Azahar Emulator Withdraws Official Anbernic Support as RG DDS Controversy Continues

The upcoming Anbernic RG DDS handheld has become the centre of an unexpected software controversy after the development team behind Azahar announced that it would no longer provide official support for Anbernic devices. The issue was highlighted again in Retro Handhelds' October 31 weekly roundup, following the team's earlier public statement. Azahar is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator used on several handheld platforms.

The disagreement emerged after Anbernic demonstrated its upcoming dual-screen RG DDS using AzaharPlus, an unofficial fork of the emulator. The Azahar developers criticised the promotion of what they described as piracy-focused modifications and announced that they would no longer investigate or resolve bugs specifically affecting Anbernic devices. That decision does not necessarily mean Azahar will stop functioning on every Anbernic handheld.

Instead, it means users should not expect official compatibility assistance from the project's development team. The controversy is significant because retro handhelds often depend heavily on independent emulator developers, whose work provides much of the software functionality advertised by hardware manufacturers. Relationships between the two communities therefore matter considerably. The RG DDS remains scheduled for release later in 2026, although software compatibility will require independent evaluation.

Apparently the greatest challenge facing an expensive new dual-screen handheld is not necessarily processor performance. Sometimes it is persuading the people who write the emulator software to continue answering your emails.