A now-deleted ESRB rating has sparked speculation about a potential new piece of Neo Geo hardware. The rating was posted by PLAION, the company behind devices such as The Spectrum, Intellivision Sprint, A500 Mini, Atari 7800+, and The C64 Mini systems. These reproductions of original machines are built around software emulation but some allow users to insert original cartridges.
The listing attributed the game Samurai Shodown V Special to the ‘Neo Geo AES+’ – a naming convention similar to that used by PLAION for consoles like the 7800+ and 2600+. The Neo Geo was originally released in two formats: Multi Video System (MVS) for arcades and Advanced Entertainment System (AES) for home leverage. Prohibitively expensive to own in the 1990s, the Neo Geo has since been re-released and repackaged in various ways, including collections for modern consoles and standalone hardware such as the Neo Geo X, Neo Geo Mini, and Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro.
This has led to questions about whether PLAION is developing a new AES system that uses emulation and modern AV connectivity while also supporting existing AES cartridges. The speculation follows multiple ESRB ratings appearing for games under the ‘NEO GEO AES+’ designation, including listings for Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Shock Troopers, Over Top, and Magician Lord.
While the original Neo Geo AES launched in 1990 at a price of $649.99 and was discontinued in 1997 after selling approximately 1.18 million units, the recent activity suggests renewed interest in the platform. The AES+ designation mirrors PLAION’s approach to modern retro hardware, where enhanced naming indicates updated features while maintaining compatibility with original software.
The Neo Geo platform, created by SNK Corporation, was initially released in 1990 as both an arcade system board (MVS) and a home console (AES). A CD-ROM-based home console iteration, the Neo Geo CD, followed in 1994. Known for its powerful hardware at launch, the system featured a Motorola 68000 CPU running at 12 MHz with a Zilog Z80A coprocessor at 4 MHz, 64 KB of RAM, 84 KB of VRAM, and 2 KB of sound memory, delivering a 320×224 resolution with up to 3840 on-screen colors from a palette of 65,536.
As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding new Neo Geo hardware. The deleted ESRB rating remains the sole basis for current speculation, with PLAION not confirming any details about a potential AES+ system. Fans and collectors continue to monitor official channels for any confirmation of a modern reinterpretation of the classic home console.
