The Evercade Nexus is officially up for presale, and for once, this isn’t just another minor revision of a retro handheld. This feels like Evercade is growing up a bit. Preorders opened this week at $199.99, and if you’ve followed the platform over the years, this is easily the most ambitious hardware Blaze has put out yet.
The first thing you’ll notice is the screen. At 5.89 inches, it’s a big jump from previous Evercade devices. The larger screen is paired with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a sharper 840×512 resolution. That alone signals a shift. This isn’t just about 8-bit and 16-bit nostalgia anymore.
Then there are the dual analog sticks. It sounds obvious, but it’s a major change for Evercade. The platform has always leaned heavily into older libraries that utilized D-pads, but this opens the door to more comfortable 32-bit and even some 64-bit-era experiences.
There’s nothing retro about what you’ll find under the hood. You’re looking at a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery rated for around five hours of play. There’s also Wi-Fi for updates, wireless headphone support, and a new feature called EverSync, which allows local multiplayer sharing between devices using a single cartridge.
Speaking of cartridges, Evercade is sticking to its guns. No storefront, no ROM support, no crossover with other ecosystems. You’re still buying physical carts, and honestly, that’s the whole point. The system is already compatible with over 700 licensed retro games across more than 80 cartridges, and the Nexus will ship with a Banjo-Kazooie double pack that’s been optimized for widescreen and dual-stick controls.
There’s also a limited “Nexus 64 Edition” for collectors, complete with a different color scheme and bundled extras. With only 2,000 limited-edition units, these will likely sell out fast. Preorders are live now, with units expected to ship in October 2026.
