For Game Boy Advance collectors, a promising new prototype is taking shape. Retro hardware developer Taki Udon has shown the FPGBA SP, a folding FPGA-based handheld designed to play original Game Boy Advance cartridges.
A real cartridge in a modern clamshell
Footage shared on 12 October 2026 shows the transparent-blue prototype running a Pokémon game. Udon says the device accepts real GBA cartridges and uses FPGA hardware to run them rather than first dumping a cartridge into a conventional software emulator.
The form factor recalls Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP, with the familiar folding-screen layout. The developer has also discussed SD-card game loading and USB-C output, although complete hardware specifications have not been released.
What does the $100 figure mean?
Udon says the team is trying to make the device work at around US $100. This is a development target, not an announced retail price. There is no confirmed launch date, preorder window or final specification.
A non-folding FPGBA variant is also being considered, but that is not a confirmed product announcement. Likewise, footage of other systems running on earlier hardware demonstrations should not be taken as a promise of final compatibility.
Questions still to answer
Original-cartridge support is encouraging, but prospective buyers should wait for broader compatibility testing, details of battery life and display performance, and confirmation of support for accessories such as link cables. A successful prototype demonstration is not the same as a finished retail device.
Console Revive take
What makes this interesting is the emphasis on playing the cartridges people already own. Modern screens and charging are welcome, but keeping original game collections useful is the bigger win. We're especially interested to see how the final hardware compares with a restored or upgraded original GBA SP, and whether the proposed price survives development.