SNK has teamed up with Plaion Replai to re-release the NEOGEO AES (Advanced Entertainment System) this year, reviving the console that originally released in 1990 and promised cutting-edge arcade gameplay in the comfort of your home.
Although it never took off in the way that other home video game consoles did, the NEOGEO AES is legendary, and the NEOGEO AES+ should prove to be the best way to re-experience those short-lived glory days. It’s been designed to capture the same “Zero Compromise” ethos that defined the original hardware and its arcade-perfect cartridges, using specialised ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) instead of emulation to present authentic play that’s true to the original hardware and even offer compatibility with original NEOGEO AES cartridges.
The console launches on 12th November 2026, starting at AUD $329.95, with pre-orders open now (more information down below).
Plaion and SNK are calling the NEOGEO AES+’s hardware upgrades “discrete,” arming wit with just enough contemporary facilities to make it easy to hook up to modern displays. HDMI output allows for resolutions of up to 1080p on your compatible telly or monitor, but it also includes regular AV output for those who want to go all-in and smack it into a CRT. There are also switches to quickly change the BIOS and DIP for multi-language support, overclocking and display mode selection, low power usage and permanent high score saving for every game.
The console will release in two distinct versions, each of which will come with the basics like a power supply, HDMI cable and the arcade stick controller, but a special Anniversary Edition bundle is also available to pre-order right now and comes in a striking ice white design along with a copy of Metal Slug (on exclusive white cartridge) and a memory card.
There will be 10 games available on cartridge at launch, and three optional accessories, listed below:
NEOGEO AES+ launch games
- 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
- Over Top
NEOGEO AES+ launch accessories
- NEOGEO AES+ Arcade Stick: A 1:1 replica of the original classic controller, now updated to offer both wired and wireless capability
- NEOGEO AES+ Memory Card: A 1:1 replica of the original, performing in the exact same fashion as the original, but now updated to no longer require a cell battery
- NEOGEO AES+ Gamepad: A 1:1 replica of the original
Pre-orders for the NEOGEO AES+ standard bundle, 35th Anniversary Edition bundle, games and accessories are available in Australia right now, at the below retailers and RRPs:
NEOGEO AES+ pre-orders Australia
- NEOGEO AES+ Console (Black) – AUD $329.95 – The Gamesmen
- NEOGEO AES+ Arcade Stick (Black) – AUD $169.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Gamepad (Black) – AUD $89.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Memory Card (Black) – AUD $49.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Anniversary Edition Console (White) – AUD $499.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Arcade Stick (White) – AUD $169.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Memory Card (White) – AUD $49.95 – The Gamesmen | EB Games
- NEOGEO AES+ Games – AUD $139.95 each – The Gamesmen
While those prices might seem steep at first, consider that a used NEOGEO AES can easily go for thousands on the resale market, and the games sometimes even more expensive. $139.95 for Garou Mark of the Wolves might be more than a modern AAA release, but it’s certainly less than $3000+ for a boxed, original copy!