#47: You can finally play Pokémon on your iPhone

In today's overkill digest newsletter, we look at all the emulators that have launched on iOS so far.

Welcome stranger! New week, new overkill digest newsletter.

A few updates before we get into this week's issue:

I've received a review unit of the AYANEO Flip KB, so I'm currently testing the device down to its bones. I've also got a Razer Chroma X eGPU here, and I'd like to figure out how viable handhelds are as desktop replacements. So if you have any questions, send them along.
I've started watching the Fallout series, and after one episode, I decided to reinstall Fallout 4 and mod it. I'm currently running a mod collection called A StoryWealth. (I've also decided to mod Skyrim again, and Vortex has been downloading mods for 14 hours by now.)
Not really gaming-related, but if you are into books and e-readers, I've reviewed the Boox Palma on my personal blog. It's probably one of the best purchases I've made these last few months.
And finally, we're at gamescom this year!

But now, let's get into this week's newsletter.

With Delta, iOS is finally a gaming platform. I've been alluding to it during the last few digest editions, but the floodgates have opened now that Apple has allowed emulators to run on iOS. Delta is probably the best smartphone emulator currently in existence, and I've been playing multiple hours of Pokémon Blazed Glazed (I can't link to it, so google it) on my iPhone using the Backbone One. (Though I am very intrigued by the new Razer Kishi Ultra.) But it doesn't just stop there, as Provenance – a multi-platform emulator similar to RetroArch – has announced they, too, are planning to launch on the App Store.

This is definitely a future I can get behind. Being able to play all your favourite games you legally dumped on your smartphone has been something Android users were able to do for a long time, which I have honestly been jealous about. Depending on the game and the situation, I still prefer proper retro handhelds, like the Anbernics and Miyoo Minis of this world, but for games like Pokémon, even touchscreen controls are more than decent.

Unfortunately, not everything is rosy in this new iOS world. Apple is still vetting emulators when they launch in the App Store (or in one of the alternative stores like AltStore PAL), so some emulators might never launch officially on the iPhone. One of these examples is DolphiniOS, as this emulator requires something called JIT, which goes against what Apple allows.

So, I guess I will still pick up Android-based handhelds whenever they launch.

In other news

Best Fallout 4 settings for Steam Deck. With the Fallout series, we decided to look at how Fallout 4 performs on Steam Deck. Since a bigger update is around the corner, we looked at vanilla and modded settings.
The best sub $10 deals on the Steam FPS Fest. By now, it's a tradition that whenever a new sale launches on Steam, Chris looks at the best games for Steam Deck under ten bucks. Naturally, he did the same for the Steam FPS fest that ends soon.
You can buy refurbished Steam Decks again. While I firmly believe the OLED Steam Deck is the superior version, paying $279 for the base model LCD Steam Deck (with 64 GB of storage) is a killer deal. If you haven't picked one up, now is the time.
Ghost of Tsushima port brings PlayStation trophies to PC. With the upcoming port (by Nixxes, as usual) of Ghost of Tsushima for PC, PlayStation is trying something new and is bringing a PlayStation overlay, including a Friends list, trophies, settings and your profile, to PC. This way, you can play co-op with your PlayStation friends and synchronise your trophies between the two platforms. This means that if you have already unlocked trophies on the PS4 or PS5 version, the corresponding achievement on Steam or Epic Games will unlock. Sony also shared their recommended specs, and the game will run on Steam Deck.
The Playdate has sold 150.000 units. The Playdate is probably one of the most intriguing and peculiar handhelds, and now Panic has announced that they shipped 150.000 units of the little yellow thing.
Nintendo showed some new games during an Indie showcase. The Switch might be near the end of its lifecycle, but indie developers are still planning to release plenty of games for Nintendo's console. During an Indie Summer Showcase, we've got — amongst other things — words of SteamWorld Heist 2 (also coming to PC), TMNT: Splintered Fate making the jump over from Apple Arcade, but unfortunately, still no Hollow Knight: Silksong release date.
Baldur's Gate 3's mod tools are coming. With Patch 7, Larian Studios is adding a few (probably last) major updates to BG3: a new dark ending, mod support, and many bug fixes. There is still crossplay on Larian's to-do list, but I expect this to be the last story update, especially since the studio has started to tease their upcoming game, calling it "best work ever".