Here’s How They Stack Up

Instantly, crypto gaming handhelds are a factor.
Final week, the Bitcoin-centric BitBoy One gaming handheld and {hardware} pockets was revealed—and that was adopted on Wednesday by the announcement of the SuiPlay0x1, a Steam Deck-like transportable PC gaming gadget constructed for crypto video games on Sui and past.
Add final 12 months’s Solana Saga smartphone to the listing—and subsequent 12 months’s “Chapter 2” successor—and also you’ve received choices if you would like a transportable gadget that performs video games whereas additionally taking part in good with crypto.
However which is the one for you? A few of these units aren’t out but, so we actually can’t provide you with a agency verdict at this time. However right here’s our early have a look at how these units examine based mostly on accessible particulars and the way they’ve been positioned. And you may wager that Decrypt’s GG shall be preserving tabs on the upcoming launches, so keep tuned as we’ll replace this roundup over time.
BitBoy One
Whereas not an “formally branded” gadget just like the others on this listing, the BitBoy One is clearly constructed round Bitcoin. Borrowing the core design from Nintendo’s traditional Sport Boy however with a daring, translucent orange shell, the BitBoy One is a component gaming handheld, half Bitcoin pockets, and half miner for decentralized bodily infrastructure networks (DePINs).
Developed by Ordz Video games, a Bitcoin-centric gaming mission, the BitBoy One guarantees to assist numerous play-to-earn video games, plus it’ll run emulated retro video games from the unique PlayStation period and earlier. It’ll be a Bitcoin {hardware} pockets too, letting you handle belongings on the chain, plus Ordz says you’ll be capable to faucet into DePIN mining and probably earn crypto only for leaving the gadget working.
This seems to be to be a comparatively low-powered gadget. It makes use of a processor seen in some third-party emulation handhelds, and the PlayStation-era goal ought to give a way of what it’d be capable to deal with—primary 3D graphics, however nothing tremendous trendy or lavish. An Ordz rep mentioned to count on a value level round $500 and a rollout by 12 months’s finish.
SuiPlay0x1
Sui community creator Mysten Labs is teaming up with handheld gaming OS startup Playtron to launch the SuiPlay0x1, a Steam Deck-like transportable gaming PC that’s particularly primed to deal with crypto video games.
Due out in 2025, the SuiPlay0x1 seems to be to be a reasonably lavish gadget, although we don’t have a specs sheet simply but. Throughout an interview with Decrypt’s GG, Playtron co-founder and CEO Kirt McMaster talked about how the corporate is working with “desktop-grade silicon,” together with AMD and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors—and the goal is to play trendy PC video games, very similar to Valve’s Steam Deck does with stable success.
And the crypto angle is that the SuiPlay0x1 can have native Sui community integration, pairing belongings to a person’s gadget account and letting them bridge belongings over from different chains too. It’ll additionally play PC video games from Steam, Epic Video games Retailer, and past, together with crypto video games that aren’t on Sui.
No phrase but on value, however Mysten Labs informed Decrypt that they plan on providing incentives to make the hand-held look like an interesting worth. Whether or not these will take the type of tokens or different advantages has but to be finalized. McMaster mentioned to count on an “extremely good value.”
Solana Saga + Chapter 2
Now right here’s a tool we’ve truly put by its paces. Whereas the Solana Saga isn’t devoted to gaming, this Android-powered smartphone has Google’s Play Retailer, and thus entry to simply about each main cellular sport available on the market at this time.
However the true profit, after all, is the deep Solana integration, which helps it play good with crypto video games. The draw back at this level, nonetheless, is that builders haven’t introduced a number of native Solana video games to the Saga dapp retailer but, so the idea nonetheless feels a bit theoretical even after a 12 months available on the market.
The Saga is strongly succesful, nonetheless, with flagship {hardware}—granted, the chips are from two years in the past when the cellphone was first launched—and a big, crisp show. The unique $999 value level didn’t persuade too many consumers, however by the point it dropped to $599, consumers purchased up the remainder of the inventory to declare a meme coin airdrop that was price greater than the asking value.
We’ll see how the ecosystem develops as Solana Labs returns with subsequent 12 months’s “Chapter 2” mannequin, which shall be cheaper (pre-orders began at $450) than the unique launch and geared toward a wider market. If the Solana telephones can discover a sizable market, then we must see increasingly video games constructed to run natively on them.
Head-to-head
It’s extra than simply community selection that units these gaming units aside. They’re very completely different by way of processing punch, type issue, and have set.
The Sui gadget seems poised to be probably the most highly effective and sure versatile gaming handheld of the bunch, however we’ll need to see how the worth level works out—and whether or not the promised incentives assist enhance the worth. Additionally, it’s not but clear how nicely video games from different chains will work on this Sui-centric gadget.
The BitBoy One comes throughout as a jack-of-all-trades Bitcoin gadget. It’ll run less complicated video games and retro titles, maintain Bitcoin belongings, and apparently mine airdrops from DePIN networks. However will that every one add as much as a tool that’s compelling at $500? Emulation units with this sort of energy often promote for below $100, however perhaps play-to-earn rewards and airdrop farming will add up.
And the Solana Saga? It’s a succesful cellphone that may play a great deal of cellular video games very nicely, however hasn’t actually performed an entire lot on the crypto gaming entrance simply but. However with a less expensive second mannequin due out subsequent 12 months, the Solana Cellular ecosystem might turn out to be much more compelling in time.