The RetroBlox is an upcoming modular "virtual console" that looks to be a literal game-changer for those interested in retro gaming. The upcoming third-party retro gaming console is promising some big things going forward, but will it be able to deliver on all of its promises?

We certainly hope so. The RetroBox will feature an optical drive so it will be able to support game discs from the PlayStation and Sega CD as well as Turbo Chips and cartridges to fit nearly every retro game in your collection, with online connectivity and a slick new user interface. Its "hybrid emulation" mode will even let you play games with special graphics chibs like Star Fox.

If it sounds too good to be true, that's because it sounds absolutely astounding, including support for NES, SNES, Genesis, Atari 2600, and TurboGrafx 16 as well as the PlayStation, Sega CD, and PC-Engine CD games. There's even support planned for future console formats later down the line.

You will be able to save game ROMs to the console as well, and this is the company's official statement on the matter:

“You will not be able to simply load up an SD card full of roms, plug it in and suddenly have a huge library available as we do not support or advocate for piracy, no matter how ubiquitous it has become. However, in the interest of minimizing the use of and further preserving classic games, RetroBlox does allow you to back up the games you personally own on physical cartridges or discs to the system in an iPod / iTunes type relationship.”

The console isn't priced just yet, but you can bet it will likely cost a pretty penny. The RetroBlox company is looking to start up a Kickstarter release in April to hopefully bring the console to fruition in about ten months. While we're waiting to see what happens with the console, we can check out a hands on from Southern California's Retro Gaming Expo to whet our retro gaming whistles.