PerfectDark

Today's interview is a first. As you (might) very well know by now, I've interviewed a ton of developers from various gaming projects. All kinds, from open-source to paid, from desktop Linux to a huge variety of programs and apps for retro handhelds running on Android (or Linux themselves!), even a small games studio and a pirate who runs their own Switch eShop.

What I'm clumsily trying to covey is that I have interviewed a lot of people over the last few years, but no one who has the same focus as today's article.

You might have seen some of e1000's work before, if you follow handheld gaming. He's notorious for pushing the envelope on what your hardware is physically capable of doing, Steam Deck and ROG Ally running up to 64GB of RAM:

"The community is never satisfied and we eventually got 64GB to work [on the ROG Ally], I figured out the right BIOS edits for this one."

Anyway, this is all just rambling on. Read on if you want to see how someone with no formal training has become 'the' go-to guy for hardware hacking any handheld, from the humble Miyoo all the way to GPD's devices. I'm super proud of this one, because I was approached to get this organized, e1000 is notoriously shy of attention, but being obsessed with my own soldering efforts, we clicked very quickly and he was super happy to share his tales. Link as ever is here:

https://gardinerbryant.com/the-quiet-modder-behind-hardware-hacks-2/

Just a little article from me today. I've been enjoying a few cyberpunkish things recently:

• Psycho-Pass
• Dark Rain
• Cyberpunk 2077

...which reminded me that there was a semi-recent effort at bringing the classic Blade Runner PC game from 1997 to a new era of gaming. It didn't land very well (everyone hated the smoothed graphics nonsense they did for it), but on a subsequent update they did fix that.

Anyway, that recollection led to me installing it on my OLED Switch, which then made me appreciate the atmosphere and environments, the beautiful backgrounds and so on. The backgrounds in this game are truly top-notch.

SO, if you'd like a little rambling about how Westwood went against the grain when 3D gaming was really taking off, and instead focused on a point-and-click adventure, then follow the link as per usual:

https://gardinerbryant.com/when-other-games-chased-polygons/

Just a little article from me today. I've been enjoying a few cyberpunkish things recently:

• Psycho-Pass
• Dark Rain
• Cyberpunk 2077

...which reminded me that there was a semi-recent effort at bringing the classic Blade Runner PC game from 1997 to a new era of gaming. It didn't land very well (everyone hated the smoothed graphics nonsense they did for it), but on a subsequent update they did fix that.

Anyway, that recollection led to me installing it on my OLED Switch, which then made me appreciate the atmosphere and environments, the beautiful backgrounds and so on. The backgrounds in this game are truly top-notch.

SO, if you'd like a little rambling about how Westwood went against the grain when 3D gaming was really taking off, and instead focused on a point-and-click adventure, then follow the link as per usual:

https://gardinerbryant.com/when-other-games-chased-polygons/

For today's interview I got to chat to the developer of 1retro. His program and service is made to back your retro emulated games' saves up, automatically, so you know you're safe and secure.

https://1retro.com/

Quick dot points straight from the website of 1retro:

• Saves upload automatically in the background. Smart syncing means only changed files transfer -- fast, efficient, seamless.

• macOS, Windows, Linux. Our lightweight desktop app runs natively on all three without slowing you down.

• Your saves are backed up and stored safely in the cloud. Your data is yours. Always.

• Every save is versioned. Overwrite something by accident? Roll back to any previous version instantly.

• Power users can automate their workflows, write scripts, and integrate custom emulators with our command-line tools.

I spoke with developer Hans to learn more about building 1Retro, retro gaming fragmentation, accessibility, and why he believes some of the hobby’s biggest improvements still happen behind the scenes.

If you're curious about saves in retro gaming, development, or the service he's looking to offer, have a read with my link. 1retro is new to the scene, but I'm curious about what you think:

https://gardinerbryant.com/fixing-retro-gamings-save-problem/

For today's interview I got to chat to the developer of 1retro. His program and service is made to back your retro emulated games' saves up, automatically, so you know you're safe and secure.

https://1retro.com/

Quick dot points straight from the website of 1retro:

• Saves upload automatically in the background. Smart syncing means only changed files transfer -- fast, efficient, seamless.

• macOS, Windows, Linux. Our lightweight desktop app runs natively on all three without slowing you down.

• Your saves are backed up and stored safely in the cloud. Your data is yours. Always.

• Every save is versioned. Overwrite something by accident? Roll back to any previous version instantly.

• Power users can automate their workflows, write scripts, and integrate custom emulators with our command-line tools.

I spoke with developer Hans to learn more about building 1Retro, retro gaming fragmentation, accessibility, and why he believes some of the hobby’s biggest improvements still happen behind the scenes.

If you're curious about saves in retro gaming, development, or the service he's looking to offer, have a read with my link. 1retro is new to the scene, but I'm curious about what you think:

https://gardinerbryant.com/fixing-retro-gamings-save-problem/

This wasn't my article, but Gardiner's! Anyway, here's a nice guide if you've never done so but would like to emulate PSP on SteamOS :)

This wasn't my article, but Gardiner's! Anyway, here's a nice guide if you've never done so but would like to emulate PSP on SteamOS :)

Approaching the middle of 2026, I thought it might be interesting to check in with a handful of developers building software for the Steam Deck scene to see how things have gone, are going and might be for the future!

Most of these are good friends of mine, but there is one new face here as well. I asked them a few questions each about what the state of Steam Deck software looks like today.

• RetroDECK
• Decky Loader
• Junk Store
• Lutris
• Heroic Games Launcher
• Unifideck

^ all the projects I checked in with! So if you're curious, this one isn't exactly hard-hitting journalist, it is a nice light check-in with friends as to how the Steam Deck world is for them now!

Hope you enjoy it!

https://gardinerbryant.com/steam-deck-software-in-2026/

Approaching the middle of 2026, I thought it might be interesting to check in with a handful of developers building software for the Steam Deck scene to see how things have gone, are going and might be for the future!

Most of these are good friends of mine, but there is one new face here as well. I asked them a few questions each about what the state of Steam Deck software looks like today.

• RetroDECK
• Decky Loader
• Junk Store
• Lutris
• Heroic Games Launcher
• Unifideck

^ all the projects I checked in with! So if you're curious, this one isn't exactly hard-hitting journalist, it is a nice light check-in with friends as to how the Steam Deck world is for them now!

Hope you enjoy it!

https://gardinerbryant.com/steam-deck-software-in-2026/

This looks to be the last handheld review I'll be doing for the near future at least. I did have the TRMUI Brick Pro on the way...but they've delayed that release with no confirmed date yet (I suspect the RAM woes play a big-big part in that), so for now it is what I suppose is the ultimate nostalgia machine - AKA the Retroid Pocket Classic.

Remember the Nintendo Game Boy Color Pokemon special edition? Well, you'll no doubt see where Retroid's inspo came from. Not that they hide it with the 'PKMN Yellow' name for it.

^ the screens have improved over time

• Super powerful with 6GB/128GB on the model they sent me
• Chunky plastic that makes you feel like you're in a Toys-r-us dream
• Perfect-perfect-perfect for systems like GB/GBC/GBA and things like Game Gear (I played Game Gear games for the very first time on this one!)
• The display kicks all kinds of AMOLED butt, you really can't beat it
• Nostalgia is a clear selling factor for this one

If you're interested in my Retroid review, as ever you can read through it here. Or you can ask me whatever you might be interested in here if you don't wanna read through. Clicks don't bother me, we don't run ads on the site so there's no scramble to get people over.

Although this is posted last thing at night on my side of the world, so it might be morning when I wake up and respond to you if you do have any questions!

Link is here:

https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-retroid-pocket/

So this retro handheld review might have been my favorite so far. I have such an obsession with design language (be it gaming or all the way to architecture), and seeing something as unique and different as this rotating touch screen on a retro handheld? It won me over without a second's hesitation

This handheld is a nicely squished cube with rounded corners, has a touch screen, obviously flips up to be a gaming handheld you can (comfortably) play PlayStation/PSP and even some few GameCube/PS2 games. Although you'd have to be crazy to buy this for GCN/PS2. They're just a happy bonus (really, this is NOT a PS2 machine)

Playing music or streaming music is a blast, as are audiobooks. I've had the most fun playing GBA and PS games on here, but if you're interested in my review, you can check it out here:

https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-anbernic-rg-rotate/

Or, you can just ask me what you'd like to know if you'd prefer to not! I love this damn thing. If I could wear it on a belt loop, I promise you I would be doing that like it is the olden days of phones!