Evercade is refreshing its hardware lineup this July with the launch of the Evercade VS-R home console and Evercade EXP-R handheld. The cartridge-based platforms are receiving fresh coats of paint, while the EXP-R is also getting an updated price tag. The Evercade EXP-R and VS-R will be sold for only $100 each.
Preorders are not yet open, but are expected to begin on April 30 through the official Evercade website. We’d also expect the hardware to be available to order at Amazon at some point. The EXP-R and VS-R have charcoal gray color schemes with turquoise accents. They each will come bundled with a cartridge, but specifics have not been revealed just yet.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Evercade family of systems, it’s a retro gaming platform that lets you play over 50 cartridge-based collections. The original Evercade handheld released back in 2020, and Blaze Entertainment has iterated on the Evercade hardware multiple times since, including with the Evercade VS home console, Evercade EXP handheld, and last year’s spin-off $60 handhelds, the Taito and Capcom Super Pockets.
The price cut for the EXP-R is a pretty enticing part of the refresh, as the existing Evercade EXP costs $150. The Evercade EXP will still be the premier handheld in the Evercade lineup in some respects, but the EXP-R has the same premium design for the most part. The two notable omissions with the EXP-R: You will not get the 18 built-in Capcom games, and the EXP-R drops the HDMI output, which means you cannot connect it to your TV. The EXP-R, however, will add a new textured grip that could make it more comfortable than the original EXP.
Outside of those differences, the EXP-R will have the same integral functionality, including TATE mode, which allows you to turn the handheld to the side to play vertical-oriented arcade games in the proper aspect ratio. Evercade will be releasing an Evercade TATE Grip alongside the handheld for $20. The grip will be compatible with the EXP and EXP-R. Just like the EXP, the EXP-R has built-in Wi-Fi support for firmware updates and a 4.3-inch IPS screen.
The VS-R, meanwhile, is a home console that can connect to your TV and supports 1080p output. The VS-R includes one controller, and additional VS-R controllers can be purchased separately. The console also supports the existing VS controllers. Like the VS, the VS-R has two cartridge slots, and there are exclusive secrets to be found by utilizing this feature on either home console.
Evercade’s library has grown to over 500 retro games across 50 cartridges, so if you’re looking for an official way to play some of the most iconic games of the past few decades, these cartridge-based gadgets are certainly worth considering. We’ve reviewed the Evercade EXP, Evercade VS, and Super Pocket. You can check out those reviews below. You can also head over to Amazon to take a look at existing cartridge compilations, which start at $20.
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