This week’s retro gaming news roundup is one of our biggest ever, and kicks off with news of the Commodore TAC-2 joystick revival and Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns, and it features a “16-bit mode.”
Let’s get on with it!
Commodore International has put the TAC-2 joystick back into production 40 years after Suncom’s 1983 debut. Built for 9-pin Atari-standard connector hardware like the Commodore 64 Ultimate, the reproduction preserves the microswitch-free, ball-and-contact mechanism.
I’ll be honest: I don’t recall this controller every being available in the UK, and I don’t think I’ve ever clapped eyes on one. So, this is a pretty exciting release, and more in keeping with what I was expecting from the revived Commodore.
They’ve made some changes, too, reinforcing the original’s failure point by swapping the internal tire-valve shaft for a solid chrome-plated steel assembly.
Five colorways are available for pre-order: BASIC Beige, C= White, Knight Black, and Starlight Edition at $49.99, plus a gold PVD-coated Founders Edition for $64. Select models also feature fixed-color LED lighting under the fire buttons.
Nordcurrent Labs has revived Amiga classic Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns on PC and consoles for the strategy classic’s 40th anniversary.
Working with developer Black Tower Basement, the game is out on PC (Steam, GOG), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch for $19.99/€19.99. Celebrating 40 years since Cinemaware’s landmark 1986 strategy title hit the Amiga, this new edition offers a trio of modes:
Retro Mode for pure 16-bit preservation
Classic Mode with updated audiovisuals and refined mechanics
Kingdom Mode—an all-new roguelite deck-builder featuring dice-based combat
Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns is available with a 15% discount on Steam.
Aside from those headlines, this is what else has been happening in the world of retro gaming this week.
Nintendo UK has announced the latest expansion pack updates coming to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, and it includes the 2002 GameCube classic Super Mario Sunshine (above).
Hamster has released Technos Japan’s 1988 beach volleyball title Arcade Archives V’BALL across Nintendo Switch & Switch 2, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Meanwhile, Tecmo’s 1997 32-bit fighting game Touki Denshou Angel Eyes has joined the Console Archives line on modern systems.
Publisher Future Friends Games and Brazilian solo developer Nautlander have launched satirical incremental RPG Greedy Greedy Gnomes on PC via Steam ($5.99 / £5.29 / €6.15) and Android via Google Play ($3.99 / £3.59). Formerly known as Eldor’idle, the retro-style clicker game turns traditional RPG pot-smashing into a capitalist supply chain simulation, tasking players with recruiting, training, and automating gnome workforces to scale a single coin into a billion-coin fortune.
A fan-made remake rebuilds Game Boy classic Donkey Kong Land using 16-bit Donkey Kong Country graphics and physics — download it here, and check the setup video. (NintendoWire)
Thalamus Digital has published WOLF (above), an impressive new raycasting first-person shooter built natively for the Game Boy Color.
Developer Ludit has released faithful, 1-bit replicas of 1980s Macintosh classics Dark Castle and Beyond Dark Castle for modern platforms. Built using the Indigo Runtime, these releases preserve the exact physics, audio, and gameplay of the originals.
A new ROM hack transforms the original NES entry of The Legend of Zelda into a two-player cooperative adventure, an ideal way to celebrate the game’s 40th anniversary.
Following the shadow drop of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition on modern consoles and PC, developer Aspyr has confirmed that more remastered Middle-earth releases are in active development. (IGN)
Homebrew developer Haroldo-OK has released arcade racer Crazy Racing 32X for the Sega 32X expansion, and is available to download with a “Name your own price” option.
Developers Studio Koba and Aeternum Game Studios have launched the retro 2D shoot 'em up Future Knight (above) on Steam. Featuring liquid crystal handheld-inspired visuals (think a classic Nintendo handheld), fast-paced tag-team combat, and dark comedy, the indie title is available now for $13.49 (£12.37) following a 10% introductory discount through August 27.
Publisher Acclaim and developer Valadria have released a new gameplay trailer for 2D cozy power-washing simulator Pixel Washer. Releasing this fall on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, the retro-inspired sim puts players in control of Pigxel the pig to blast grime off over 40 pixel-art stages, complete with upgradable washers, buyable vehicles, and a chill soundtrack.
Solo developer Joeveno and publisher NoQuarter have announced that PS2 bootleg-inspired boomer shooter BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER BEFORE 4 will launch on Steam September 16. Built on the id Tech 2 engine, the fast-paced Quake homage features 32 maps, 13 wild weapons, and full Steamworks coop and deathmatch multiplayer.
Japan-exclusive Game Boy Color title Sailor Moon has received its first full English fan translation patch. (RetroDodo)
Developer Fenyx Digital has released a playable Steam demo for The Money Man, a dystopian strategy sim set in a sealed-off New York City. Acting as a prequel to the main game, the demo tasks players with using scanners and UV plates to spot counterfeit currency over five tense days while balancing moral dilemmas and mob debts.
Raster Software has opened pre-orders for Hyper Runner (above) a new pseudo-3D racer for AGA Amigas, CD32, and FPGA systems. Blending OutRun-style branching paths with F-Zero inspired hovercraft racing, the game features 12 pilots, arcade power-ups, and 16 route combinations across physical big-box, CD, and digital formats.
Publisher Deck13 Spotlight and solo developer David Schütze have revealed a late 2026 release window for retro RPG Crystals of Irm. Launching across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, the title blends 3D first-person dungeon crawling with Ultima-inspired overworld exploration and a movement-based, bullet-hell grid combat system.
Developer iDiOSLAB and publisher NGJ have announced Delve Survivors, an indie RPG merging turn-based grid movement from traditional dungeon crawlers like Rogue with modern horde-survival mechanics. Launching on PC via Steam in Q4 2026 with console ports to follow in Q1 2027, the game features turn-based cooldowns, ARPG loot tiers, town hub crafting, and a 100-floor endgame mega-dungeon.
Developer Justin Marshall has uploaded a recovered, near-complete build of cancelled expansion Quake 4: Awakening to GitHub. Originally in development at Ritual Entertainment, the preserved alpha includes new weapons like a cryo cannon, pilotable mechs, and playable campaign levels discovered on a second-hand hard drive. (PCGamer)
Commodore 64 developer Haplo (Shift, Tenebra) has released a six-level preview for Warlock, an upcoming top-down action slasher. Inspired by classic first-person fantasy shooters like Heretic, the game rejects roguelike trends in favor of handcrafted maps and static progression, with the final build planned to feature additional weapons, enemies, animations, and music. (IndieRetroNews)
Click the video above, if only to enjoy the superb soundtrack.
Industry veterans Tony Warriner and Stoo Cambridge have temporarily cancelled the Kickstarter campaign for UrbX Warriors (16-Bit Edition) on day one due to “an unforeseen issue with Kickstarter.” Designed for Amiga AGA and Mega Drive, the co-op action-adventure follows urban explorers through a Mayan temple. The team will relaunch the campaign shortly using this Kickstarter page.
Simulant Magazines has launched orders for its latest retro and modern gaming magazine lineup, including the debut of SteamOS Gamer alongside new issues of (my personal favourite) Amiga Addict and Pixel Addict.
SteamOS Gamer Issue 1: Features a 10-page retrospective on Half-Life with Valve veteran Ken Birdwell, an interview with My Perfect Console host Simon Parkin, an EmuDeck setup guide, and reviews of 007 First Light and Valve’s Steam Frame VR headset.
Amiga Addict Issue 44: Leads with a review and interview on the recovered Amiga sequel Head Over Heels: Return To Blacktooth, an open-source AROS beginner’s guide, RJ Mical’s tribute to Dale Luck, and a free Tinyus arcade port coverdisk.
Pixel Addict Issue 35: Highlights an exclusive career-retrospective interview with Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert, an Atari Falcon hardware history featuring the Re-Falcon030 clone project, and retrospectives on Herzog Zwei and F-16 Combat Pilot.
All three physical issues are available to order now via Simulant Media.
Retro Games Ltd has announced that early-bird UK launch stock of its upcoming THEA12001 Amiga replica will bundle a 36-page collector’s edition of ZZAP! Amiga magazine, produced alongside Fusion Retro Books. Exclusive to the initial production run, the A5 publication features new reviews, an eight-page Alien Breed comic, and developer retrospectives.
This follows a similar collector’s edition release of CRASH! with the 2024 release of TheSpectrum.
A clever handheld modification has transformed a standard Steam Deck into a functional Game Boy shell using custom 3D-printed brackets and retro-themed front-end software. (TechRadar)
UK retailer CeX is reportedly testing a return to dedicated retro and import stores under a resurrected 1990s retail model. Given how much of their usual store space is taken up by previous gen consoles and games, it seems like an obvious move. (TimeExtension)
Retro handheld manufacturer Mangmi has opened early-bird pre-orders for the Mangmi Air Y and Air Y Pro vertical Android handhelds. Featuring a 4.2-inch, 1280x960 4:3 IPS screen and a 5,000mAh battery, the budget Air Y uses a Snapdragon 662 chip starting at $89.99 ($94.99 retail), while the higher-tier Air Y Pro equips a Snapdragon 865 for PS2 and GC emulation starting at $145.99.
Developer Clyde S has announced that the open-source 8-bit GameTank retro console has passed EMC laboratory testing. Final PCB files have been submitted to manufacturer Soldered to begin an eight-week production and shipping timeline to Mouser’s fulfillment warehouse.
Distributor Game Outlet Europe has launched 8BitDo’s flip-style mobile gamepad, the 8BitDo FlipPad, across Europe for £24.99 (€29.99). Designed for portrait-oriented retro gaming via lag-free USB-C, the compact controller features a physical D-pad and ABXY layout on a 6,000-cycle rated hinge that flips out of the way for calls or messaging.
A community tracking report shows over 1,500 titles on GOG are missing patches, updates, or DLC compared to Steam versions. (TechSpot)
This is one of the most jam-packed retro gaming roundups I’ve produced, and I hope the sensible breaking up of games, publications, and hardware makes for an easier read.
I’ll be back next week with more of this sort of thing. Enjoy the rest of your retro gaming weekend!
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