The team at EmuDeck, the popular retro gaming installer for handheld PCs, is to release its first hardware product, removing the need for Valve, Lenovo, or Asus gaming hardware, and providing a solution that can plug directly into a TV or monitor.
The EmuDeck Machine as it will be known is an upcoming, crowdfunded mini-PC that will run Bazzite, a Linux OS that operates identically to the SteamOS found on the Steam Deck.
The design of the machine is reminiscent of Sega’s Dreamcast console with four USB ports for controllers on the front panel.
The EmuDeck Machine comes in two configurations, the EM1 and EM2 with considerably differing price points. The entry-level EM1 will cost €299 / £257 / $322, while the EM2 is much more expensive at €609 / £512 / $675, reflecting a dramatic boost in the hardware internals.
The Machine is a mini-PC that is pre-loaded with Bazzite and can be connected to your Steam account just like on a Steam Deck and can be used in an emulation set-up in exactly the same way as EmuDeck will be pre-installed and configured to run alongside Steam, allowing you to play your retro games from the Steam Library.
The IndieGogo page is open about setting expectations for both machines in terms of the kinds of titles that will be playable. Games such as Cyberpunbk 2077 and Elden Ring will simply not be playable on the EM1 but if all you want is a simple solution to play your PlayStation 2 collection via PSXS2 then the lower-spec device will be suitable.
Below are the specs and benchmarks for both machines. Shipping for both units is expected to begin in December of this year and the console will be bundled with a GameSir Nova Lite controller.
EM1
EM2
CPU
Intel N97
AMD Ryzen 8600G
GPU
Intel
Radeon 760M Overclocked
USB
2 USB 2.0 + 2 USB 3.0
2 USB 2.0 + 2 USB 3.0 + 1 USB C
RAM
16GB DDR5 4800MTS
16GB DDR5 6000 MTS
SSD
512GB NVME
512GB NVME
Wifi
Wifi 5 AC
Wifi 6 AX
User upgradeable
No (Odroid MB)
Yes
Hades
60 FPS
+200 FPS
CyberPunk 2077
Not playable
61 FPS
GTA V
Not playable
110 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2
Not playable
42 FPS
The Last of US
Not playable
60 FPS
Doom Eternal
Not playable
80 FPS
Counter Strike 2
Not playable
200 FPS
Elden Ring
Not playable
60 FPS
Forza Horizon 5
Not playable
88 FPS
Returnal
Not playable
37 FPS
FFXVI Demo
Not playable
45 FPS
Cemu
60 FPS
60 FPS
PCSX2
60 FPS
60 FPS
RPCS3
Not playable
40 – 60 FPS
Xenia
Not playable
40 – 60 FPS
Dolphin
60 FPS
60 FPS
Gaming Benchmarks: 1080P LOW FSR Balanced when available. Average fps
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