faster game loading
Xbox Game Pass games are running on Android without cloud streaming
AI, Decomps, and Jailbreaks
Claude's new rules against game cloning won't stop the AI copying boom
One of the biggest game decompilation sites is closing because AI has 'broken the community aspect'
PC ports of old console games are the new AI vibe coding battleground
Nintendo
Nintendo's Switch 2 console sales just dropped significantly
Handheld and Phone News
Odin 3 Portal handheld gets charging rate downgrade as AYN admits to a mistake in the official specs list
AYN Odin 3 Portal Starts Shipping Right on Schedule
Redmagic 12 Pro adds RGB lights to its liquid-cooled gaming phone, starting at $949
AYASpace 2
AYANEO Announces AYASpace 2, Turning Your Handheld Into a 'Pocket Museum'
Ayaneo's Game Boy-style Konkr Pocket Block finally launches at under $100
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 
Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Chapters

(00:00) - Switch 2 Sales

(02:26) - AI Is Eating Software

(21:09) - Charging the Odin 3

(21:45) - The RedMagic 12 Pro Is Out

(23:12) - AYASPACE 2

(24:27) - Konkr Pocket Block Early Impressions

Leave Feedback for John and Federico
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Silvia Gatta
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
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MacStories.net
Follow us on Social Media
Federico is @viticci everywhere
John is @johnvoorhees everywhere
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This week on Next Portable Console, John is joined by relay.fm's Myke Hurley to talk iPhone Duo gaming and cover the latest handheld gaming news.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
iPhone Duo Gaming
GameSir X5s Wireless Mobile Game Controller
Ultrapool
Toastie: Grilled Cheese Game
The best iPhone Duo apps and games — turn your phone into a toaster, Mac computer, or Nintendo DS console
Balatro
PianoFold
Marbles Unhinged
Creasefire
Shut the Duo
Emulation
Delta
Delta Emulator Gets Huge 2.0 Update And iPhone Duo Support
RetroAchievements
Game Boy Color on My Conference Badge
Anbernic and Azahar
Anbernic urgently withdraws its controversial update
Azahar restores support for .3ds files
ESA Notorious Markets filing against Anbernic
Switch 2 Controllers and Grips
CRKD announces the Nitro Deck 2, compatible with Switch and Switch 2
CRKD Nitro Deck 2 review
dbrand Killswitch Switch 2 Joy-Con Grips
dbrand reveals Joy-Lock replacements following Killswitch Joy-Con controversy
Nyxi Joy-Con replacements
MOBAPAD Switch 2 grip controller
Handhelds
AYN Odin 3 Portal pre-orders are live, new 1TB model added to the range, prices start at $399
Myke's New Podcast
Designed in California
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 
Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John and Federico
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Silvia Gatta 
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Follow us on Social Media
Federico is @viticci everywhere
John is @johnvoorhees everywhere
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC, Ayn reveals more about the Odin 3, AYANEO delays some handhelds, Retroid gets into Linux, and Microsoft makes a cute little controller.
Then on NPC XL for Patreon subscribers, Federico and John share their videogame handheld needs and wants.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
AYN Odin 3 Portal
AYN reveals Odin 3 Portal specs, including a 9,000mAh battery and larger grips
AYANEO Shipping Updates
AYANEO updates Pocket Advance and Pocket Block shipping while delaying Pocket Micro 2
Retroid
Retroid Announces Linux Support for Pocket 6, Nova, and Duo Handhelds
Dual Screen Handhelds and Frontends
Socket Frontend Finally Gets Dual Screen Handheld Support
Cocoon Shell Beta 2.1 Brings Big Upgrades to Dual Screen Handhelds
Ports, Decompilations, and Preservation
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Mac port runs at 90 fps, topping Switch 2 and PC rival
Controllers
Xbox announces a $49.99 Nano Controller launching November 4
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 
Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John and Federico
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Silvia Gatta 
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Follow us on Social Media
Federico is @viticci everywhere
John is @johnvoorhees everywhere
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, Anbernic reveals more RG DDS details and prices leak, Nintendo commits to physical games, Ayn teases the Portal 3, and Anbernic's history of selling handhelds loaded with bootleg games catches up to it.

Then on NPC XL, Federico's gaming PC suffer's a mishap and John gives Pyrowave a try on his Apple devices.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

Anbernic RG DDS
Anbernic RG DDS pricing leak and gameplay showcase
Anbernic's new dual-screen RG DDS is up for preorder now
AYN Odin 3 Portal
AYN Odin 3 Portal Announced, Promises Flagship Power And Precision Control
Ayn unveils Odin 3 Portal with a familiar design
Nintendo and Physical Media
Nintendo has no plans to ditch physical games
ESA Complaint Against Anbernic
US government told to flag retro handhelds loaded with pirated games as a 'notorious market'
ESA targets Anbernic emulation handhelds as "superfake" piracy enablers
Anbernic is reportedly removing bundled microSD cards from its listings

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 

Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

Leave Feedback for John and Federico
NPC Feedback Form
Credits

Show Art: Silvia Gatta  
Music: Will LaPorte

Follow Us Online

On the Web
MacStories.net
Follow us on Social Media
Federico is @viticci everywhere
John is @johnvoorhees everywhere
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on Next Portable Console, Anbernic reveals the RG DDS clamshell, more handheld news, and Federico's lo-fi surprise.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

Anbernic RG DDS

Anbernic RG DS Plus
AYN Thor
Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 Gaming Platform

AMD Upscaling on Handhelds

FSR 4 special version to boost gaming performance on handhelds coming this year

Miyoo Rumors

A New Miyoo Mini Plus and Miyoo Flip Might Soon Be On the Horizon

Console Pricing

GameStop hikes used PS5 Pro price to $1400 as GTA 6 demand looms

Controllers

Mobapad C2 Lite Controller Review: Budget King

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. 

Each week on NPC XL, Federico and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

Leave Feedback for John and Federico

NPC Feedback Form

Credits

Show Art: Silvia Gatta  
Music: Will LaPorte

Follow Us Online

On the Web

MacStories.net

Follow us on Social Media

Federico is @viticci everywhere
John is @johnvoorhees everywhere

Affiliate Linking Policy