Unmatched authenticity and insanely expensive cartridge games come with it – but at least this time the base console will not be as unaffordable as it once was.

Plaion and SNK are reissuing the NeoGeo AES console later this year. Originally released in 1990 and famous for its excellent arcade conversions, the new NeoGeo AES, or Advanced Entertainment System, is due in time for Christmas and promises unmatched authenticity, including full compatibility with the original cartridges. The standard model and the 35th Anniversary Edition hardware launch on November 12 for $250, £180, and €200, while the game cartridges will sell for £70 and €80. According to Plaion, the NeoGeo AES+ comes with a number of quality-of-life improvements, including low-latency HDMI output, 1080p output, and on-screen BIOS and DIP switches displayed via a screen built into the underside of the console, allowing instant language switching, hardware overclocking, and the selection of different display modes.

The console has low power consumption and permanently saves players’ high scores for every game. Ten NeoGeo games will be available alongside the console at launch, with more coming later, and a range of accessories will be available as well. On day one, players will be able to buy Metal Slug, The King of Fighters 2002, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Big Tournament Golf, Shock Troopers, Samurai Shodown V Special, Pulstar, Twinkle Star Sprites, Magician Lord, and Over Top.

The following accessories will also be available at launch. The NeoGeo AES+ Arcade Stick is a 1:1 replica of the original classic stick, now updated so it can be used in both wired and wireless modes. The NeoGeo AES+ Memory Card is a 1:1 replica of the original memory card that works exactly the same way, except it no longer needs a battery. And, as expected, the NeoGeo AES+ Gamepad is also a 1:1 replica of the original.

“NeoGeo remains unmatched in the eyes of arcade fans, people who will never settle for anything less than an authentic arcade experience. For 35 years, SNK hardware has continued to impress players with a library of games that only gets better with age and remains full of timeless classics. We are thrilled to reintroduce this legendary system to modern players without compromising the integrity of the original hardware, and at a price point that players can finally afford. We cannot wait to share more news later this year”, said Ben Jones, commercial director at Plaion Replai.

Thanks to its powerful hardware and its synergy with SNK’s arcade business, the AES promised arcade-perfect games at home, something rival platforms simply could not offer at the time. That power came at a steep price, though: $649 for the system, which is more than $1,200 in today’s money, while individual games also cost more than $200. It is hardly surprising that the Neo Geo sold fewer than one million units worldwide.

Source: VGC, Plaion Replai