The Neo Geo AES launched in 1990 at $649.99. Individual games cost between $200 and $600. Adjusted for inflation, that makes it the most expensive home console ever released — and for most people, a machine they could only dream about. The arcade experience at home, but at a price that was firmly out of reach.
On April 16, 2026, SNK and Plaion Replai announced the NEOGEO AES+. It launches November 12, 2026. The standard edition costs $249.99 — £179.99 in the UK. And crucially, it plays original AES cartridges.
This is not a mini console. This is not emulation. This is the real thing, rebuilt for 2026.
What It Is
The AES+ is a faithful hardware recreation of the original Neo Geo AES, developed in collaboration with SNK. Rather than using FPGA emulation — the approach taken by Analogue for their retro hardware — Plaion have used re-engineered ASIC chips that accurately replicate the original machine’s hardware behaviour. The result is described as identical in feel and performance to the original, not a software approximation of it.
The design is almost identical to the original console. The distinctive black casing, the gold cartridge slot, the proportions — all preserved. What’s changed is everything that needed updating for modern use: HDMI output with low latency, high score saving, DIP switches, and overclocking options.
The accessories have been updated too. The arcade stick and gamepad are 1:1 replicas of the originals, now offering both wired and wireless capability. The memory card — a beloved feature of the original that let you carry your save data between the home console and arcade MVS cabinets — has been recreated without the original’s requirement for a cell battery.
The Games
Ten launch titles have been confirmed, each available as a physical cartridge at $89.99 each:
Metal Slug — the definitive run-and-gun game, still extraordinary to look at. The King of Fighters 2002 — widely regarded as one of the series’ high points. Garou: Mark of the Wolves — one of the finest fighting games ever made, full stop. Samurai Shodown V Special — the controversial final entry in the classic series. Magician Lord — a launch title from 1990. Pulstar — the horizontal shooter that still impresses. Twinkle Star Sprites — the competitive shoot ’em up that’s unlike anything else in the library. Shock Troopers — top-down action at its best. Big Tournament Golf — Neo Geo’s beloved golf series. Over Top — the racing game.
More titles are expected to be announced. The selection is strong — Garou and KOF 2002 alone justify the conversation.
The Three Editions
Standard Edition — black, $249.99 / £179.99. Includes the console, arcade stick, power supply and HDMI cable. No game included.
35th Anniversary Edition — white, $349.99. Same hardware, includes a Metal Slug cartridge. The white finish is genuinely striking — a clean contrast to the original’s black.
Ultimate Edition — $999.99. Console, both controllers (arcade stick and gamepad), all 10 launch cartridges in a game rack, every accessory. For the collector who wants the complete set from day one.
The arcade stick and gamepad are also available separately at $119.99 each. Pre-orders are open now via Plaion’s website and Amazon.
Why This Matters
The original Neo Geo AES has become one of gaming’s great collector’s items — desirable, historically significant, and almost entirely inaccessible at retail prices. A working console runs £200-500 on eBay. Common AES cartridges start from £50-100 loose. Rarer titles reach thousands. The experience of playing Neo Geo hardware authentically has been the preserve of collectors willing to spend serious money.
At £179.99, the AES+ changes that entirely. It’s not a compromise — not a mini console with a curated selection of built-in games and no way to expand. It’s a proper hardware recreation that plays both the new cartridges and your existing original AES collection. For anyone who already has AES games, it’s a no-brainer upgrade path. For anyone who’s always wanted to play Neo Geo on real hardware without paying collector prices, it’s an extraordinary opportunity.
The timing is also notable. This is the Neo Geo’s 36th anniversary year. The hardware is old enough that nostalgia is fully mature, but the games — particularly the fighting games — are still played competitively worldwide.
One Thing to Watch
The cartridge prices. At $89.99 each, the new AES+ games are significantly more expensive than original MVS cartridges (which run $20-200 for most titles) but considerably cheaper than equivalent AES originals. If the library expands steadily and the prices remain reasonable, the AES+ could become the most practical way to build a legitimate Neo Geo collection. If SNK and Plaion treat it as a premium collectible with limited releases and steep prices, the appeal narrows considerably.
Ten games at launch is a promising start. What happens next will determine whether the AES+ is a genuine revival or an expensive nostalgia object.
Want to know more about the Neo Geo and its history? Our Neo Geo Complete Guide covers the AES, MVS, Neo Geo CD, the library, and everything you need to know before buying. Pre-orders for the AES+ are available now at Amazon UK.
Prices were accurate at time of writing — always check before you buy.