Blaze Entertainment launches Evercade Nexus retro handheld for $199.99

Blaze Entertainment launched the Evercade Nexus premium retro handheld in the US and Europe through Amazon, Funstock, Best Buy, GameStop and other authorised retailers for $199.99, £169.99 or €199.99.

XiaomiToday reports buyers receive the console with a Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack cartridge containing Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, plus a USB-C to USB-A charging cable and a quick-start guide. Yahoo Tech says the Nexus has a 5.89-inch IPS display with 840 x 512 resolution and peak brightness exceeding 500 nits, the biggest screen Evercade has used on a handheld. It runs on a quad-core 1.5GHz processor with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a 5,000mAh battery rated at more than five hours, charging via USB-C.

Yahoo Tech says the control layout offers a D-pad, face buttons, two analogue sticks, bumpers and triggers alongside Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth audio, a 3.5mm jack and stereo speakers. The Nexus measures 215 × 111 x 34mm and weighs 410g, making it bigger than the Evercade EXP and EXP-R but smaller and lighter than a Nintendo Switch 2. It has a black colour scheme, a customisable RGB illuminated logo, rear grips with raised ‘A’ symbols and textured rubber pads to keep the device from shifting.

The Nexus is a proper handheld rather than a jacket-pocket gadget, with symmetrical analogue sticks closer to a PlayStation pad, Yahoo Tech describes. The design includes rear grips with raised ‘A’ symbols nodding to the Evercade logo and textured rubber pads where hands land; it feels bulkier but more solid than the slippery Switch 2. The Nexus D-pad is symmetrically placed opposite the face buttons, a big step up from the older EXP pad, and is light and responsive for fighting games.

The screen is not OLED, so it lacks deep blacks, but colours pop, contrast is solid, and older games look crisp without losing grit. Yahoo Tech says the buttons are touch clicky and light and lack the premium feel of pricier handhelds, though the controls never distract.

TATE mode returns on the Nexus, turning the display for vertical arcade games, and the bigger screen makes this mode easier to use than on the Evercade EXP. It works better than the Switch 2 for vertical games such as Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark.

Yahoo Tech says Evercade offers no downloads, no games vanishing from a subscription service, and no need to hunt for ROMs. It adds that the Nexus plays all existing properly licensed games in the Evercade library with authentic emulation and physical cartridges, ushering the brand into a new 3D era. XiaomiToday reports the Nexus supports over 700 games and more than 80 cartridges released since 2020, covering Activision, Taito and RARE plus franchises including DOOM, Tomb Raider, Duke Nukem and Legacy of Kain.

Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie appear on the Nexus as new native ports offering widescreen support, higher resolution and 60fps instead of emulated N64 ROMs. The native ports include modern control options and Stop ‘n’ Swop content. Siliconera says the two-pack cartridge headlines the Nexus hardware bundle and Blaze’s holiday lineup.

Yahoo Tech and XiaomiToday report EverSync lets two Evercade Nexus consoles link up for local wireless multiplayer on separate screens using only one cartridge, without Wi-Fi or internet. Yahoo Tech explains that only one player needs the cartridge, because the second console receives the game from the first, though a second Nexus is required. Siliconera compared EverSync to the Switch 2’s GameShare and said its staff could not test the feature. Siliconera says EverSync has more limited appeal, and when future devices support the technology, more people are likely to own multiple Nexus consoles and play with friends and family.

The Gadgeteer reports the standalone Evercade DOOM Collection cartridge costs $29.99, arrives October 30, 2026 and is compatible with all Evercade consoles and Super Pocket hardware. The Gadgeteer adds the single physical cartridge contains DOOM, DOOM II, TNT: Evilution, The Plutonia Experiment, Master Levels for DOOM II, No Rest for the Living, SIGIL, SIGIL II and the DOOM Deathmatch Pack.

The limited-edition DOOM Nexus is capped at 3,000 units worldwide, exclusive to Funstock, costs $249.99 and excludes the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack, The Gadgeteer says. The DOOM Nexus is in DOOM colors and is a separate purchase from the $29.99 cartridge, including a DOOM-themed handheld, special big-box cartridge, hard-shell carry case, comic, keyring, poster and numbered certificate of authenticity.

Yahoo Tech reports a 64 Edition costs $229.99 / £189.99 and a Doom Edition costs $249.99 / £199.99, above the $199.99 / £169.99 base console. The Gadgeteer says the DOOM Collection is cartridge #11 in Evercade’s blue home computer range and ships in a unique red colorway inspired by the game. It contains eight campaigns plus a separate multiplayer map pack. Blaze has announced widescreen support, local multiplayer modes, control schemes, visual options, violence settings and Evercade-specific modifiers for the DOOM Collection, and The Gadgeteer says these announced features have not been tested or judged.

The Gadgeteer says the limited DOOM Nexus is for collectors who want the newest handheld as a collector object and is not required to play the DOOM Collection. For existing Evercade or Super Pocket owners, the $29.99 DOOM cartridge is the direct route to the release, while the limited package solves a different problem.

Siliconera reports Blaze’s Evercade ecosystem includes the VS home system for TV play, EXP handhelds for portable play, and lower-cost Super Pockets; the Nexus is a premium device with a big screen and expanded controls. Siliconera adds all Evercade cartridges remain compatible with the economical alternatives despite the Nexus’s higher price. The outlet says existing users will find the interface familiar because the Euro-style D-pad and menu system carry over from earlier models.

Yahoo Tech reports Evercade balanced features and specs to keep the Nexus affordable rather than directly competing with the Switch 2 or cheap emulation handhelds. Yahoo Tech says Evercade sells a curated, licensed, collectable way to play classic arcade and console games, making the Nexus a tempting upgrade for EXP-R or VS-R owners and an easy recommendation for newcomers.

The Nexus lacks an HDMI port and a sleep or suspend mode, and boot times take around 40 seconds, Yahoo Tech reports. The original Evercade EXP had a Mini HDMI port, but the Nexus is strictly handheld and cannot plug into a TV. Evercade already has the VS and VS-R for TV play, so keeping products separate has a business case. Yahoo Tech says the lack of sleep mode means users must power down and restart every time, and a future update could fix this.

XiaomiToday reports the Nexus features dual analogue sticks providing additional control options for 32-bit and 64-bit games. XiaomiToday reports optional accessories include a hard-shell EVA carrying case with room for six cartridges and a screen protector kit. Blaze Entertainment CEO Andrew Byatt called the launch a huge moment and an exciting new chapter for Evercade, highlighting Banjo-Kazooie and DOOM. He said, “Evercade Nexus has arrived, marking a huge moment for us and an exciting new chapter for Evercade.”