A Game Boy lookalike, a PS Vita lookalike, why a keyboard is essential for Windows, and more.
Hello, and welcome to overkill digest number 50!!!
It's a bit surreal that I've been doing this for so long. Thanks to everyone who has read this newsletter for the last 50 emails. I plan to write many more, and I hope I can always add a little something you find interesting.
But let's get to this week's news: it's been wild. I don't think we've written so much in a single week in a while. So, let's get to it.
Big this week
It's been the AYANEO week here on overkill. (Not sponsored, though. FYI: Nobody currently sponsors overkill, which is why this is still only a hobby for Chris and me.)
First, I reviewed the Flip KB —AYANEO's first clamshell device. This is the first YouTube video (I appreciate every like) I’ve done in a while, but there's also a written review.
Essentially, I'm pretty surprised how much improved the "Windows on a handheld" experience is when you add an always-available hardware keyboard. Navigating the OS becomes much better when you can fall back on arrow keys, an enter button, and a little nub emulating a mouse.
Next, AYANEO announced not one, not two, not three, but five new devices (technically six, but we didn't care much about an external battery).
First, there's the AYANEO Pocket Micro, which is clearly inspired by the Game Boy Micro. However, its 3.5" screen has four times the resolution of the original Game Boy Advance at 960x640 pixels and is housed in an all-aluminium frame.
Next, my personal highlight, the Pocket DMG. This Game Boy look-alike is gorgeous, and comes with a 1240 by 1080-pixel OLED screen, a Snapdragon G3x Gen 2, and a left joystick + touchpad surface (the little box around the joystick). I love what this looks like, and I can't wait to try it out.
The Chinese manufacturer's third product announced is an external GPU + dock combo. The AG01 (not to be mistaken with a green powder company) features an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT eGPU, adds several ports to whatever you connect to the device, and even includes an internal SSD slot.
Finally, AYANEO also plans to update two of their already-released devices. Their mini-PC will get a new screen and either an AMD 8845HS or an AMD 8945HS. Their mini handheld, the AYANEO Air 1s, will receive an updated to the AMD 8840U.
Overall, these are great announcements. However, we do not know what these devices will cost nor when they will be released. But knowing AYANEO, it won't be cheap!
But I really want that Pocket DMG...
In other news
- Timo looked at the indie hit Manor Lords, and not only published his typical settings guide, but also has some recommendations on how to play this strategy game on Steam Deck best.
- However, he also looked at Horizon: Forbidden West and achieved a relatively stable 30 FPS with decent graphics.
- And lastly, here are tricks to make the Steam Deck the best place to play Hades II. (This is technically from last week, but since there was no newsletter, I don't count it as cheating!)
- Ubisoft is finally doing what everyone has been asking: releasing an Assassin's Creed in feudal Japan. Called Assassin's Creed Shadows, it will feature a shinobi and a samurai and be released in November.
- AYANEO wasn't the only company to tease a new handheld: AYN started teasing their new Odin2 Mini, which looks like a PS Vita. It'll start at around $340, runs Android 13, and has a 1080p screen.
- Dbrand has finally released their Killswitch case for the Ally, and I've liked it so far.
- Sean Hollister at The Verge tried a prototype Asus ROG Ally X, and liked it. In case you missed it, it's the same device, but with a bigger battery, a slightly different design, and comes in black. However, the chip inside didn't change, so performance should be the same.
- We've got two new emulators for iPhone: PPSSPP for PSP and RetroArch for nearly everything.
- A new project recompiles old Nintendo 64 games for PC, and the first game to come natively(!) to PC is Majora's Mask.
- Microsoft is planning to add Call of Duty to Game Pass. I can't say I'm surprised, but I wonder if this will backfire. Usually, Call of Duty makes a ton of money (20 million units sold at $70), so I wonder if adding it to Game Pass will cut into this. Or maybe they raise the price for Game Pass when CoD gets added.
- Valve's next game has leaked, and it's a hero shooter called Deadlock that is "a combination of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, Orcs Must Die."
Phew! That was a lot. Next week, I'll be travelling, but I plan to send a newsletter, though it might be a bit lighter than usual.
But that vacation will allow me to film my next YouTube video, "What's in my Travel Bag." So, if you're wondering which handheld I'll bring with me, get subscribed!
Kevin