# Azahar drops support for Anbernic handhelds, including the $299.99 RG DDS

The 3DS emulator's team said on October 26 it won't support the RG DDS or other Anbernic devices, after Anbernic's videos used the AzaharPlus fork.

- By Elvis, published 2026-10-29T19:40:00Z
- Topics: Software
- Handhelds: Anbernic RG DDS
- Web page: https://handheldquest.com/news/azahar-drops-anbernic-support-rg-dds/

The team behind Azahar, the 3DS emulator Retro Handhelds calls the de facto choice, said on October 26 that it will not support the Anbernic RG DDS or any other Anbernic device. Retro Handhelds and Android Authority both tie the decision to Anbernic's RG DDS promo videos, which ran 3DS games in the AzaharPlus fork. According to Android Authority, the Azahar team called that fork "unofficial piracy-focused". The RG DDS is on pre-order from $299.99 (8 GB / 128 GB, $284.99 early-bird), and Anbernic says shipping starts gradually from December 10, 2026.

Specs: [Anbernic RG DDS](https://handheldquest.com/handhelds/anbernic-rg-dds/)

## What Azahar said

In a social media post, the team said it won't look into or fix bugs that are reported from Anbernic hardware, and it told buyers who want a supported 3DS emulator on their handheld to consider other devices, according to Android Authority. Retro Handhelds points out that Azahar will still install and run on Anbernic handhelds.

## Why AzaharPlus is the problem

Citra, the old 3DS emulator, shut down along with Yuzu when their developer Tropic Haze settled with Nintendo. Azahar is the project that merged two of its forks, Lime3DS and PabloMK7's, and one of its goals was to stop decrypting games internally: owners decrypt their own dumps before Azahar will load them. That is the background Retro Handhelds gives, and it explains why AzaharPlus annoys the team. The fork adds a built-in ROM decrypter, so encrypted files load directly, and it can download 3DS system files from official servers, so no console is needed.

The outlets differ on who is behind AzaharPlus. Android Authority calls it Anbernic's own fork. Retro Handhelds describes an independent project that appeared soon after Azahar's first builds, and says its developer refused requests to change the name and logo.

In Anbernic's "RG DDS Gameplay & Expansion Features Demo (Part 1)" on YouTube, Nintendogs + Cats and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS run at 3x resolution in AzaharPlus, with stylus and microphone input and two players in 3DS wireless multiplayer, according to Retro Handhelds' write-up.

## What it means for RG DDS buyers

The RG DDS is a dual-screen Android clamshell with a 4.7-inch 1200×720 top screen, a 4-inch 960×720 bottom screen and a Snapdragon G2 Gen 2. The same write-up says the video opens with PS4 emulation and ends on DS games in melonDS. On October 29, Anbernic's store lists regular prices of $299.99 for 8 GB / 128 GB and $364.99 for 12 GB / 256 GB, with early-bird pre-order prices of $284.99 and $349.99 (the figures Retro Handhelds reports too). Anbernic doesn't say when the early-bird prices end.

Android Authority calls the decision "not exactly great" for the RG DDS launch. Owners can still install Azahar, but the developers won't investigate problems reported from Anbernic hardware. Neither outlet reports a response from Anbernic, so it isn't known whether Anbernic will move its demos and marketing to the official build.

Specs are on the [RG DDS page](https://handheldquest.com/handhelds/anbernic-rg-dds/), and you can [compare it with the AYN Thor](https://handheldquest.com/compare/?d=anbernic-rg-dds,ayn-thor), a dual-screen Android handheld from another maker; Azahar's statement names only Anbernic devices.

## Sources

1. Retro Handhelds, "Azahar, the De Facto 3DS Emulator, Will No Longer Support Anbernic Handhelds": https://retrohandhelds.gg/azahar-the-de-facto-3ds-emulator-will-no-longer-support-anbernic-handhelds/
2. Android Authority, "This emulator just cut off support to Anbernic's upcoming Nintendo 3DS clone": https://www.androidauthority.com/azahar-cuts-off-support-to-anbernic-3728246/
3. Retro Handhelds, "Anbernic RG DDS Gameplay Showcase Starts With PS4 Emulation Because Why Not": https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-dds-gameplay-showcase-starts-with-ps4-emulation-because-why-not/
4. Anbernic, "RG DDS Gameplay & Expansion Features Demo (Part 1)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL7xy9Q99iw
5. Anbernic, "Anbernic RG DDS (pre-order) product page": https://anbernic.com/products/rg-dds