RetroN

The RetroN is a series of video game consoles created and developed by Hyperkin which allows users to play old video games from consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super NES. Since the release of the RetroN 5, they have been connected via HDMI.[1] The latest in the series, RetroN 5, was released in 2014.

This article is about a video game console. It is not to be confused with Retron, a sequence of DNA.

Released

RetroN
A RetroN 1, meant for playing NES games.

The original RetroN only played Nintendo Entertainment System games.

RetroN 2

RetroN 2 was released in 2012, and plays NES and SNES games.[2]

RetroN 3

RetroN 3, supports Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES (SNES) and Genesis games.[3]

RetroN 5
The RetroN 5, a system that plays various game systems through software emulation.

The RetroN 5 was released in 2014. It is the latest console in the series.[4] The console is designed to run games from nine different platforms:[5] NES, Famicom, SNES, Super Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges via HDMI, similar to the RetroN 4. It was described to have a good feel and run smoothly, but the look of the console was as good as expected.

The RetroN 5 received a mixed reception from critics. Huffington Post writer Michael Rundle gave the console a 4.5 out of 5 but said he wished it looked better and had the ability to play more consoles, such as the BBC Micro, Amiga and the Atari.[5] Brian Easton of BoingBoing said the quality is good although it "requires more force to remove [the cartridges] than feels comfortable".[6]

The developers behind the RetroArch project claimed "the RetroN 5 violates several licenses". This was because the console used the Genesis Plus GX and SNES9x Next emulators to launch some games. Both of the emulators are filed under a non-commercial license, thus meaning they cannot be used in commercial products, such as the RetroN 5.[7]

RetroN HD

Manufactured alongside the RetroN 5 since May 2017, this console is basically a re-release of the original RetroN, with HD output and a more authentic-looking controller. Many critics and analysts believe that Hyperkin released the RetroN HD in response to Nintendo having discontinued the NES Classic Edition.[8] The console received a mostly positive review from GameSpot.[9]

RetroN 77

In 2017, Hyperkin announced the RetroN 77, a clone of the Atari 2600 video game console. Unlike recent clones in the Atari Flashback series, the RetroN 77 will play original cartridges as opposed to containing pre-installed games.[10] The console was expected to launch during the 2017 holiday season. The RetroN 77 comes with four pack in homebrew games; Astronomer[11], Baby[12], Muncher 77[13] and Nexion 3D[14].

Supa RetroN HD

Following Nintendo's announcement of the Super NES Classic Edition, Hyperkin announced they were developing the Supa RetroN HD, a high-definition clone of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Keeping in line with their previous RetroN consoles, the Supa RetroN HD will support original Super NES cartridges rather than featuring built-in games.[15]

Upcoming

RetroN Ult

Following Nintendo's announcement that a Nintendo 64 Classic edition won't be coming anytime soon Hyperkin announced that they will be doing a clone system for the Nintendo 64 for the first time ever. The product was announced in early June 2019 and a unit was shown at E3.

Cancelled

RetroN 4

The RetroN 4 was revealed at the 2013 Midwest Gaming Classic, on March 23.[16] It used HDMI to run games from the NES, SNES, Genesis, and the Game Boy line of portable platforms (Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance).[17] In March 2014 it was announced it would not be released, but instead they would release a newer version of it called RetroN 5, because it now had 5 slots instead of four.[18][19]

References
  1. Kohler, Chris (5 March 2013). "RetroN 4 Console Plays NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy — Through HDMI". Wired. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. Totilo, Stephen (7 June 2012). "Behold the Retron 2, A Machine that Is Both an NES and a SNES". Kotaku. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  3. "RetroN 3 Conglomerates Your NES, SNES And Sega Genesis Consoles". 2 July 2010.
  4. Pitcher, Jenna (28 November 2013). "Hyperkin delays RetroN 5 until Q1 2014". Polygon. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. Rundle, Michael (17 November 2014). "Hyperkin RetroN 5 UK Review: Your New Solution To Retro Gaming". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. Easton, Brian (19 July 2014). "With 10 consoles in one, does the Retron 5 have what it takes?". BoingBoing. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  7. Schulenberg, Thomas (28 September 2014). "RetroArch authors: RetroN 5's emulators, code violate licenses". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  8. IGN News. "With NES Classic Edition Discontinued, Retron HD Is Another Option." YouTube. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJgLDbPZrSc.
  9. Brown, Peter. "Hyperkin RetroN HD Review: The Next Best Thing." GameSpot. 17 May 2017. URL: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hyperkin-retron-hd-review/1100-6450135.
  10. Engadget. "Atari 2600 fans get the revival console they deserve." URL: https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/13/atari-2600-retron-77/
  11. "Astronomer 2600 Official website". Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  12. "Baby 2600 Official website". Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  13. "Muncher store website". Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  14. "Nexion 3D on AtariAge". Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  15. PC Magazine. "Supa RetroN HD Revealed as SNES Classic Competitor." URL: https://www.pcmag.com/news/355439/supa-retron-hd-revealed-as-snes-classic-competitor
  16. McFerran, Damien (6 March 2013). "Hyperkin's RetroN 4 To Support SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA Software". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  17. Fletcher, JC (5 March 2013). "'RetroN 4' console plays NES, SNES, Genesis, GBA over HDMI". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  18. "Hyperkin RetroN 5 Console Announced, Skipping RetroN 4". 23 March 2013.
  19. Metro.co.uk, GameCentral for (13 April 2014). "The problem with RetroN 5: the retro console – Reader's Feature".
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