Changelog
What's new in Handheld
0.10.1
May 21, 2026Latest- FixAppearance settings — theme and background — no longer carry over between a signed-in account and guest browsing on the same device. Each keeps its own look, and signing out instantly restores the guest appearance.
- BetterImproved offline reliability — once Handheld has loaded, browsing and your library keep working smoothly without a connection.
- BetterSimplified the site footer and refreshed the wording on the Terms of Service and Privacy pages.
0.10.0
May 17, 2026- NewSupporter subscription is live — chip in monthly to help with hosting and development. All features stay free for everyone; supporters get extra cloud storage, a profile badge, and priority support
- NewSelf-serve billing portal — manage your payment method, see invoices, and cancel any time from your Dashboard. Cancelling keeps your benefits active until the end of the current paid period; no pro-rata refunds, no surprise charges
- BetterMultiplayer rooms now recover automatically when the connection blips — failed joins retry with exponential backoff instead of giving up after one attempt
- BetterPrivate room invite codes are significantly harder to guess — bumped from 32-bit to 128-bit entropy, so links you don't share can't be stumbled across
- BetterChat in netplay rooms is rate-limited per player — a single peer can no longer flood the chat panel with rapid messages
- BetterCloud storage counters now use full 64-bit precision, so accounts with very large quotas track usage correctly without overflow
- FixBackground mesh gradient now reliably reflects theme and intensity changes — fixed a rare desync where the canvas could keep drawing with stale settings after a quick toggle
- FixSave/load notification swipe-to-dismiss stays in sync during back-to-back saves — toast animations no longer get stuck mid-gesture
- BetterUpdated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy ahead of the Supporter launch — added clear subscription billing, cancellation and refund language, plus a Data Controller section for GDPR transparency
- BetterFooter now shows the operator (Web Relic LTD) for clearer business identification
0.9.0
Apr 14, 2026- FixScreen recordings now include the game's audio — previously the audio track was silently dropped, leaving you with a silent video
- FixCustom on-screen handheld layouts now apply correctly — overrides from your settings are no longer ignored by the default skin
- BetterSave states are even more reliable — stricter integrity checks catch corrupted saves before they can load and break your game
- BetterSmoother in-game UI — eliminated a class of rare rendering glitches where panels and overlays could flicker or desync during fast input
- BetterSnappier response when opening the settings panel, pause menu, and fullscreen — behind-the-scenes performance work across the whole emulator shell
- BetterMajor engine rewrite under the hood — the emulator core has been split into smaller, focused modules (lifecycle, cheats, save states, netplay, disk swap, speed control), paving the way for faster fixes and new features in upcoming releases
- BetterExpanded automated test coverage — 81 unit tests plus end-to-end browser tests now run on every change, so regressions get caught before they reach you
- BetterCodebase-wide cleanup of type safety, logging, and React rendering patterns — hundreds of small correctness fixes that add up to a more predictable experience on every device
- BetterGeneral stability and polish across the board in preparation for public launch
0.8.13
Apr 13, 2026- FixQuick-saves no longer get corrupted after long play sessions — save states are now validated before loading, so you'll never drop into a black screen with stuck audio from a broken save again
- FixFixed a rare bug where rewind could poison a save state while it was being captured, producing an unloadable file
- BetterNew sound engine — UI clicks and panel sounds are snappier, play at full quality, and are no longer silenced when you mute the game's audio
- BetterDropdown menus in Settings now use the same thin branded scrollbar as the rest of the app
- FixHomepage headline no longer flashes for a split second before the intro animation starts
0.8.12
Apr 12, 2026- BetterHomepage headline now reads "Play retro & classic games online" — clearer at a glance and easier for search engines to match what visitors are looking for
0.8.11
Apr 12, 2026- BetterRefreshed homepage and Features page copy — clearer wording around the retro and classic console games you can play, and the consoles we support
- BetterImproved search engine descriptions across the site so people looking for retro, classic, or console games online can find Handheld more easily
- BetterPrivacy Policy and Terms of Service rewritten to reflect the live service — real contact email, accurate description of analytics, cookies, and cloud sync, plus a clearer children's privacy and governing-law section
- BetterPrivacy and Terms pages are now easier to read — improved text contrast across both documents
0.8.10
Apr 12, 2026- FixCustom scrollbars are back across the settings panel, cheats list, netplay lobby, chat bubbles, and long pages — they had briefly reverted to the default browser look
- BetterApp version shown in the footer now updates automatically with every release, so you always see exactly which build you're running
0.8.9
Apr 12, 2026- BetterNavigation, footer, and profile menu links are now easier to read — text colour meets accessibility contrast guidelines on every page
- BetterBackground gradient appears instantly on first visit instead of fading in after a short delay — no more flash of black when opening the site in a private window
- BetterHomepage loads faster — heavy components like the ROM search dialog are fetched only when you actually open them
- BetterSmaller download size on every page — unused icons and legacy browser polyfills no longer ship to modern browsers
- BetterPage styles are now inlined into the HTML so the first paint happens sooner, improving how quickly the site feels responsive
- BetterScreen reader experience improved — clear-ROM buttons, admin checkboxes, and profile avatars now announce themselves properly
- BetterCleaner HTML structure on the changelog and admin pages for better SEO and assistive-tech navigation
0.8.8
Apr 12, 2026- NewMake it yours — pick a background colour theme: Indigo Night, Sunset, Forest, Ocean, Rose, Candy, or Mono. Your choice syncs across devices when you're signed in
- NewAccent colour follows your theme — buttons, links, focus rings, sliders and highlights across the whole site adapt instantly
- NewIntensity slider — dial the background mesh from barely-there to fully vibrant right from your dashboard
- NewBackground animation toggle — the mesh slowly drifts and morphs as you browse. You can turn the motion off if you prefer a still look
- NewMesh background toggle — hide the decorative gradient entirely with one switch
- BetterEvery page has its own mesh signature and smoothly crossfades into the next as you navigate — no more hard cuts
- BetterSofter, more varied gradient — orbs are spread across the whole viewport instead of stacking on the sides
- BetterDefault look is calmer — the mesh is half as bright out of the box, with room to crank it up
- BetterReduced motion is always respected — if your system asks for less animation, the mesh stays still automatically
- BetterConsistent primary colour across the site on first load — no brief flash of a different shade
0.8.7
Apr 10, 2026- FixSave states are now captured at the safest moment — no more corrupted saves that load to a black screen
- FixSave state thumbnails no longer go missing after restarting the app
- FixLoading a save state now properly resumes the game even if it was paused
- NewNew save/load notification — a compact preview slides in from the corner showing your screenshot and slot number
- BetterLoading a save from the settings panel now closes the panel automatically so you can jump right back in
- BetterSaving is faster — duplicate work during state capture has been eliminated
- BetterBetter recovery when the screen goes black on mobile due to fullscreen or orientation changes
0.8.6
Apr 9, 2026- NewBrand generator — create and download custom wallpapers and brand images with the PSX diamond logo, particles, and mesh gradients
- NewRegenerated all branding assets — new favicon, OG share image, PWA manifest icons, and Apple touch icon
- NewClean SVG favicon — vector cross icon replaces the old raster-in-SVG wrapper
- BetterBrand image glow effects use professional multi-pass shadow stacking for a richer neon look
- BetterBranding script for reproducible asset generation via Playwright
0.8.5
Apr 8, 2026- NewStorage quotas — each account now has a clear storage limit with a visual usage bar
- NewSupporter tier — unlock more storage and upcoming perks
- NewExport save states — download any cloud save directly from your dashboard
- NewSave state previews — screenshots are shown alongside your cloud saves
- BetterSmoother loading screen — progress bar now animates fluidly instead of jumping
- BetterRedesigned dashboard with cleaner layout and game info for every save
- BetterCloud sync is now more reliable with improved background queue handling
- BetterSimplified navigation for signed-in users
0.8.4
Apr 5, 2026- FixSave states no longer freeze the game when loaded — play resumes instantly
- FixExporting a save state now gives you the actual saved data, not the current game position
- NewSave states are validated on import — incompatible files from other games are rejected with a clear message
- BetterRapid save/load presses can no longer corrupt your save data
- BetterYour in-game progress is now saved even when you close the tab or refresh the page
0.8.3
Apr 5, 2026- NewCheat codes — thousands of cheats load automatically for your games. Infinite lives, max stats, unlock everything — just flip a switch
- NewActive cheats bar — see all your enabled cheats at a glance and turn them off with one tap
- NewCustom cheats — bring your own codes and they'll be saved alongside the built-in ones
- NewCheat search — instantly find the cheat you need, even in lists with hundreds of codes
- BetterYou now get a quick confirmation whenever a cheat is toggled
- FixTyping in text fields no longer triggers game controls
0.8.2
Apr 3, 2026- NewWorks offline — lose your connection mid-game and keep playing without missing a beat
- NewInstall as an app — add Handheld to your home screen for a native-like experience
- BetterStronger security across the board
- BetterImages and avatars load noticeably faster
- BetterEasier to navigate with a keyboard or screen reader
- BetterPages now look great when printed
- FixSwitching accounts quickly no longer mixes up your settings
- BetterGeneral speed and stability improvements
0.8.1
Apr 3, 2026- NewRedesigned game library — browse your collection in a beautiful, sortable grid
- NewSpeed control — dial in the perfect game speed from 50% to 200%
- NewOn-screen speed buttons — fast forward, slow motion, and rewind without leaving the game
- FixSlow motion no longer accidentally speeds the game up
- FixResolved an issue that could spam error messages during speed changes
- BetterPolished layouts and smoother animations throughout
0.8.0
Apr 2, 2026- NewUser accounts — sign in with Google and your progress follows you everywhere
- NewCloud sync — save states and settings travel seamlessly between your devices
- NewDashboard — your personal hub for managing saves and preferences
- NewSmart import — first time signing in? Choose whether to bring your local saves along
- BetterFresh new sign-in page with animated branding
0.7.1
Mar 27, 2026- BetterYour game settings now save automatically — they survive page refreshes and restarts
- NewReset button to quickly restore game settings to defaults
- BetterChanged settings are highlighted so you always know what you've tweaked
0.7.0
Mar 25, 2026- NewAuthentic button layouts for every console — 11 new systems added
- BetterEach platform now shows the right button names — PlayStation symbols, Sega letters, and more
- FixChanging controls for one system no longer affects the others
0.6.2
Mar 24, 2026- BetterMultiplayer sessions are now more secure
- FixGames with special characters in their names now load correctly
- BetterEverything feels a bit snappier
0.6.1
Mar 24, 2026- FixScreenshots now capture at the correct resolution
- FixFullscreen no longer triggers unexpectedly on laptops with touchscreens
- BetterSliders are easier to use on phones
- FixSettings panel no longer flickers when opening
0.6.0
Mar 24, 2026- NewRedesigned mobile experience — all your actions in one clean, swipeable menu
- BetterSettings slide in from the side for quicker access on small screens
0.5.1
Mar 20, 2026- BetterOn-screen gamepad fits better on small phone screens
- BetterPlayStation controller layout now matches the real thing
- BetterPixel-perfect mode now uses a clean black background
0.5.0
Mar 20, 2026- NewSay hello to Handheld — fresh name, fresh look, same great emulation
- BetterPlayStation gamepad now features authentic button icons and colors
- NewPlayStation 1 BIOS support for better game compatibility
0.4.0
Mar 20, 2026- BetterMajor behind-the-scenes work for a faster, more reliable experience
- FixMultiplayer now disconnects cleanly when you leave
0.3.0
Mar 19, 2026- NewGame search — find and play titles directly from a massive online archive
- BetterSmoother experience when adding games from external sources
- BetterDOS gaming got a nice quality-of-life upgrade
0.2.0
Mar 18, 2026- NewFully rebindable controls — set up your keyboard and gamepad exactly how you like
- NewDOS support — play classic PC games with native keyboard input
- BetterMultiplayer streaming is smoother and more reliable
0.1.0
Mar 17, 2026- NewHello, world! Play 30+ retro consoles right in your browser — no installs, no setup
- New10 save slots per game — never lose your progress again
- NewOnline multiplayer — invite a friend and play together
- NewOffline game library — your games are cached and ready even without internet
- NewOn-screen gamepad with per-console layouts — works great on phones and tablets
- NewShaders and display filters to get that perfect retro look