The PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 compatible Analogue Duo has been three years in the making.
We reported on the upcoming Analogue Duo way back in 2020, but supply chain issues and the knock-on effects of lockdowns acted to postpone the release of the NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 replacement.
Well, today it’s finally ready to pre-order, albeit in limited quantities.
Shipping with the device – which ships in 2023 – are a HDMI cable and USB-C cable, along with 18W fast charging worldwide USB-C power supply. The console is currently available in US and Japanese versions only – there is no UK/EU version. Orders are limited to two per person. 8BitDo controllers are also available.
Analogue hardware relies on FPGA rather than emulation, and the this console runs original media (CD-ROMs and Hucards). Consequently, it’s the closest you can get to the original console experience.
Full Analogue Duo Console Specification
The originally proposed features were as follows.
Compatibility
- HuCARDS & TURBOCHIP, CD-ROM², SUPER CD-ROM², ARCADE CD-ROM²
- Region Free
- Worldwide Compatibility (PSU: 50-60hz, 100-240 volts)
Video
- HDMI 1080p/720p/480p
- NTSC & PAL Support
- Lag free, zero signal degradation
Audio
- 48KHz 16 bit
- Digital audio via HDMI
- Headphone jack, 3.5mm with volume wheel
Special features of the Analogue Duo
- Original-style hucard/turbochip cartridge slot
- Original-style PC Engine controller port
- CD-ROM drive
- 2x USB for wired controllers and accessories
- SD card firmware updating [via Duo’s SD card slot]
- Bluetooth, 2.4g and 2 USB inputs
- Supports Analogue DAC
The website announced the console with the description:
Duo is the ultimate all-in-one NEC video game system. Duo features an original-style cartridge slot, controller port and CD-ROM drive. This means it is compatible with all game formats: Hucards, TurboChips, and CD-ROM. Plus the original hardware and accessories.
It’s a promising concept, and far from being vapourware, it’s one that is finally about to materialise. You can order the Analogue Duo now for $249.99 and expect it at your door later this year.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.