Game Boy Advance
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Game Boy Advance.
Latest coverage
Fan Remake Mega Man DXtreme Reimagines 2000 Game Boy Color Game 'Mega Man Xtreme' with New Features
Fan developer Tomycase has released Mega Man DXtreme, a PC remake of the 2000 Game Boy Color game Mega Man Xtreme. The remake features updated visuals, refined gameplay, widescreen presentation, and new features like adjustable difficulty and customizable checkpoints. Mega Man DXtreme is available as a free download.
Poll: Box Art Brawl: Yoshi's Universal Gravitation (GBA)
This edition of Box Art Brawl pits the regional box art for Yoshi's Universal Gravitation against each other. The article details the differences between the European, North American, and Japanese versions, highlighting the game's unique tilt-based gameplay mechanic and its release in 2004/2005.
ChatGPT Images 2.0 is better at rendering non-Latin text
OpenAI has released ChatGPT Images 2.0, an updated image generation model with improved instruction following, text rendering, and object placement capabilities. The new system features reasoning abilities, allowing it to perform tasks like web searches and output verification. It shows significant gains in rendering non-Latin text and is more flexible with aspect ratios and resolution, making it potentially useful for game prototyping and storyboarding.
The Magic Returns in Hogwarts Legacy’s Wizarding World
This article analyzes the evolution of Harry Potter games, from early 2000s titles like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on platforms such as PlayStation and Game Boy Color, to the modern open-world experience of Hogwarts Legacy. It highlights the significant graphical and gameplay advancements, comparing the visually rich PlayStation 5 version with the more limited but still charming Nintendo Switch Lite experience.
Street Fighter 6 director talks working on Zelda: Minish Cap, says Shigeru Miyamoto is “a North Star guiding all game creators”
Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama reflected on his experience working on The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and the influence of Shigeru Miyamoto. Nakayama stated that Miyamoto serves as a guiding figure for all game creators and that the advice he received during the development of the Game Boy Advance title significantly shaped his approach to game development.
Sigma Star Saga DX launch trailer
WayForward has released a launch trailer for Sigma Star Saga DX, a hybrid shoot 'em up and RPG originally released for the Game Boy Advance. The enhanced DX version for Nintendo Switch and PC features improvements like a rebalanced EXP system and new bonus content, including a vocal theme song. Players take on the role of Ian Recker, a double agent infiltrating the Krill empire.
Obscure GBA Genre Mashup Returns on PS5, But It's Not Cheap
WayForward has released an emulated version of the 2005 Game Boy Advance genre-blending RPG shooter, Sigma Star Saga, on PlayStation 5. The 'DX' version includes quality-of-life features like save states and rewind, alongside gameplay improvements such as a rebalanced EXP system and decreased random encounters. Despite the enhancements, the $19.99 price point is considered steep for a 20-year-old title.
Sigma Star Saga DX Review - Retro Hybrid Still Divides
Sigma Star Saga DX, an updated release of the 2005 Game Boy Advance title, offers a unique blend of top-down exploration and shoot 'em up combat. While its narrative and charming pixel art are highlights, the game suffers from repetitive shmup segments, unclear navigation, and significant backtracking, making it a compelling but flawed retro hybrid.
PS5 Remaster of Unique Shooter Out Today on PS Store
Sigma Star Saga DX, a remaster of the 2005 Game Boy Advance RPG space shooter, is now available for PlayStation 5. Developed by WayForward and Mighty Rabbit, the remaster includes improvements such as a decreased random encounter rate, rebalanced EXP system, and an updated script. The game is priced at $19.99 on the PlayStation Store.
Sigma Star Saga DX Review 🚀
Sigma Star Saga DX, a remake of the 2005 Game Boy Advance title, offers a fun blend of overhead exploration and shoot 'em up combat. While the in-game audio can be tinny, the gorgeous sprite animations and modernized gameplay elements make it a compelling retro experience on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Now Playing at SUPERJUMP: Issue 39
SUPERJUMP's Issue 39 features the team discussing their current gaming experiences. Titles highlighted include the addictive digging game DigDigDrill on Nintendo Switch, the expansive JRPG Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory, and the classic platformer Rayman. Other games discussed are Shin Megami Tensei, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the racing game BallisticNG with its new DLC, Red Dead Redemption via backwards compatibility, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the survival game Cairn, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Dead Space Remake, and Borderlands 3.
Interview: Polishing Up Sigma Star Saga DX
WayForward Creative Director Matt Bozon discusses the development and enhancements of Sigma Star Saga DX, a remaster of the Game Boy Advance cult classic. He details how lessons learned from previous remasters and original development challenges influenced the bug-free release, which includes rebalancing, quality-of-life features, and preserved multiple endings. Sigma Star Saga DX is set to launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC on April 7, 2026.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen devs found that "the programming sucks" in the original RPGs, but needed Nintendo's help on the remakes because they "hadn't gotten any better at programming since then"
Developers from Game Freak admitted that the programming in the original Pokemon Red and Blue was poor, making the remakes Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen difficult to develop. They required assistance from Nintendo, particularly for implementing the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, as the team felt their programming skills had not improved since the original titles.
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo is coming to the Commodore 64/128 by RetroGL! [UPDATE]
RetroGL is continuing development on bringing Super Street Fighter II Turbo to the Commodore 64 and 128 platforms using his RetroFighter engine. A new video showcases updates including most backdrops, music, enhanced bonus rounds, and improved animations. This homebrew adaptation is based on the Game Boy Advance version and is planned for EasyFlash or Kung Fu Flash cartridges.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen's recaps, new Pokedex and lower difficulty were all designed to bring in more girls and elderly players, director of the remakes says in resurfaced interview
Junichi Masuda, director of the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remakes, revealed in a 2004 interview that design changes were made to attract a wider audience, including girls and elderly players. These changes included lowering the overall difficulty and redesigning the Pokédex to be more like a notebook.
DLSS 5 Isn't Anywhere Near As Impressive As V-Rally 3 on the Game Boy Advance
The article criticizes Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, comparing its AI-generated enhancements unfavorably to the capabilities of the Game Boy Advance and its game V-Rally 3. It suggests that older, less powerful hardware might offer a more satisfying experience than current AI-driven graphical techniques, using Starfield as an example of a game potentially harmed by such technology.
Record Sales, Declining Stock Prices, Production Decreases: Is Switch 2 A Massive Success Or Not?
Despite record-breaking sales in the US, Nintendo is reportedly cutting Switch 2 production by 30% due to weaker-than-expected overseas demand and holiday sales. Analysts suggest this is a calculated move for inventory stabilization amidst challenging macroeconomic conditions, rather than a sign of failure. The console's success is attributed to strong initial demand and titles like Pokemon Pokopia, but future growth may depend on major first-party releases and strategic pricing.
US: Nintendo Switch 2 remains 2nd fastest selling hardware in tracked history
Mat Piscatella of Circana reports that the Nintendo Switch remains the second fastest-selling video game hardware in the United States, despite sales not meeting internal expectations during the Christmas season. The Game Boy Advance holds the record for the fastest-selling hardware in tracked US history.
Nintendo Reducing Switch 2 Production After Weaker-Than-Expected Holiday - Report
Nintendo is reportedly reducing production of the Nintendo Switch 2 to 4 million units this quarter, a significant cut from the original 6 million, due to weaker-than-expected holiday sales. Despite this adjustment, the company is still expected to meet its annual sales forecast of 20 million units. Sales of titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Pokopia are being monitored to potentially influence future production decisions.
What we've been playing - "It's like Supermarket Sweep if you can get up quick enough"
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences, with one player finding Slay the Spire 2 challenging and frustrating due to RNG. Another discusses their extensive playtime in the live service game Marathon on PlayStation 5, focusing on creating personal goals and engaging in unique player interactions. A third player revisits Spyro Adventure on Game Boy Advance, appreciating its continued difficulty, while another expresses admiration for Marathon's atmosphere and design but acknowledges a lack of time to fully commit to it.
