Emulation Archives

BetaBeacon

January 29, 2026

GameNative Adds Epic Games Support On Android

After installing the newest nightly build, users can integrate their Epic Games account with GameNative by signing in through a secure browser window, syncing their library, and picking games directly from Epic's servers. Multiplayer is currently disabled due to networking and anti-cheat issues. Performance on Android devices depends on hardware specifications, with modern flagship SoCs recommended for smooth gameplay. GameNative uses open-source tools to translate x86-64 CPU instructions and DirectX calls for Android play. Epic Games support on GameNative allows mobile gamers to access their free and purchased titles from the Epic store on their phones. The Epic integration is available in GameNative's nightly channel, with plans for future stable releases to include library filters and multiplayer support.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

Native PC Ports Of PS2 Games Could Be On The Way Thanks To New Recompilation “Experiment”

A new initiative called PS2Recomp aims to enable players to run PlayStation 2 games natively on PCs, led by Brazilian programmer ran-j. It involves statically recompiling PlayStation 2 ELF binaries into C++ code, promising greater accuracy than traditional emulation and enhanced modding support. The project is in early stages and is seeking contributions from the community. Previously, a similar project named PSRetroX was launched by an Argentinian student but became inactive. PS2Recomp is currently gaining momentum, with uncertain prospects for success.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

A seven-game retro compilation of Ren & Stimpy games has been announced

Limited Run Games has announced the release of the Ren & Stimpy: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Collection, which will launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The collection includes seven classic titles from the animated series: - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Space Cadet Adventures (Game Boy) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Veediots! (Game Boy) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Buckeroo$! (NES) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Buckeroo$! (SNES) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Time Warp (SNES) - The Ren and Stimpy Show: Fire Dogs (SNES) The collection will feature modern emulation options like rewind and quick save, a music player, and a museum of artwork. Pre-orders will start on January 30 and end on March 1. The standard edition will cost .99, the Classic Edition will be .99, and the Collector’s Edition will be 9.00. Ren & Stimpy have not had their own console game since the mid-1990s but have appeared in recent crossover titles.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

PS2Recomp: Porting PlayStation 2 Games to PC

Software developer ran-j (Ranieri) has announced a project called PS2Recomp, which aims to recompile PlayStation 2 code for modern platforms like Windows, Linux, and potentially Android. The project is open-source and available on GitHub for developers and gamers to contribute. PS2Recomp is inspired by the N64Recomp initiative and seeks to address challenges in current PS2 emulation, such as high power demands and graphical glitches. The focus is on PC development, and while no playable games are available yet, updates will be shared regularly.

BetaBeacon

January 27, 2026

ANBERNIC’s super-sized Game Boy is the perfect way to revisit your favorite GameCube and PS2 games

The ANBERNIC RG 477V is a powerful vertical handheld device with a 4.7-inch screen that provides a great gaming experience for retro games, including PS2 and GameCube games.

BetaBeacon

January 27, 2026

Forget emulators, native ports of PS2 games may be closer than ever

A new tool called PS2Recomp has gained significant attention for statically recompiling PS2 games into modern C++ code to create native PC ports with better performance than traditional emulators.

Winsage

January 27, 2026

This New Windows Smartphone Does Something Most Android Phones Can’t

NexPhone is a new smartphone from Nex Computer, marking the first Windows phone launch in a decade, with an official launch planned for 2026. It supports Android, Windows 11, and Linux, allowing users to connect it to any monitor and use it as a computer. The device runs Windows 11 on Arm, ensuring a smooth user experience. It features 256GB of expandable storage and aims to consolidate various digital tasks into one device. The last notable Windows phone was the Microsoft Lumia 650, released in 2016, and Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Mobile in 2019.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Xbox App officially launches on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs from Microsoft

Microsoft has launched an ARM-compatible version of its Xbox App, enhancing the gaming ecosystem for ARM-based Windows 11 devices. Over 85% of the current Game Pass library is functional on ARM systems, although full compatibility remains exclusive to x86-based systems. Gamers can access unsupported titles through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft’s Prism emulation layer allows native x86 and x64 applications to run on ARM PCs, with recent updates improving Game Pass compatibility. Popular titles like Gears of War: Reloaded and Fortnite now support ARM. This development encourages innovation from companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm, while the gap in game compatibility between ARM and x86 architectures is closing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is highlighted as a top choice for building or upgrading gaming PCs.

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Arm-Based Windows 11 PCs Can Now Download and Play Games from the Xbox App

Microsoft's Xbox app on Windows 11 now supports game downloads on all ARM-based PCs, expanding functionality beyond cloud gaming for Qualcomm-powered devices. This update follows an initial rollout for Xbox Insiders in August, coinciding with Epic Games' compatibility of its Easy Anti-Cheat system with Windows on ARM. The Prism emulator was updated in December to support more x86 games on ARM devices, and the Xbox app now includes a Windows Performance Fit feature to assess game performance based on hardware. Over 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with ARM PCs, with ongoing efforts to increase support. Emulation performance has improved on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, with further enhancements expected from upcoming X2 series chips, although native ARM64 game versions are still anticipated.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven’t forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig

The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.