Jotego Confirms Neo Geo AES+ Features

FPGA developer Jotego has shared fresh details about the upcoming Neo Geo AES+ from Plaion, and the picture is getting clearer. In an interview with Creativo en Japón, he explained his role in the project and answered several questions many Neo Geo fans have been waiting on.

The short version is that the AES+ sounds like a serious hardware-focused release, not just a casual retro box with a familiar shell. Jotego described work that is aimed at keeping the machine close to the feel of original Neo Geo hardware, while using a modern production path.

Who Is Involved

Jotego confirmed that both he and Furrtek were part of the AES+ project. That detail matters because both names are closely tied to FPGA and arcade hardware preservation work, especially around accurate recreation of classic systems.

He also explained that the AES+ uses an ASIC spun off from the MiSTer FPGA core. His comparison was simple: think of it like a Genesis 2 beside a Genesis 1. Some chips may be combined, but the goal is still to behave like the same system.

Video And Sound

On the video side, Jotego confirmed that the A/V output will support RGB. He also said he helped make sure the colors would look as close to the original Neo Geo as possible, which is the kind of detail retro players notice quickly on a good display.

Audio was also discussed. According to Jotego, the circuit was tailored so the AES+ would sound more like the original hardware. That does not mean every setup will feel identical, but it shows the team was paying attention to the parts of the Neo Geo experience that go beyond the game ROMs themselves.

Input Response

Jotego also confirmed that the AES+ is intended to be a lagless solution. The controller pins are wired directly to the ASIC, and the signal is processed in real time, much like on the original Neo Geo. From a button press to movement through the analog video output, the behavior should match the original system.

There is still at least one open question: no further detail was given in the source notes about any other output path beyond that analog video context. For players who care about latency, that caveat is worth keeping in mind until Plaion shares more complete specifications.