Blaze Entertainment has officially launched the Evercade Nexus handheld console on October 30, 2026, bringing its latest cartridge-based retro gaming system to retailers across the United States and Europe. Priced at $199.99 in the US, £169.99 in the UK and €199.99 in Europe, the handheld includes a physical cartridge containing Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie.
The console is available through Amazon, Funstock, Best Buy, GameStop and other authorized Evercade retailers. Its retail launch follows the original March 2026 announcement and introduces the largest display yet fitted to an Evercade handheld, alongside dual analogue sticks and a new wireless local multiplayer feature.
The Evercade Nexus features a 5.89-inch IPS display with an 840 × 512 resolution and peak brightness exceeding 500 nits. The screen is larger than the 4.3-inch display found on the earlier Evercade EXP-R, providing additional viewing space for retro games.
Blaze has also equipped the Nexus with dual analogue sticks, a directional pad, face buttons, rear bumpers and triggers. The additional analogue controls are designed to better accommodate 32-bit and 64-bit titles, including the bundled Banjo-Kazooie games.
Internally, the handheld uses a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. A 5,000mAh battery is rated for more than five hours of use, although actual battery life will depend on operating conditions. The console weighs 410 grams and measures 215 × 111 × 34mm.
Other hardware features include Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for system updates, wireless headphone support, USB-C charging and a customizable illuminated RGB logo. Blaze includes a USB-C to USB-A charging cable but does not supply a mains power adapter.
One of the Nexus’s main additions is EverSync, a wireless multiplayer feature that connects two Evercade Nexus consoles directly without requiring an internet connection or Wi-Fi network.
EverSync allows two players to access the same compatible game on separate handheld screens while using a single physical cartridge. The second player does not need to own the cartridge, although both players require their own Nexus console. This distinguishes the feature from conventional local multiplayer arrangements that require separate copies of a game.
The Nexus also maintains compatibility with the existing Evercade cartridge library, which Blaze says now includes more than 80 cartridges containing over 700 games. These licensed collections feature franchises and publishers including Tomb Raider, DOOM, Duke Nukem, Taito and Activision.
Unlike general-purpose emulation handhelds, the Evercade ecosystem focuses on officially licensed game collections distributed on proprietary physical cartridges. The Nexus is designed to work with those cartridges rather than original Nintendo or Sega game media.
Its emphasis on physical ownership places the device alongside other dedicated retro gaming hardware, including Analogue’s Super Nt+ and Mega Sg+ consoles, although the Analogue systems target original cartridge formats rather than Evercade’s curated collections.
Existing Evercade features also return, including TATE Mode for vertically oriented arcade games, adjustable display ratios, scanline options and a built-in library for tracking cartridge collections. Wireless updates continue to provide access to additional functionality and monthly Indie Heroes bonus games.
Every standard Nexus package includes the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack cartridge, the console, a charging cable and a quick-start guide. Blaze is separately selling a protective carrying case with storage for six cartridges and a screen protector kit.
The company previously announced a limited Evercade Nexus 64 Edition, restricted to 2,000 units through Funstock, with a higher price of $229.99, £189.99 or €229.99.
With retail availability now underway, the Evercade Nexus expands Blaze Entertainment’s handheld lineup while retaining compatibility with existing game collections. Its larger display, analogue controls and cartridge-sharing multiplayer provide the main hardware differences for players considering an upgrade from earlier Evercade devices.
