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Retro Song Bird is a hardware accessory that lets users insert Game Boy cartridges to hear their soundtracks, with support for over 1,900 games. It also backs up save files and ROMs, exports soundtracks as WAV files, exposes each of the four sound channels as separate USB audio streams for remixing, and can turn a Game Boy Camera into a low-resolution USB webcam.
French electronics engineering student Thomas Sanfourche has built the SGBC, a console that uses an FPGA chip to replicate Game Boy hardware and play original cartridges natively. The device can rip inserted cartridges directly to a microSD card, outputs 1080p video over HDMI with integer scaling, and includes an SNES controller port plus a Game Boy Link port for multiplayer.
A new DIY-style handheld called the Arduview is being marketed as the world's first fully transparent game console, with not just a clear case but see-through buttons, joystick, PCB and even its 1.51-inch display. Built on the open-source Arduboy platform, it runs on an 8-bit ATmega32U4 chip, a 120mAh battery, 16MB of storage and charges via USB-C, though the built-in speaker reportedly didn't work on the reviewer's pre-production unit.
A developer created a custom TV home screen designed to resemble a Pokemon town rendered in Game Boy Color style, using in-game actions as navigation. Entering buildings in the interface opens apps, and changing device settings requires defeating a gym leader within the mock game world. The project was reportedly built with the help of Anthropic's Opus 5.5 AI model.
A prototype development cartridge of Pokémon Red for the Game Boy is up for auction, having drawn a single bid of $25,000 so far. PSA authenticated the cartridge, reading the first 32KB of its data and finding it matches the U.S. retail release aside from two minor header differences that don't affect gameplay. The board itself, labeled DMG-(F)KGDB-01, is described by the auction as a previously undocumented development board, though that part number has surfaced before on a separate 2000-era cartridge.
BJ, an independent builder, has created the Retro Song Bird, a device resembling a Game Boy cartridge reader that plays only the music and sound effects stored on Game Boy cartridges rather than the games themselves. It includes a built-in speaker, stereo line-out for external audio equipment, and USB audio streaming of each of the Game Boy's four sound channels, plus the ability to back up ROMs, save data, and export music as WAV files. Only a handful of prototypes exist currently, and the device is not yet for sale.
Ayaneo has released the Konkr Pocket Advance, a Game Boy Advance-style handheld running Android. The $109 base model includes 3GB RAM and 32GB expandable storage, while a $129 version offers 4GB RAM and 64GB built-in storage, both powered by a MediaTek Helio G90T chip with a cooling fan and 4,000mAh battery.
Analogue will reopen pre-orders for its Pocket handheld and Dock accessory on October 2 at 11am ET. Units are expected to ship within two weeks of purchase, and the console still carries the $240 price following a $20 tariff-related increase applied at its last restock in March.
AYANEO has officially released the KONKR Pocket BLOCK, a Game Boy-style vertical Android handheld first shown in May. It comes in 2GB/32GB and 3GB/64GB configurations priced at $89 and $109 respectively, though AYANEO is currently offering promotional pricing of $79 and $99. The device features a 3.33-inch 960x720 LCD, a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, a 3,500mAh battery, Android 12, and no analog sticks, with shipping starting late October in three color options.
Ayaneo's budget sub-brand Konkr unveiled the Pocket Block, a compact vertical handheld resembling a Game Boy, priced from $89 with a $79 preorder deal. It features a 3.3-inch 960x720 LCD screen, a MediaTek Helio G85 chip, a 3.5mm jack, microSD slot, USB-C, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. Higher storage models cost $99 and add color options, with shipping expected by the end of October.
FunnyPlaying has released the FPGB Mini, a handheld barely bigger than a Game Boy cartridge that uses FPGA hardware to emulate Game Boy games with near-perfect accuracy. It supports both physical cartridges and ROMs via microSD, features a 2.98-inch 800x720 IPS screen, and runs on an 1800 mAh battery for four to six hours of play. The standard price is $89, though early units sold for $69.
HIDIZS launched a Kickstarter for the AP30 Music Boy, a hi-res audio player styled after the classic Game Boy, seeking just $5,100. The campaign closed having raised roughly $504,311, nearly 99 times its original target, with shipping expected this October and late backers still able to join.