EmuDeck announces its first hardware product – no Steam Deck or ROG Ally required to play retro classics anymore
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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