Handheld consoles continue to be manufactured by big names, all for the purposes of ease. Portable gaming is a huge market with even bigger demand, featuring tons of impressive consoles to choose from, like the Game Boy, Nintendo Switch 2, or the Steam Deck. Most handheld devices allow you to play a slew of new releases, but some lack variety, leaving out retro titles. Either they aren’t cartridge compatible or they can’t emulate 8 or 16-bit titles, it’s always one or the other.
In the wake of news of a new official Game Boy Color, FunnyPlaying is bringing retro gaming into the 21st century with its latest console invention. The brand, which aims at preserving retro gaming by manufacturing retro gaming parts for consoles of years gone by, just teased a tiny Game Boy clone that can truly do it all.
FunnyPlaying’s Latest Invention Seemingly Does it All
The company behind the RetroPixel Pocket, another hand-held device, shared a sneak peek of their device that both emulates and plays Game Boy cartridges. Screenshots of the invention, shared by Retro Dodo on Twitter, show similar size and functionality to the RetroPixel Pocket. It seems that this console will be called the Retro Pixel MiniGB based on images. There’s a D-pad, a few buttons to control in-game action, volume, and system settings. You can emulate some of your favorite titles via ROM files from an SD card, but this handheld is compatible with physical Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. This opens up a new world of possibilities for handheld gaming.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Pokemon Gold, Mario Tennis, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Harvest Moon 2, and so much more are now readily available to play, alongside games that you don’t have a physical cartridge for. There is no word yet on when this device will come out, or at what price, but at a time when many are keen on nastolgia in the gaming community, it is likely this product will sell like hotcakes. The original Game Boy launched in 1989, while the Color released the same year in October. This new invention might just shake up the world of handheld gaming for the better, exposing you and me to a new world of gaming possibilities.
The company behind the RetroPixel Pocket, another hand-held device, shared a sneak peek of their device that both emulates and plays Game Boy cartridges.
Nostalgia and convenience have been a driving force for the creation and purchase of many new handheld consoles. While traditionally, stationary home consoles like the PlayStation or Xbox continue to sell more in total unit volume, the efficiency and portability of handheld styles can’t be beat. The freedom of being able to pick up and play wherever you are is something that was introduced by Mattel back in 1976 with the release of Auto Race.
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The console came to fruition when product development engineer George J. Klose found himself fiddling with a standard calculator. From there, the idea of a whenever, wherever console was born. The consoles that stemmed from Klose’s design were comfortable in the hand and allowed people to access their favorite titles anytime. Today, people still clearly crave that comfort and easy access. The Nintendo Switch sold 156.59 million units worldwide as of June 30, 2026, according to a statement from Nintendo. The numbers don’t lie.
We Need More Physical Media
In a world where physical media is beginning to die out, FunnyPlaying’s invention is much-needed. It reminds us that, every once in a while, we need to dust off our old favorites and take them for a spin. Cartridges and discs used to be the norm for gaming. Popping open a case, wiping it off with the hem of your shirt before popping it into your Wii or blowing on the base of a copy of Pokemon Emerald to remove the dust blocking the connection were core gaming memories that children today can’t really experience with consoles of the 21st century.
Cases used to be collectibles and cartridges were something to flaunt, a status symbol for the well-initiated. Physical games provide tangible value, showcasing a physical manifestation of your love for a franchise. It also forgoes any internet barriers, letting people play the games they want without restraint. Digital libraries will disappear on you, a la the Wii and 3DS storefront shutdowns, but physical copies are forever a part of your collection. Physical games, on the other hand, encourage trade with friends, fostering a sense of community and comradery around specific titles that bring genuine joy.
The push to rid our shelves of physical games was only amplified with news that Sony announced it would stop producing PlayStation consoles with physical game discs starting in January 2028. This move sparked outrage from gamers and physical media-lovers everywhere, signaling a move away from tradition. Perhaps in the wake of this news, FunnyPlaying is hoping to revive the need for physical game media, keeping the retro medium alive.
