The EmuDeck Machine Mini PC, powered by Bazzite, made its debut today on Indiegogo, evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the Sega Dreamcast. While it surpasses the Dreamcast in size, measuring 8.7 inches on each side compared to the Dreamcast’s 7.75 inches, it captures the essence of retro gaming in a modern package. The EmuDeck Machine is available in two configurations, EM1 and EM2, each featuring four USB Type-A ports at the front, a mix of USB 2 and USB 3, indicated by their color coding. The chassis is equipped with physical power and reset buttons, although it lacks a disc drive, a nod to the evolution of gaming hardware.
Indiegogo, the crowdfunding platform behind this launch, is also a key player in the development of EmuDeck, a popular frontend for managing multiple emulators on devices like the Steam Deck. The base model, EM1, is powered by an Intel N97 CPU, capable of emulating retro games up to the PlayStation 2 and Wii, albeit with variable performance for titles beyond that range. In contrast, the EM2 model boasts the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G, a budget desktop powerhouse that can handle advanced emulation for Switch, Xbox 360, and PS3 games, while also delivering satisfactory performance for contemporary PC titles.
EmuDeck Machine EM1 and EM2 Specifications
<table tabindex="0" class="tablewrapper tablewrapper–inbodyContent tablewrapper–sticky tablewrapper–divider”>
<thead class="tablehead”>
<tr class="tableheadrow”>
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>Header Cell – Column 0
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>EmuDeck EM1
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>EmuDeck EM2
<tbody class="tablebody” readability=”38″>
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”29″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Operating System
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Bazzite (based on SteamOS 3 and Fedora Linux)
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Bazzite (based on SteamOS 3 and Fedora Linux)
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”31″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>CPU
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Intel N97; Quad-Core, 4 thread Alder Lake-N CPU
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>AMD Ryzen 5 8600G; Six-Core, 12 thread Zen 4 CPU
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>iGPU
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Intel UHD Graphics 730
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>AMD Radeon 760M
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”29″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>RAM
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>16 GB DDR5-4800
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>16 GB DDR5-6000
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”31″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Storage
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>512 GB NVMe (Unspecified Gen)
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>512 GB NVMe (Unspecified Gen)
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”31″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Front I/O
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>2 USB 3 Type-A ports, 2 USB 2 Type-A ports
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>2 USB 3 Type-A ports, 2 USB 2 Type-A ports
<tr class="tablebodyrow” readability=”31″>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Controller (some bundles)
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>GameSir Nova Lite Wireless Controller (includes dongle)
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>GameSir Nova Lite Wireless Controller (includes dongle)
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Wireless Support
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Wi-Fi 5
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Wi-Fi 6
While the EmuDeck Machine is still in the early stages of prototyping and funding, its nostalgic design and compact footprint are poised to attract attention. The absence of a traditional CD or DVD drive allows for enhanced cooling solutions, making way for a more efficient internal layout. The project aims to secure ,710 in flexible funding by October 28, having already raised ,000 on its first day. If the ambitious timeline is met, shipping could commence as early as December, with all necessary hardware already procured.
Early bird pricing on Indiegogo starts at 1 for the EM1 and 5 for the EM2. However, this pricing strategy has sparked some debate, particularly regarding the EM1, which faces competition from the Steam Deck and various used PCs within the same price range. Nonetheless, potential buyers should consider the unique form factor and the specialized capabilities of these devices. For those uninterested in retro game emulation or the distinctive design, the pricing may seem steep for the specifications offered.
