The Solana ecosystem is taking a leap into {hardware} with the forthcoming launch of its first handheld gaming console.
Play Solana, a challenge devoted to constructing a Web3 gaming machine on the Solana blockchain, introduced that it’ll begin transport its Play Solana Gen 1 (PSG1) machine on Oct. 6.
The machine comes with gaming-ready specs, together with an octa-core ARM processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and a contact LCD show. It additionally features a built-in {hardware} pockets and fingerprint authentication, permitting customers to retailer crypto belongings whereas taking part in video games.
It additionally launched a restricted non-fungible token (NFT) assortment that enables a bunch of two,000 holders to have early entry and different ecosystem perks.
Solana dives deeper into bodily merchandise
The launch comes because the Solana ecosystem continues to push deeper into consumer-facing merchandise, following earlier experiments such because the Saga smartphone.
In 2022, Solana Cellular, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, launched Saga, an Android-based, blockchain-focused smartphone.
It gave customers entry to native Web3 instruments like a Seed Vault, the Solana Cellular Stack and a decentralized functions (DApp) retailer tailor-made for Solana ecosystem individuals.
The Saga introduction triggered blended reactions from neighborhood members, however finally noticed a profitable launch in 2023, inflicting a frenzy amongst customers.
In 2023, the product fetched as much as $5,000 on eBay because the cellphone got here with a free airdrop of the BONK memecoin. The cellphone had an authentic $599 price ticket on the Solana Cellular web site.
In 2024, Solana Cellular unveiled a second-generation cell phone, saying it will not simply be a “memecoin cellphone.”
In 2025, the cellphone had 150,000 pre-orders, with income estimated to be at $67.5 million. On Aug. 5, Solana Cellular stated it began transport the Seeker cellphone in over 50 international locations.
Associated: Solana gaming studio Mirror World raises $12M in funding
Web3 will get handheld gaming units
Aside from Play Solana’s PSG1, blockchain community Sui additionally dived into bodily Web3 gaming units.
In 2024, Sui blockchain creator Mysten Labs stated it will ship SuiPlay0X1, a handheld gaming machine built-in to the Sui community within the first half of 2025.
Journal: Solana Seeker assessment: Is the $500 crypto cellphone price it?
