The team behind EmuDeck is launching their first hardware product in the form of small retro emulation mini PCs.
Update: Due to feedback received, EmuDeck decided to only focus on the EM2 machines. The EM1 isn't available anymore.
The team behind popular emulation tool EmuDeck is today announcing something rather special: they've spent the first half of 2024 working on their very first hardware product, called the EmuDeck Machine, and it's due to arrive before the year is out.
This EmuDeck Machine is an upcoming, crowdfunded, retro emulation mini PC running Bazzite, a Linux-based system similar to SteamOS.
We spoke exclusively with the EmuDeck team about this new endeavour and they pitched their machine as a "plug and play, no drivers, no hassle" device. You just plug in the (clearly Dreamcast inspired) PC, login to your Steam Account, and game. On the emulation side, the team has even created special features for EmuDeck to make retro gaming on the device easier.
EmuDeck's primary reason for entering the hardware space and creating this new PC is simple — they're aiming to make something that's currently difficult, as easy as possible:
"Getting a new PC can be a hurdle if you're not tech-savvy. I've been using an ITX build as my gaming rig for so long, trying to find that console-like experience. Now we can get that with Bazzite"
— dragoonDorise, EmuDeck project lead
EmuDeck noted that going with the Linux-based Bazzite as the operating system of choice was "an easy decision" — chiefly due to what was described as a "clunky" lackluster Windows experience. The Bazzite OS integration should be as good as possible here though, as EmuDeck and Bazzite have teamed up on the development.
This new EmuDeck Machine comes in two variants, the EM1 running an Intel N97 APU, and the EM2 — based on an AMD Ryzen 8600G. While both machines are meant as emulation-first devices, the AMD-based variant can easily function as a console-like PC. This is also thanks to some custom work done by the team: "We've optimized the system for maximum power. The default configuration of an 8600G gets you 32 FPS in Cyberpunk; we've managed to reach 47 FPS with a completely stable system, or 60FPS if you use FSR."
Both machines will ship with a Gamesir Nova Lite controller and EmuDeck preinstalled naturally. (Read our interview with the EmuDeck team.) The team has also preinstalled all available Decky plugins.
Chris Brandrick
But that's not all: if the campaign is successful, the EmuDeck team will also work on a docking station for the EM2 that will upgrade the graphics to an AMD Radeon 7600 desktop GPU. With this, in games like Cyberpunk 2077, you'll be able to reach 160 FPS in 1080p as per EmuDeck's measurements.
This makes the EM2 not only an interesting, little console-like PC but could even go as far as transforming it into a full-fledged gaming PC replacement.
The EmuDeck Machines are available to preorder now via an Indiegogo campaign. Prices start at around €299 (£257, $322) and shipping is currently planned for December 2024 — so a potential Christmas gift for the retro fan in your life?
This looks to be ambitious new side-project from the EmuDeck team — we'll be watching this one with great interest.
