Retro Gaming Reimagined: A VGTimes Report and Interview with My Arcade at CES 2026

In Las Vegas, VGTimes Editor-in-Chief Rodion Ilin spoke with Oliver Tesoro — a representative of My Arcade, a manufacturer of portable and tabletop retro consoles and arcade devices officially licensed to feature classic video games from Atari, Sega, Bandai Namco, and Capcom. Tesoro showcased the company’s current product lineup brought to CES 2026 and also answered several of our questions.

Tesoro began with the Sega section, explaining that Sonic the Hedgehog is the primary focus of My Arcade’s Sega lineup, while noting that the company also offers several other Sega-licensed products. The Sonic lineup was released late last year.

He first pointed out the Sonic Mega — a compact tabletop unit featuring a 3.5-inch screen, wood paneling, and four built-in Sonic the Hedgehog games, retailing for $119.99 USD.

Below it, Tesoro showed the Joystick Player, a mini arcade cabinet with an extended base and a full-sized joystick designed for more comfortable play. This unit includes two titles: Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Next, he highlighted the Shinobi Joystick Player, which is expected to launch soon. Tesoro added that a Shinobi movie is planned for release in 2027, which he believes may help introduce the franchise to a new audience.

He then moved on to other Sega machines, including the OutRun Player. This model features two games — OutRun and OutRunners — along with a steering wheel, gas and brake controls, and a shifter for a more authentic arcade experience.

Tesoro also pointed out two Sega Micro Player Pro units: Golden Axe and Streets of Rage. Golden Axe includes three games, while Streets of Rage features two highly popular titles from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

After finishing the Sega showcase, Tesoro suggested moving on to the Atari section. He introduced the Atari GameStation line, noting that it was unveiled last year and released in late 2025. The handheld system includes more than 200 games from the Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, and arcade libraries, along with bonus titles from Jaleco and Pico Interactive.

He explained that the device features HDMI output for TV play and supports wireless accessories. Tesoro emphasized My Arcade’s patented Smart Glow technology, which illuminates buttons and controls based on the active game, helping players understand which inputs to use.

He added that wireless arcade sticks and gamepads are available, allowing the system to be played comfortably from a couch, while still remaining fully portable when disconnected from the TV.

Tesoro then introduced the Atari GameStation Mega, describing it as the company’s first full-size tabletop machine. He highlighted its wood construction, lighted marquee, and familiar control layout, which includes a trackball, paddle controller, 5200-style keypad, and Smart Glow technology. The system also supports wireless controllers.

He stressed that the Atari GameStation Mega is designed as a true plug-and-play device, requiring no assembly. According to Tesoro, the system is scheduled to launch in Q2.

Moving on, he presented several upcoming Mega Players, including the Pac-Man 45th Anniversary Edition. The unit features wood paneling, a 9-inch screen, a lighted marquee, and four built-in games.

Tesoro also briefly demonstrated the Casino Player, describing it as an early prototype. The larger-format machine features a physical lever for slot-style gameplay, decorative lighting, casino-style sound effects, and a closed system offering classic casino games such as slots, blackjack, and craps.

He then showed the Jukebox Mega, a Bandai Namco–licensed system that includes games likePac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, Xevious. In addition to retro games, the unit supports Bluetooth audio playback and features speakers and lighting inspired by classic jukeboxes, blending retro gaming with vintage jukebox design.

Tesoro continued with the GameStation Retro line, which is also expected to launch in Q2. He introduced the GameStation Retro Go, a handheld system featuring an 8-inch screen, HDMI output, Smart Glow technology, and support for accessories such as arcade sticks and gamepads.

He noted that this marks the first time Bandai Namco and Capcom have collaborated on such a large compilation in a single system. The lineup includes major titles such as Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Mappy, Final Fight, and Dig Dug.

Next, Tesoro pointed out the Pro version, a tabletop system that connects directly to a TV and ships with two controllers while offering the same game lineup.

He also presented the GameStation Retro Mega, a larger tabletop unit with a 10.1-inch screen, wood construction, a height of 17 inches, and built-in Bandai Namco and Capcom games. The system supports Wi-Fi updates, allowing My Arcade to deliver additional games, bug fixes, and optimizations over time.

Once again, Tesoro emphasized that the system is fully plug-and-play and ready to use straight out of the box.

Turning to handheld products, he revisited the Jukebox concept with the Jukebox Player — a smaller, portable version featuring a rechargeable battery with four to five hours of playtime and front-facing speakers, while retaining the classic jukebox aesthetic.

He then introduced the Bandai Namco Mini Player, designed as an homage to console designs from the 1970s and 1980s. It includes Pac-Man titles along with other Bandai Namco classics such as Mappy and Dig Dug.

Below that, Tesoro highlighted the Pac-Man 45th Anniversary Player and the Pocket Player Max. The Pocket Player Max features a rechargeable battery, a 3.5-inch screen, and comes bundled with a case, cable, and screen protector. Both products are already available on the market.

Finally, he showcased the Pocket Player Pro lineup, available across multiple licenses including Pac-Man, Tetris, Atari, Street Fighter, Space Invaders, and Mega Man. These units feature a 2.75-inch screen and include licensed cases, cables, and screen protectors.

Tesoro explained that each license offers a different number of games. Atari includes 100 titles, Tetris features a custom version developed in collaboration with The Tetris Company, Mega Man includes the first six games in the series, and Space Invaders includes the original arcade classic.

He concluded the tour by presenting the Pixel Pocket line — keychain-sized devices available in ten different licenses, including Pac-Man, Galaga, Tetris, and Data East titles, designed to be easily attached to backpacks, belts, or keychains.

My Arcade representative also answered some of our questions.

VGTimes: How do you work with companies like Atari, Bandai Namco, and Capcom when it comes to licensing and bringing classic games back?

Oliver Tesoro: We have a very strong licensing team that reaches out to licensors directly. From there, it’s really a process of meeting after meeting — figuring out which games, which titles, and how we want to present them. Some work better for Pixel Pockets, some for Pocket Player Pros, and some for our Mega Players.

We try to bring everything together, but of course, we work closely with licensors on packaging, decals, software — everything is fully licensed. These products go through extensive approval processes, and we work directly with our partners every step of the way.

VGTimes: Do you have any plans you can share for the future?

Oliver Tesoro: Unfortunately, I can’t talk about the projects we’re currently working on, but you can expect a lot this year and next year. We’re working with potential new licensors, as well as expanding content with our current partners. This year is going to be big, and hopefully next year will be even bigger. We have a lot of great things coming.

VGTimes: So you plan to continue working with the same partners, or expand to new ones as well?

Oliver Tesoro: Both. Our licensing team reaches out, and sometimes licensors reach out to us. If it makes sense, things tend to work themselves out.

When we work with companies like Bandai Namco, Sega, and Capcom, we maintain very close relationships with their teams. We just want to make sure we’re delivering the right games, in the right format, to make everyone happy — because at the end of the day, we’re all about retro gaming and bringing that nostalgia back to players.

VGTimes: Thank you for your time and for the tour.

Oliver Tesoro: Thank you for stopping by.

Article by Rodion Ilin and Fazil Dzhyndzholiia.

VGTimes has been operating since 2011 and during this time has attended dozens of exhibitions and festivals where our journalists gathered numerous exclusive materials. For example, in 2019 we attended a closed Cyberpunk 2077 showing at gamescom, in 2017 we prepared a photo report from WG Fest, in 2020 we were at Central Asia's largest gaming event CAGS, and we also visited "IgroMir" several times, where we saw Hideo Kojima and other famous developers. Last year, we traveled to the land of the rising sun for TGS 2024, where we were amazed by the scale of the event. And this year we saw with our own eyes one of Asia's major gaming exhibitions — ChinaJoy in Shanghai and gamescom asia in Bangkok.