A couple of months ago, we wrote a news post about a new FPGA-based handheld coming to fruition by The Retro Collective, a UK-based content creator and museum. It was deep in development at that point, and still is, but a recent update video from their team has revealed more information regarding the Multisystem Pocket 2 handheld, and a final agreement as to what it will look like at launch.
The Multisystem Pocket 2, for those who are unaware of what this actually is, is an independently made Mister FPGA handheld that will "emulate" an array of retro consoles including NES, GAME BOY, Neo Geo, SEGA Mega Drive and more, all in a portable form factor designed for comfort and a reliable gaming experience.
It's clear that this is still deep in development, but the team have decided on a form factor very reminiscent of the SEGA Game Gear, mixed with the ATARI Lynx, featuring a square display, 6-action buttons, dual analogue sticks and four shoulder buttons in a meaty case. Currently, the prototype is 3D printed, and the internals are not yet finalised, but the images and video give users a deeper look into what this will eventually look like when completed by the "end of the year", though they are still open to community feedback, infact they are seeking it.
Upon launch, the device will be injection-moulded, so it will be far better quality in comparison to the current prototypes, but from what I see so far, this looks like it could be an impressive portable Mister FPGA handheld for those that are obsessed with the niche. As of now, there's no information regarding its price range, and because it's being crafted by a few talented creatives instead of being mass-produced, it's likely not going to be cheap, and that's expected.
The benefits of an FPGA Handheld over typical Linux/Android retro handhelds are that the FPGA is designed to more accurately emulate the games being played on a logical level, but there are very minimal noticeable differences in my opinion; I know there's a very passionate community that loves this stuff and are willing to tinker with it from both a hardware and software perspective. I love seeing new handhelds like this come to fruition, so I wish the team all the best with this one. I may just have to snag one when it's available later in the year.
