A handheld you bought a while ago just got better at PlayStation 2, and nobody had to touch the hardware. That's the short version of Retro Game Corps' new look at the Anbernic RG476H. Russ, who runs the channel, goes back to a device he'd already reviewed and finds that newer software has changed what it can do, especially for PS2 games.
His description puts it simply: new updates to the ARMSX2 emulator and some Mali-specific graphics drivers "can help breathe new life (and improved performance) in some older handhelds." The RG476H is his test case, a device he describes as costing about $150.
Why the software matters more than the chip here
The interesting bit is why this works. The RG476H hasn't changed. Russ says it runs on a Unisoc T820 chip, and in his earlier take, PS2 on that chip wasn't good enough to recommend. What's changed is the software stack sitting on top.
Two pieces do the heavy lifting. The first is ARMSX2, a PS2 emulator for Arm devices. Time Extension reported its 1.0 release in October 2025, noting it's built on the PCSX2 codebase, is fully open source, and that its performance was expected to improve over time. The second is MaliSX2, a set of custom Vulkan drivers aimed at Arm's Mali graphics chips. Better emulator plus better drivers is the whole trick.
What Russ shows
Russ walks through the setup from 1:36: installing ARMSX2, pointing it at your BIOS and game folders, switching on its automatic performance tuning, and loading the MaliSX2 drivers. His suggested starting point is 2x resolution as the default, then dropping it game by game where needed.
The PS2 testing starts at 5:50. Lighter games run at 2x, while heavier ones like Burnout Revenge and Shadow of the Colossus get pulled back towards native resolution by the auto-tuning to keep things smooth. He also tries demanding games such as God of War II and Champions of Norrath at native resolution.
The headline for anyone who's been following this device comes around 10:48. Russ says he'd previously advised people not to buy the RG476H mainly for PS2, and that the updated software now makes nearly the whole library playable. That's a straight reversal of his own earlier advice, which is the kind of thing worth paying attention to.
The drivers help beyond PS2. From 11:13, he shows the MaliSX2 drivers loaded into the Dolphin emulator for GameCube games, comparing stock and custom drivers. His description notes you currently need Dolphin's latest development build to load drivers on Mali devices. He also tries original Xbox emulation at 14:03, which he treats as a nice bonus rather than a reason to buy, and Sega Saturn at 15:12.
What it means if you own one, or want one
If you already have an RG476H, the takeaway is to update your software before you decide the device can't do PS2. Russ's walkthrough is the practical next step: emulator, drivers, a 2x default, then adjust per game.
If you're shopping, his closing argument at 16:32 is about value: at around $150, he rates the RG476H among the best-value emulation handhelds right now.
The early comments, posted within six hours, are mostly owners cheering. Several say ARMSX2 has given their own Mali-based handhelds a second life, and a few name other cheap devices they hope benefit too. The general mood is that older budget hardware just got a free upgrade.
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