NeoGeo AES+ Almost Cancelled: Boss Reveals Chip Crisis

Ever wondered what it takes to bring a retro console back from the dead? For the NeoGeo AES+, it was a close call. Plaion, the company behind the revival, has revealed that the AI-driven chip shortage nearly forced them to cancel the entire project. In fact, the boss says they were "almost dead."

The global chip shortage, fueled by the AI boom, has been wreaking havoc on hardware production for years. But for a niche retro console like the NeoGeo AES+, it was almost a death sentence. Plaion had to make a tough choice: give up or go back to the drawing board. They chose the latter.

So what did they do? They were forced to redesign the console from scratch. That's right—the AES+ you're waiting for isn't the same machine they originally planned. The redesign was necessary to secure the chips they needed to actually build the thing. It's a classic case of adapting to survive.

This isn't just a minor tweak. The redesign likely affected everything from the internal components to the manufacturing process. But Plaion hasn't shared specifics on what changed. What we do know is that the delay was inevitable—and without the redesign, the AES+ might never have seen the light of day.

For retro gaming fans, this is both a relief and a reminder of how fragile hardware production can be. The NeoGeo AES+ is a passion project, and it nearly became a casualty of a market that prioritizes AI chips over niche gaming hardware. It's a sobering thought.

Still, the fact that Plaion pushed through means we'll eventually get our hands on the console. The delay sucks, but a cancelled console would've been worse. So next time you fire up a NeoGeo classic, remember: this thing almost didn't happen.

What do you think—are you still excited for the NeoGeo AES+ after all this drama? Or has the wait killed your hype? Let us know in the comments!