Android handhelds could be totally transformed thanks to new app

Owners of Android-powered handhelds may rejoice as retro gaming just got easier with the release of EmulationStation-DE on Android.

If you are the owner of an Android handheld such as the Pimax Portal or Ayn Odin 2, then you might be looking for a better way to manage and run your retro emulators. Or perhaps you just have an Android phone and Bluetooth controller and want to relive your childhood. Either way, thanks to the latest release from EmulationStation, all of that is now within reach.

EmulationStation is one of the most popular emulation managers, powering all-in-one retro gaming setups such as RetroPi among many others. EmulationStation-DE is the “desktop” version, and now the developers have launched a brand new version specifically for Android devices.

Retro gaming just got more accessible

Unlike other versions of EmulationStation, the Android version is paid for, and has to be accessed by the Amazon store, as Google has so far declined to allow to app to be added to the Play Store. The app costs only $5.39, however, which gives users access to a massive range of emulation engines, ranging from the Atari 2600 to the PlayStation Vita.

The developers have noted that this is a fairly early version so far, so some bugs and issues are likely to crop up. Users of the Ayn Odin 2 in particular are subject to a known glitch involving the way some specific emulators such as Saturn.emu and DuckStation handle directory files, but there are workarounds for this problem, and developers are working on a more permanent fix.

Other issues involve a slow start-up time on some Android devices and issues with Android’s default on-screen keyboard. These minor issues do not detract from the achievement, and Android users can look forward to a much smoother retro gaming experience.