PLAION Sets NEOGEO AES+ For September 16, 2027
Retro reissues usually emulate the original or approximate it with general-purpose FPGAs, so a console built on a chip made to reproduce the AES circuits points to a different cost tier and a different claim about what buyers are paying for.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
PLAION will release the NEOGEO-compatible console NEOGEO AES+ on September 16, 2027, with the standard version at 32,800 yen and an Anniversary Edition bundling a special-package copy of METAL SLUG at 49,800 yen. Built with SNK's cooperation under PLAION's REPLAI retro label, it uses a dedicated ASIC chip rather than emulation, reproducing the original AES circuits so original cartridges behave the same. Wireless controllers, low-latency HDMI output, and DIP switches are added.
Inside the AES+ is a dedicated ASIC chip developed solely to reproduce the original AES circuits, rather than the general-purpose chips or FPGAs common in retro revivals. The exterior, peripherals, and reissued cartridges keep compatibility with the original hardware, and the console adds wireless controller connectivity, low-latency HDMI output, and DIP switches for language and operation. The writer who handled the console at Tokyo Game Show 2026 played METAL SLUG, Twinkle Star Sprites, Shock Troopers, and Over Top on the unit.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.