spruceOS v4.5.0 adds offline achievements and Powkiddy support

Custom firmware project spruceOS released version 4.5.0 today, bringing offline RetroAchievements and cross-device save syncing to a massive list of retro handhelds. The update officially adds stable support for Rockchip RK3566 devices like the Powkiddy RGB30 and RGB20SX.

Originally built in 2024 to replace the sluggish stock interface on the Miyoo A30, spruceOS has steadily eaten its way through the handheld market. Lead developer SundownerSport and the team have expanded it into a multi-device ecosystem. It relies on a clever dual-SD card architecture. You put the underlying hardware drivers on the first card using base systems like BaseOS or dArkMoss, and keep spruceOS on the second card. That means you can pull your primary game card out of a Miyoo and slot it directly into an Anbernic or Powkiddy device.

Fixing the achievement problem

The biggest addition is RAOfflineProxy integration. RetroAchievements usually require a constant internet connection to authenticate unlocks, which defeats the purpose of playing on a portable device during a commute. Version 4.5.0 caches your game data locally. You can earn achievements on the train without Wi-Fi, and the system queues them up to sync the next time you connect to a network. Cached games get marked in the game list so you'll know what is safe to play offline. It's a massive quality-of-life upgrade.

Syncing saves with Grout

The update also introduces the Grout app to the spruce Game Nursery. Grout is a client for RomM, allowing you to sync your ROM library and save files across multiple devices. If you own three different handhelds and want to move a 40-hour Final Fantasy Tactics save between them without manually copying files over USB, this handles it.

Powkiddy joins the roster

The hardware support list is getting absurdly long. The firmware now runs on the Miyoo A30, the entire Miyoo Mini family, TrimUI's Smart Pro and Brick lines, and Anbernic's XX series. This release brings the Powkiddy RGB30, RGB20SX, and Miniloong Pocket 1 into the stable branch. The RGB30 is known for its 1:1 square display that perfectly fits Pico-8 and Game Boy games. Getting the Powkiddy hardware working required dArkMoss, a fork of christianhaitian's dArkOS that handles the OS layer on the primary SD card. Support for MagicX devices like the XU20 and Zero 28 is currently in active development using a different base called oakMOSS.

The changelog includes dozens of smaller fixes. The Bluetooth stack got a complete rework for pairing headsets, the DSi emulator DSperate updated to version 3.0 with a built-in cheat database, and you can finally swap the volume buttons on the RGB30. The update also bundles the October 2026 beta of PortMaster, which lets you run native Linux PC ports directly on the handheld. The developers added French translations, a themeable in-game menu, and RGB LED controls for the Anbernic XX models.

Installing the firmware is straightforward. The developers provide an all-in-one installer app for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It lets you pick your specific device from a dropdown menu and automatically flashes the required base image to your first SD card. You don't have to manually format partitions or hunt down the right dArkMoss release on GitHub.