Recade is an emulation box that goes under your TV and is powered by an as-yet-unnamed quad-core processor. It boasts dual-band WiFi and connects to your TV via HDMI, like any other modern-day console. It will ship with its own wireless controller, which features a six-button setup, eight-way D-pad, and a Hall effect analogue stick.
The unique selling point of Recade is that it will allow you to legally play '70s, '80s and '90s coin-op titles either locally or online, benefitting from features such as screen filters, voice chat, cloud saves and more. The idea is to sell the base unit cheaply and then support the platform's growth with a traditional subscription-based business model.
"We are designing our hardware with flexibility in mind," says Recade's Adam Daywalker. "Not all aspects are locked down just yet, but we are planning on a hybrid model to adjust to local vs online play smoothly."
The plan is to launch Recade this year, assuming funding can be obtained. Recade is "currently building partnerships with publishers towards our goal of 50+ classic arcade games at launch" and says that "additional titles will be added to the library continuously after launch with no subscription increase."
As we've seen with Evercade and Antstream, IP holders are more than willing to license out their classic games for modern consumption—but it remains to be seen if Recade can offer the kind of audience such deals rely on.
As for the price, Recade says it is working with manufacturing partners "as well as game publishers" to come to a precise figure, but that's not available as yet. "We are aiming for an affordable price point for our console and a small monthly subscription fee to access the games library. Our plan has always been and continues to be keeping affordability a priority while not sacrificing quality," says the company.
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