Can you remember when I wrote about the world's first open-source handheld, the Game Bub? It was back in October 2025, so I'll let you off if you've forgotten, but it's the world's first open-source FPGA retro-emulation handheld that plays all of your Game Boy, GBC, & GBA cartridges. It's open-source from launch, and with a battery life that is more than double the Analogue Pocket, I think it's goint to make some serious waves in the handheld gaming scene.
I saw a post from Retro Handhelds that Game Bub have finally posted a statement on their Crowd Supply page letting people know that handhelds have left the factory and are on the way to their Texan warehouse from China. And if you have't actually ordered one yet, then there's some good news because there are a few hundred units that have still been unclaimed that are available to purchase!
If you've not heard of the Game Bub before, then check out the specs here -
Classic System Compatibility
- Game Boy-compatible cartridge slot for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games
- Custom FPGA cores designed for high accuracy and physical hardware compatibility
- Built-in ROM loading and backup
- GBA-type multiplayer link port (also compatible with Game Boy Color)
- Rumble motor for games with force feedback
- Accelerometer and gyroscope for compatible games
- Real-time clock
Modern System Specs
- Enclosure: Transparent plastic
- FPGA: Built around the powerful AMD (Xilinx) XC7A100T FPGA, with 101,400 logic cells and 607.5 KiB of block RAM
- MCU: ESP32-S3 microcontroller for auxiliary tasks
- Wireless: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE
- Memory: 64 MiB of SDRAM and 512 KiB of SRAM connected to the FPGA
- Display: 4.0-inch 720 x 480, 24-bit color IPS LCD
- Audio: Stereo 1 W speakers, TRS headphone jack
- Input: 12 buttons for the FPGA, 4 additional system buttons for the MCU only
- Expansion: PMOD header
- Storage: microSD card slot
- Power: USB Type-C charging, 3000 mAh battery with 14+ hour in-game time
- Optional Dock: Digital video output and wireless controller compatibility, simultaneous charging
- Dimensions: 85 x 174 x 19 mm (3.35 x 6.85 x 0.75 in)
- Weight: 250 g (8.82 oz)
Handhelds are set to arrive in our hands around 3-4 weeks from this point, and it seems that they've been delayed because of a few issues like some defective link ports and the need to find a new supplier. Still, they're back on track now, and Game Bub has big plans for what's next. They've been working on a new version of their Game Bub firmware that allows users to easily build and share FPGA cores by placing them on an microSD card, and they're working on new Beta tests which will be announced on their Discord channel!
The Game Bub costs $269 and comes with the option of buying a $65 dock to hook it up to your TV with. It's only marginally more expensive than the Analogue Pocket, though if the dock is more readily avaialable than Analogues, then it will be more than worth it. I love the horizontal form factor too - it feels like a futuristic evolution of the GBA, all open-sourced and ready for tinkering with.
Head to the Game Bub Crowd Supply page for more info - be quick if you want to get your pre-order in!
