Content
The content of James Channel mainly revolves around James preforming absurd modifications on retro video game console hardware. James first video to gather attention was in January 2024, where he attempted to recreate the unreleased Sony PlayStation prototype. In his video, he puts a first-generation Playstation motherboard inside of a Super Famicom shell, resulting in the disk storage being exposed from the SNES's cartridge slot.
In March 2024, James put an entire Nintendo Entertainment System console into a NES cartridge. He did this by using a plastic shell of the cartridge and putting into a Famiclone. The power is supplied by a Micro USB port and a headphone jack. In August 2024, he hot glued a CRT screen on to the original Game Boy handheld. Due to the power needed for the CRT screen, the total battery life lasted two minutes and five seconds.
In September 16, 2025, James turned the first-generation Xbox home console in to a handheld one. The video documenting the project is 33 minutes long. The video took over three weeks to make due to a technical issues in the middle of the video. He used hot glue, duct tape and super glue for the project. The total battery life, which was powered by a 20-year-old iPod dock, lasted 9 minutes and 40 seconds. In May 2026, he did the same thing to a PlayStation 2 console, turning that into a handheld as well.
In July 2026, James criticized Nintendo for not making a Virtual Boy controller for the Nintendo Switch 2, which would correspond with the release of Virtual Boy games on to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This resulted in him making his own wireless Virtual Boy controller for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Reception
James content would receive media attention from many video game journalists. Outlets that have covered the channel include: Kotaku, PC Gamer, GameSpot, Engadget, and GamesRadar+. His content was noted for its absurdity. James Bentley of PC Gamer said "It's not often I find myself chuckling at DIY projects, but YouTuber James Channel got a hearty one from me," noting the part where James saws an Xbox in half for his video.
Zack Zwiezen of Kotaku described the Xbox handheld as the "most dangerous handheld" and that the video corresponding with the build was "fantastic". Damien McFerran of Time Extension said the process of him creating the CRT Game Boy was "completely intentional and very amusing [and] scary to watch." McFerran would later say in an article about the NES cartridge console, that "James Channel doesn't put much stock in the idea of 'planning ahead', but in all honesty, that just makes things more interesting." Anthony Wallace of Retro Dodo said that the exposed disc drive on his Nintendo Playstation was "frightening". Overall, Wallace said "the work by James Channel reminds us of the unique history in how our favorite video game consoles became a reality."
