Ayaneo’s vertical-format handheld, the Ayaneo Pocket Vert, is now live on Indiegogo and open for purchase. The concept is simple: take the existing Pocket form factor that’s been popular with retro gamers, flip it into a portrait-oriented layout, and tailor it specifically for classic games designed around vertical screens — shoot ’em ups, arcade vertical classics, puzzle games, and mobile ports.
This isn’t just a prototype teaser any more. The Pocket Vert campaign launched on Indiegogo page itself pitches the device as “top of the line” for players who have been asking for a dedicated vertical device rather than the usual horizontal handheld format.
The Indiegogo campaign reached funding in under 9 hours, although at this stage only the 12GB/256GB model remains.
Another retro device with a vertical display?
Vertical screens aren’t new, but they’ve always felt like something of an odd fit on most modern handhelds. Traditional landscape devices tend to crop or squeeze classic vertical arcade games, which were often designed around tall, narrow playfields. On original arcade cabinets, that vertical space was essential — it defined the experience of shooters and many classic titles.
With the Pocket Vert, Ayaneo aims to address that by flipping the layout. Controls remain in a familiar handheld arrangement, but the screen orientation matches the aspect ratio many older games expect. For anyone who’s spent time tinkering with emulator settings to get vertical titles looking right, that alone is an appealing idea.
Specs and what to expect
The Indiegogo page doesn’t bury the lead: the Pocket Vert is positioned as a powerful vertical handheld. While exact specifications can vary by configuration, the campaign highlights include:
- A dedicated vertical display designed for arcade and portrait-oriented titles
- Controls mapped with retro gameplay in mind
- Hardware capable of emulating a broad range of classic systems
You can expect some tweaks to the vertical layout that go beyond simply rotating the screen, too.
A niche backed by tangible interest
When Ayaneo first announced the Pocket Vert late last year, it was greeted with a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism. A lot of the conversation focused on whether a vertical screen would actually make a meaningful difference for handheld retro play — and whether enough people would buy into that idea to justify production.
The Indiegogo campaign suggests there is a market here. By putting units up for preorder and hitting the funding threshold quickly enough to start shipments, Ayaneo has turned vertical gaming from a concept into a product that people are committing money to.
But where will this fit in your collection?
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time with arcade shooters, vertical puzzle games, or any library where height matters more than width, the Pocket Vert looks like a thoughtful response to a long-standing gripe: handheld screens are almost always too wide and not tall enough.
I’ve always found that portrait orientation changes how you play certain classics. My main exposure to this has been with the TATE mode on the Evercade EXP, but various other devices have been released over the past few years with a vertical display orientation.
With the Pocket Vert arriving on Indiegogo now, that experience is finally available in a handheld designed around that idea rather than adapted to it.
As with all early hardware campaigns, it’s worth tempering expectations around delivery timelines and firmware maturity. But from a design perspective, the Pocket Vert feels like a natural progression for retro handhelds — and one that’s likely to spark further discussion about how we interact with arcade classics outside their original cabinets.
You can learn more on the Ayaneo Pocket Vert Indiegogo page.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
