Playing on the original PlayStation —and the PS2— without relying on factory memory cards already has an accessible alternative: Retro Remake has opened reservations for the SuperStation SD2SPX, an open-source memory card that stores everything on a microSD. The price is $35 and shipping is scheduled for November.
The device is Retro Remake’s version of the SD2SPX, an open design compatible with both PS1 and PS2. The company offers eight color variants, some solid and others translucent.
What the SuperStation SD2SPX Is
Technically speaking, the card mounts an RP2040 microcontroller with 16 MB of flash storage and 8 MB of PSRAM, a 128×64 pixel OLED screen, six buttons for navigating menus and playing, a rechargeable 110 mAh battery, and an integrated speaker. On paper, it is a device designed to be managed without depending on a PC every time you want to switch virtual cards.
The firmware that drives it, SD2PSXTD, adds functions beyond simple saving:
- Automatic Game ID switching, so each game recognizes its corresponding card.
- Simple management of save files.
- Compatibility with MMCEMAN and MMCEDRV to load PS2 games directly from the card onto a PS2.
- Support for virtual cards ranging from 1 to 128 MB.
- FreePSXBoot.
- Dual booting for Arduboy games.
- Firmware updates via drag and drop.
Why It Matters to Those Still Playing on PS1 and PS2
Original memory cards have a space limit that is now tiny, they degrade over the years, and in the second-hand market they are quoted at increasingly high prices. A solution like this replaces that dependence with a microSD and a panel where you can choose which virtual card to use at any given moment, something especially useful for those who keep multiple consoles or switch games frequently.
The fact that the design is open and that the firmware allows loading PS2 games directly from the card places it in the orbit of console catalog preservation projects. Those who prefer that library on other platforms already have alternatives like NetherSX2, which brings PS2 emulation to Nintendo Switch, although here you play on original hardware.
What Changes for the Player
The SuperStation SD2SPX can be reserved for $35, with shipping scheduled for November. Retro Remake has not launched only this product: in the same batch they have opened reservations for their BlueRetro controller receiver for PlayStation, a video cable for the SuperStation One that outputs all signals via RCA connectors, and a cheaper «Lite» edition of the SD2SPX that is already sold out.
From RetroRGB they remind you that it may be more cost-effective to group several products in the same order, because separate shipping can become quite expensive. The decision, in any case, comes down to the usual thing: how much of the PS1 and PS2 catalog is still being played today and for how long longer one wants to maintain access to those saves without depending on the original cards.
