Game Boy Will Be the Latest Classic Nintendo Console to Receive an Upgrade

In 2016, Nintendo delighted nostalgic gamers with the release of the NES Classic. The miniature console was too popular for its own good, selling out faster than stores could restock it. The success of the SNES Classic in fall 2017 proved that the retro console trend isn't limited to the NES. Now, peripheral manufacturer Hyperkin is revamping one of Nintendo's most iconic classic consoles before the Japanese gaming giant beats them to it. As Gizmodo reports, a new and improved Game Boy is currently in development.

Hyperkin announced the gadget, tentatively named the Ultra Game Boy, at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. It's modeled after the Game Boy Pocket and includes the same volume and contrast dials and 8-bit screen players remember.

But they will also notice some major upgrades. The body is made from sturdy aluminum, making it more resistant to dents and scratches if dropped. Hyperkin plans to add a third dial that will let users adjust the backlit LCD display, or they can turn it off completely if they want to play the way they did in 1996. Other new features include a built-in 6-hour battery, USB-C port for charging, and left and right audio output connections. Listening to mono sound through a fancy sound system may not make a big difference to most gamers, but the update will make it easier for musicians to use the console to create chiptunes.

The biggest feature that's missing is the built-in games aspect offered by the NES and SNES. Because the Ultra Game Boy is coming from Hyperkin, not Nintendo, users will need to provide the original cartridges to play it. But if you've been holding on to your game collection for the past 20 years, the new console may be a smart purchase. It's set to retail for less than $100 when it hits stores as anticipated in late summer 2018.