this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2026
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Who buys crazy expensive "new retro" consoles and why? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by squaresinger@lemmy.world to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
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This is not meant as an attack in any way, anyone can obvously buy whatever makes them happy.

I'm just really curious who buys consoles that aren't that old for such high prices.

I can see the appeal of holding childhood consoles in your hands again, and I can also see the appeal in collecting cool really old stuff. But I struggle to understand why someone would buy e.g. a New 2DS XL for €300 or more.

So just out of curiosity, if you are someone like that, what's the appeal that makes it worth spending so much money, instead of e.g. just going with a steam deck and an emulator instead?

Edit to avoid confusion: I am not talking about new reproduction systems (like the N64 Mini) or premium emulation/FPGA systems (like the Analogue Pocket or the MISTer), but about original game consoles that aren't supported any more but also aren't really old. Something like the DS/3DS, PSP, Wii U, Playstation 3. Some of them are now more expensive in mediocre second-hand condition than they were when they were new.

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[–] ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

I feel like most used consoles aren't as crazy in price, as you're making them out to be, but that may be dependent on your market. I've picked up a bunch of consoles over the last few years, both home consoles and handhelds, for the purpose of modifying them. I've found that I like to play on original hardware, but the physical games are so absurdly overpriced at this point, I've either converted them to run optical drive emulators or bought flash carts. I can boot up the consoles, select the game I want to play, and go. Its a cool way to modernize the consoles I grew up with, while overall getting the same original experience.