It's been several years since the last iteration of SNK Playmore's Neo Geo hardware, but the brand is now prepared to make its return later this year with a new handheld dubbed the Neo Geo X.
This new hardware comes from retro video game console specialist Blaze as part of a new partnership with SNK Playmore and U.S. distributor Tommo. It will include 20 built-in games, officially licensed from SNKP -- titles such as
Fatal Fury,
The King of Fighters ‘94,
Metal Slug, and more.
The hardware itself will feature a 3.5-inch LCD screen, an SD-card slot, internal speakers, and A/V output. According to
Eurogamer, the handheld's final price has yet to be decided.
Historically, the Neo Geo brand carried a reputation for being prohibitively expensive for a home console. The original system, the Neo Geo AES, dubuted in 1990 and cost a staggering $650, with its accompanying cartridges costing roughly $200 each. Subsequent systems, however, such as the Neo Geo CD, were far less expensive.
"The Neo Geo console has always been a personal favorite of mine and I am delighted to be involved with the development of this new handheld console. We hope to re-ignite the excitement many of us felt 21 years ago, in a more affordable manner, to a much wider audience," said Blaze's Jason Cooper.
Outside of this new Neo Geo device, Blaze also produces a number of other retro-themed consoles, including a series of handhelds based on classic Sega Genesis and Master System titles.