New Evercade EXP Handheld Announced, Plus Funstock Limited Edition

New Evercade EXP Handheld Announced, Plus Funstock Limited Edition

Last Updated on May 31, 2022

As promised, Blaze Entertainment has made a slew of new announcements at its anniversary event, the most important being the unveiling of the Evercade EXP handheld.

The Evercade EXP boasts a number of improvements over the original Evercade handhelds. Built-in Wi-Fi and USB-C charging port are particularly important additions, but 4GB of rememory and the 1.5Ghz processor aside, the most interesting enhancement (aside from the exterior design which certainly owes something to the Steam Deck) is the TATE (tah-tay) mode.

This brings a vertical screen option to games, useful if you’re playing a game that originally had a vertical alignment for the TV in the cabinet, and you want a more authentic playing experience.

Here are the Evercade EXP’s confirmed system specs:

  • 4.3” IPS Screen (800×480)
  • Bonus content (TBA Sep 2022)
  • TATE Mode for vertical screen orientation.
  • 1.5Ghz Processor
  • 4GB Built-in Memory
  • Stereo Speakers
  • USB-C Charging Port (cable included)
  • Built in WiFi for easy updates
  • 3.5mm Headphone Jack
  • 720p Mini HDMI Output for TV (cable not included)
  • 3000mA battery for 4-5 hours gaming
  • 192.7 mm ( 7.76″) x 78.5 mm ( 3.1″) x 20.7mm ( 0.8″)

However, you’ll have to wait until September to order the Evercade EXP, ahead of its December 2022 release when you can finally get your hands on one. September 2022 should be interesting, however, as we’ll find out what the “bonus content” available with the Evercade EXP will be. The smart money is on pre-installed games.

Whatever the case, the Evercade EXP will retail at £129.99 ($149.99 or €149.99.)

In addition an all-black limited edition of 5000 devices with a hard case and IREM and Toaplan cartridge collections included will be available from Funstock.

Pre-orders for the Evercade EXP limited edition (£179.99) open tomorrow, June 1st 2022 at Funstock, from 5pm UK time. Note, however, that the device will not be issued until December.

End of life for original Evercade handheld

While all this might be exciting news for the retro handheld community, there is a downside. With the release of the Evercade EXP, the original Evercade handheld (and it’s various-coloured alternatives) will go end-of-life and no longer be supported.

This doesn’t yet mean that future releases will not need to work with older Evercade handheld systems, however, but that remains a possibility.

Hacking the original Evercade commences in 3-2-1…

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