What Saved the NeoGeo AES+ From Cancellation? + More Retro News!
The NeoGeo AES+ was delayed—but how close did it come to disappearing entirely? Plaion reveals how an AI-driven chip shortage threatened the retro console’s future and forced a redesign to keep the project alive.
In Bit By Bit episode 153, we also explore Evercade’s upcoming James Pond, The Last Ninja and International Karate collections, an Atari 2600 cartridge build for the Myst demake, and the arrival of Nightdive’s SiN: Reloaded.
Then we step inside Pokémon Snap through an unofficial Quest VR project, explore the Atari computer that might have been through JagOS, celebrate the recovery of a long-lost Xevious commercial, and check out GameStop’s Capcom Super Pocket bundle.
Does the new explanation restore your confidence in the NeoGeo AES+, or has the wait changed your mind? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe to GenXGrownUp for more retro gaming news, classic hardware, and unexpected discoveries.
#RetroGaming #NeoGeo #BitByBit #GenXGrownUp #Evercade #Atari2600 #SiNReloaded #PokemonSnap
– LINKS
NeoGeo AES+ Explanation – https://tinyurl.com/hzy38bmj
New Evercade Carts – https://tinyurl.com/37mh8w9h
Myst on an Atari 2600 cartridge – https://tinyurl.com/2tyeecef
SiN: Reloaded launches – https://tinyurl.com/ydwz9eh9
Pokémon Snap fan project reaches Quest VR – https://tinyurl.com/37h7pdxd
JagOS imagines the unreleased Atari Painter – https://tinyurl.com/mtu8rh9s
Lost Xevious arcade commercial recovered – https://tinyurl.com/yj5f2b9y
GameStop Capcom Super Pocket bundle – https://tinyurl.com/5xa8wmtf
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– CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
00:22 – NeoGeo AES+ Explanation
05:41 – New Evercade Carts
07:28 – Myst on an Atari 2600 cartridge
08:41 – SiN: Reloaded launches
09:26 – Pokémon Snap fan project reaches Quest VR
10:48 – JagOS imagines the unreleased Atari Painter
12:49 – Lost Xevious arcade commercial recovered
14:51 – GameStop Capcom Super Pocket bundle
@MasterTrollda
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Yeah, the voiceovers were epic in the 70s.
@MrWrightWay
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
4:27 the wright way 🙂
@MrWrightWay
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
They have been very upfront.
@captain3186
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
How do you keep taking orders for a Product potentially never making it out the door? That's kind of a Sketchy Kickstarter
@Charlie-Cat.
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Hi George
Oh man! I love the Neo-Geo. I personally been playing the Neo-Geo for 36 years and its always a blast playing the games. 8^)
The first time I seen and played on a Neo-Geo was back in 1990. I was 7 years old and was having our Sunday afternoon lunch with my family at a local Dairy Queen in Paramus, New Jersey. When all of a sudden a video game arcade distributor was in the DQ parking lot rolling off their truck a "Big Red" arcade cabinet and installing it in the front entrance of the estate.
When I finished lunch, I ask the manager what this unit was. He said, "its called Neo Geo MVS. The MVS means Multi Video System and this unit can play up to 4 games in oversized cartridges that fit into four boards similar like you play in your game system at home". At first I was really amazed by the technology, then came the first game I played George.
That game was Magician Lord. Man! What a fantastic game it was. I never played anything like it and it was so challenging. I must've spent up to $5 Dollars in quarters just to defeat the first stage. I was so into Magician Lord that during the whole school week It was the top interest outside of school work that made be think of how I was going to defeat the next stage/level when we revisited Dairy Queen. What a fun game it certainly was.
That day really changed my gaming experience and made me a Neo-Geo buff ever since George. Since then I made it my mission once I found out a home console was available to eventually purchase an AES console to have in my home. Since then, I builded up a collection of Neo-Geo games, consoles, accessories, you name it to have in my pad.
Never a dull moment playing Neo-Geo and glad you enjoy it just as much as I do bro. 8^)
Anthony…
@NotMuchHere
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
i hate putting up money for things that dont exist yet and i wont get for 30 days … too much vaporware seen over the years. Isnt this system very old, what would not be available, it seems odd they would need the fastest modernest chips/memory.
@geoffreychauvin1474
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
The biggest issue I take with this is that it's not the device they promised anymore. It's no longer as close to 1:1 as they promised initially.
@QunMang
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
That Evercade is tempting for sure, but I just bought and am waiting for the Fightbox R10 Pro (yes, I used your code! Sorry though, I preferred the standard black over the GXG art, not that it's bad, just a preference). I'm pretty sure it ships from China, so I'm probably in for a wait.
Also- YES! I've been pronouncing Xevious correctly all this time. ZEE-vee-us, not XEH-vee-us as a certain author/youtuber pronounces it.
@VintageYakyu
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
So the Neo Geo+ debacle wasn't just an instance of "genuinely sorry", it was nearly cancelled.
@ChrisStoneinator
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Lmao ts definitely still getting cancelled. They can't even afford to refund me. They've invested the mandatory upfront preorder payments for the Ultimate Edition into R&D and tooling, whether they planned to or not. Then they did such a shit job of communicating that I reckon about half of those unknowing investors asked for their money back. Now they've got to survive to not only launch this thing, but publish more software, as the Ultimate Edition is surely a borderline loss leader. It's not fucking happening. They seem like good guys but they've fucked it
I hope I'm wrong, I'll buy a few of the games if and when it drops. But I invested in an OG system and a few starter games, I don't need the repro system anymore.
@kcarvell
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
The Xevious commercial voiceover may have been Danny Dark.
@heinzpilot
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
I hope this all works out. I'm one of the people that paid $1,000 up front for the ultimate package. I would really still like this if it's going to be like they said at the Tokyo show. I will keep my order active and not request a refund. Hopefully I don't get screwed.
@leiaorgana5491
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Thank you!
@ReptilianRichardRamirez
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
I think people are upset because typically you figure this stuff out prior to taking peoples money and setting a concrete release date. It's not like this AI caused shortage thing is a surprise. Everyone and their grandmother understands the chip shortage which is occurring right now, so they should have seen this coming in advance and planned for it.
@gregwesson8815
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Gideon of the C64 Ultimate had to rework the board due to a chip change as well. It's not easy and frustrating for the maker. Such perseverance should be admired.
@RetroMarkyRM
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
The A.I grift strikes again!!
@1969cougareliminator
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
I'm glad Plaion is being upfront about the supply issues. It's just crazy to me how AI is impacting chips across the spectrum since I am sure what Plaion needed isn't something "high end" nor something that needs the latest and great lithography. Thanks for the news!
@eistevensonphotography6094
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
I think the announcer in the Xevious commercial is Tony Jay…,maybe.
@TedAdamGreen
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Great stuff again this week George!
The commercial was a fun find
And great perspective on the Neo Geo+ as well as the Evercade Super Pocket package deal.
Keep it up
👊🏻😎🕹️📺👾🥳
Ps. I have never met an online commentator that used the word “shill” as a derogatory statement who wasn’t an idiot. It’s a cheap shot for a hater with a very limited vocabulary and even more limited argument points. When I see them call anyone that, for me it immediately invalidates them and their opinions.
You are not a Shill nor a Hater
You are the Real Deal … served sometimes with a dash of spice
#StayGrumpMyFriend
@ericrehm3997
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Given what this is does it really need the latest and greatest chips ?
@ronm6585
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Thanks George.
@lekanraposte6732
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
For me, that new NeoGeo is way, way too expensive. But it's not the console itself. It's the games. Even if the modern prices are "dirt cheap" compared to the originals, 130$CAN plus taxes for a single game is too much. I'll stick with Evercade instead.
@cyrollan
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
As a Jaguar owner, I find that pretty rad.
@cryptocoffee13
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
yEAH. Great stuff. The Jag Painter sounds very interesting. The AES situation makes sense, I hope it is able to release on the new timeline, it is one of those things where you pay ahead of time and it can be tough to deal with these types of things for the buyer and the seller. I think it will turn out just fine for the AES once it does come out and is in the hands of eager buyers. The Evercade has had a banner year with great carts, a new Nexus device and more Neo Geo carts coming next year. That bundle is a fantastic value for those looking to start with the Evercade line of products, and if you can get the Neo Geo version that comes with the exclusive black carts, that is a great deal for anyone who was looking forward to the AES, you can play these right now.
@edtruthseeker3337
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Spot on George. I am an Electrical Engineer. It is VERY true that certain devices are hard to get in this day and time. I enjoyed your presentation as always. Plaoin will get it together, without a doubt. Thanks for the Evercade updates. I support them and buy everything that they release. Thanks brother from a 59 year old Gen X brother. See ya next week.
@mikesilva3868
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Good video 😊
@OriginalGrasshopper
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
I hope the new Neo Geo+ chips don’t encounter a shortage, too. A lot can happen in the next ten months. I am keeping my fingers crossed for them.
@jeremiahthomas8140
September 28, 2026 at 9:18 am
Cool commercial. I wonder if Digital Eclipse could add it to Atari 50 to go along with the Dig Dig arcade commercial.