April 17, 2026
Insert coin to start the flame war
NeoGeo AES+: SNK announces reissue of retro console without emulation
Hype vs boycott: 'Get a CRT!' fights as Saudi-owned SNK revives a luxe legend
TLDR: SNK’s Neo Geo AES+ returns in 2026 with hardware-based authenticity, HDMI, and €80 cartridges. The community split instantly: hype over a faithful, cheaper-than-eBay revival versus boycotts over ownership, CRT purists demanding tube TVs, and bargain-hunters saying a MiSTer board does it for less.
SNK and Plaion are reviving the ultra-exclusive ’90s Neo Geo as the AES+, promising no software emulation—instead, a custom chip recreates the original hardware for that arcade-at-home feel. It ships Nov 12, 2026, with cartridges like Metal Slug and King of Fighters 2002, HDMI up to 1080p, and full support for original carts. Collectors are buzzing; wallets are sweating.
But the comments? Absolutely on fire. One camp shouts boycott, pointing to SNK’s Saudi ownership and declaring “not a cent.” Another camp’s all-in on accuracy, saying ASICs = authenticity, and arguing €80 per game is a steal compared to the wild used market where some carts cost car money. Meanwhile, the CRT purists crash the party yelling that old games look “wrong” on modern TVs unless you go full shader wizard—translation: some say you’ll need an old-school tube TV for the “real” vibe. And then there’s the budget brigade: why pay €200–€300 when a MiSTer FPGA (a hobby board that mimics old consoles) does Neo Geo for cheaper? Neo Geo nostalgia meets 2026 price tags, and everyone’s got a hot take.
Jokes flew about “cartridge mortgages,” “status symbol consoles,” and “Insert Coin to start a flame war.” Retro dream or pricey cosplay? The thread can’t decide, but it’s loud either way.
Key Points
- •SNK and Plaion announced the NeoGeo AES+, an ASIC-based reissue of the 1990s console that avoids software emulation.
- •The AES+ launches with 10 cartridge games (including Metal Slug, The King of Fighters 2002, Samurai Showdown V Special) in faithful packaging.
- •The console supports classic AV and HDMI up to 1080p and adds savable high scores, BIOS menu options, and quick-setting switches.
- •Included in the box are a wired arcade stick, power adapter, and HDMI cable; optional accessories include a replica gamepad, revised memory card, and wireless arcade stick.
- •Pre-orders are open now; deliveries start November 12, 2026, priced at just under €200 (standard) and just under €300 (white anniversary edition with Metal Slug), with games around €80 each.