The Solana ecosystem is making strides in hardware with the upcoming release of its inaugural handheld gaming console.
Play Solana, a project committed to developing a Web3 gaming device on the Solana blockchain, announced that it will begin shipping its Play Solana Gen 1 (PSG1) device on October 6.
The device boasts gaming-ready specifications, featuring an octa-core ARM processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, and a touch LCD display. Additionally, it incorporates a built-in hardware wallet and fingerprint authentication, enabling users to securely store crypto assets while gaming.
Moreover, it launched a limited non-fungible token (NFT) collection, granting early access and additional ecosystem benefits to a select group of 2,000 holders.
Solana embraces physical products
The launch coincides with the Solana ecosystem’s ongoing expansion into consumer products, following earlier initiatives like the Saga smartphone.
In 2022, Solana Mobile, a branch of Solana Labs, introduced the Saga, an Android-based smartphone designed with a focus on blockchain technology.
This device provided users with access to native Web3 tools, including a Seed Vault, the Solana Mobile Stack, and a DApp store specifically for Solana ecosystem participants.
The introduction of the Saga elicited mixed feedback from the community but ultimately led to a successful launch in 2023, generating considerable excitement among users.
In 2023, the device sold for up to $5,000 on eBay, particularly due to a promotional airdrop of the BONK memecoin. The original price was set at $599 on the Solana Mobile website.
In 2024, Solana Mobile presented a second-generation smartphone, asserting it would not merely be a “memecoin phone.”
By 2025, the phone received 150,000 pre-orders, with revenue projected at $67.5 million. On August 5, Solana Mobile announced the commencement of shipments for the Seeker phone in over 50 countries.
Related: Solana gaming studio Mirror World raises $12M in funding
Web3 enters handheld gaming
In addition to Play Solana’s PSG1, the Sui blockchain network is also venturing into physical Web3 gaming devices.
In 2024, Sui blockchain developer Mysten Labs announced plans to release SuiPlay0X1, a handheld gaming device integrated with the Sui network, expected in the first half of 2025.
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