Summary of "The State of Retro Gaming In 2025..."

Summary of “The State of Retro Gaming In 2025…”

Storyline / Overview

The video discusses the current state and growing popularity of retro gaming as of 2025. It highlights why many gamers are turning away from modern gaming due to rising costs, lack of ownership, and complicated access. Nostalgia and the simplicity of playing classic games remain strong drivers for retro gaming’s growth.

Key Highlights and Topics Covered

1. Game Collecting Trends

Retro game collecting continues to grow, with conventions seeing renewed interest.
Hot systems for collectors include the Nintendo 64 (N64) and PlayStation 1 (PS1), boosted by upcoming recreation hardware like the Analog 3D and Mod Retro M64.
Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (PS3) represent a “sweet spot” for affordable collecting, partly because both consoles can be jailbroken for easy gameplay.
Emulation for PS3 (RPCS3) is good but requires powerful PCs; Xbox 360 emulation (Xenia) is less stable with graphical issues.
The price of Xbox 360 and PS3 games is expected to rise as these consoles age.
The creator personally has stepped back from serious collecting but recently acquired a boxed release of The Settlers 2 on the Commodore Omega.

2. Recreation Systems and FPGA Devices

There is significant growth in FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and recreation systems, which allow playing original cartridges on modern TVs with wireless controllers.

Notable devices include:

Analog 3D (for N64)
Mod Retro M64 (N64 recreation, expected in 2026)
Taki Udon Superstation (PlayStation 1 FPGA device with optional optical drive)
Commodore 64 Ultimate (FPGA recreation of the original C64 with modern conveniences like USB and Wi-Fi, retaining original ports and feel)
Atari 2600 Plus and 7800 Plus
Omega 1200 recreation (an emulated Amiga 1200 experience, more affordable than original hardware)

These devices appeal to those wanting nostalgia without the hassle of maintaining old hardware.

3. Homebrew and ROM Hacks

Active homebrew communities continue to produce new games and ROM hacks for classic systems.
Enhancements such as widescreen hacks, frame rate uncapping, and improved graphics/soundtracks are popular, breathing new life into old games.
Emulation projects and ROM hacking are thriving, often surpassing the original hardware’s capabilities.

4. Retro Handhelds and Emulation

Retro handhelds are booming, with many new devices tailored for specific needs: compact, affordable, yet powerful.
The Iono Thor dual-screen device (similar to Nintendo DS Lite) is highly anticipated.
The Steam Deck remains a popular and cost-effective option for retro gaming on the go.
Android-based handhelds have improved emulation capabilities, making them reliable choices for retro gaming.
Emulators now focus on enhancements rather than just stock gameplay, including smoother frame rates and better visuals.

5. Impressive Ports and Community Projects

Recent “impossible ports” showcase the retro community’s technical achievements:

Super Mario 64 running on PlayStation 1 hardware (a proof of concept challenging past assumptions).
Castlevania running on a stock Amiga 1200.
Developer Reassembler’s work on Outrun and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog port for Amiga.

These projects demonstrate the power of modern tools, documentation, and community collaboration, which were unavailable to original developers.

Conclusion

2025 has been a landmark year for retro gaming with growth in collecting, hardware recreations, homebrew, and emulation.
The future looks bright with even more innovations and releases expected in 2026.
The creator expresses excitement and commitment to covering these developments on their channel.

Featured Gamers / Sources

The video appears to be a single creator’s commentary and observations (unnamed).
Mentions of specific developers like Reassembler (Amiga ports).
References to emulators: RPCS3 (PS3), Xenia (Xbox 360).
Hardware companies/devices: Analog 3D, Mod Retro M64, Taki Udon Superstation, Commodore 64 Ultimate, Evercade, Iono Thor, Steam Deck.

This summary captures the main points about retro gaming’s state in 2025, covering collecting trends, hardware innovations, homebrew and emulation advances, and community-driven projects.