- Touted as the first handheld Web3 gaming device, aiming to compete with Nintendo gaming consoles and Steam devices
- Preorders for the SuiPlay0X1 are now live, priced at $599. Around 1,000 preorders have already been received.
Customers can make their purchases using various cryptocurrencies, including Sui (SUI), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Deliveries are expected to start in 2025.
To commemorate the launch, the first thousand people to pre-order a SuiPlay device will receive a non-transferable NFT, which will offer rewards and perks in the future.
The SuiPlay0X1 features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU, an AMD Ryzen 780M graphics card, 16 GB of memory, and a 512 GB SSD with expandable storage. The device has a seven-inch display.
Powered by Playtron’s game operating system (OS), the SuiPlay0X1 can run games built on the Sui blockchain network. However, the console also supports blockchain games from other networks and PC games from platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store.
The SuiPlay0X1 aims to compete directly in a market currently dominated by Steam’s Steam Deck, a popular device that does not support blockchain games. Developers often need to create non-crypto versions of their games to get them on Steam.
“At the end of the day, gamers don’t care what tech is powering a game. Games simply have to be fun and work flawlessly,” said Adeniyi Abiodun, Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Mysten Labs. “The SuiPlay0X1 will showcase that games seamlessly incorporating blockchain technology look and feel no different than traditional ‘web2’ games.”
The device will feature Sui-based games such as Xociety and Dark Times.
“SuiPlay is set to deliver the first of a new generation of handheld gaming systems powered by Playtron’s GameOS,” said Playtron Chief Executive Officer and founder Kirt McMaster.
This isn’t Web3’s first foray into consumer hardware.
Solana Labs previously created the Solana Saga and its successor, Saga 2, an Android phone with native Solana and hardware wallet functionality. Other handheld devices have since been announced, such as the BitBoy One, which aims to deliver Bitcoin-centric gaming on a Game Boy-style device.
Sui’s Rise
According to DeFiLlama data, Sui has grown significantly this year, ranking twelfth among smart contract networks with a total value locked (TVL) of $604 million, up from $466 million on January 1.
The network’s top five DeFi protocols have achieved monthly growth ranging from 37% to 134%, highlighting Sui’s increasing adoption.
Its native SUI token is up 50% in the past 30 days, but remains down 60% from its all-time high set in March.
Mysten Labs, founded in 2021 by former Meta executives, first announced the development of a new handheld gaming device in April. In March, Playtron raised $10 million in funding from Mysten Labs, Samsung Next, and other crypto firms like Polychain and Circle Ventures.