Hyperkin Announce RetroN 5, Gets all my Money

Hyperkin, a video game accessory distributor, has had their RetroN console for a few years now. This thing is a godsend for retro games. The current iteration of the console is the RetroN 3, which plays NES, SNES, Super Famicom, Genesis, and Mega Drive cartridges. That’s pretty sweet. But the company has since announced their next iteration, the RetroN 5, which adds two to four more systems depending on how you look at it.

Hyperkin showed off their new console at the Midwest Gaming Classic this past weekend. The new system will not only support all the systems of the RetroN 3, but will also take Famicom, Game Boy Advanced, Game Boy Color, and straight up Game Boy carts.

The Famicom, for those who don’t know, is the Japanese version of the NES, which has a different number of connector pins for its carts. That’s why the Famicom needs its own slot while the SNES and Super Famicom share one. Also, no region locking, so you can play both PAL and NTSC carts on the RetroN 5.

The system also allows you to save your game data at any time, and has an autosave function every time it shuts down. These can be accessed and loaded at any time during gameplay. This is a blessing for anyone who really sucks at those old school games.

On the side of the console are three controller ports for NES, SNES, and Genesis controllers if you have your old gamepads lying around. If you don’t, the console comes with its own controller that is compatible with all nine (yes, nine) systems. The button layout is also completely customizable, letting you remap the controller however you want. The RetroN then saves your preferences so you won’t have to set it up like that every time you play.

Finally, the system has two output methods: Standard AV output and HDMI. The system will up convert the video signal through shaders and things for an output resolution of 720p. You will also be able to output your games in 4:3 or 16:9.

No release date or price has been set for the RetroN 5, but Hyperkin hopes to have it out around July for less than $100. I am so pumped for this.