game startup playtron is looking to challenge the handheld dominance of established giants like Steam and Nintendo with the launch of a low-cost, flexible operating system that can run on all types of devices. Additionally, in collaboration with Mysten Labs, Sui-Brand model.
On Wednesday, Playtron and Mysten Labs announced SuiPlay0x1 at the Sui Basecamp event in Paris. It is a handheld gaming device that runs the Linux-based Playtron OS.
Scheduled to launch in 2025, the portable console will be able to run not only Sui-built games, but also blockchain games on other networks, as well as PC games from Steam and the Epic Games Store, as long as it has enough power. (Details have not yet been announced).
Mysten and Playtron are promising deep native integration of the Sui blockchain. Sui assets owned by users are linked to their Playtron account and can be accessed from any device.device taps Sui's zkLogin function For login like Web2. Users will also be able to pay for traditional games using their Sui wallet through his Playtron unique storefront.
swipe play 0x1. Image: Mysten Labs/Playtron
playtron I recently came out of stealth., announced $10 million in funding from backers including Mysten Labs, Samsung Next, and other crypto companies such as Polychain and Circle Ventures. Co-founder and CEO Kurt McMaster previously served as his CEO at mobile OS startup Cyanogen, and co-founder and chairman John Lagerling helped expand his Android at Google. Did.
McMaster shared sharp criticism of Steam, the dominant PC gaming market, which he called a “monopoly.”vapor Blockchain games are not allowedTherefore, studios building using this technology should either create an unencrypted version or find a workaround To line up at the largest storefront. The popular Steam Deck handheld is a market leader in portable PC gaming devices.
In such a model, crypto games are “second-class citizens,” which is why many are launched independently or via blockchain-centric launchers, he said. The Epic Games store has friendly to those gamesHowever, Steam is aimed at a much larger audience. The Playtron launcher will be able to support these and other games, he said.
“We want to build an operating system where people can play everything,” McMaster said. DecryptionThis is GG.
swipe play 0x1. Image: Mysten Labs/Playtron
While Sui's integration is built natively into the operating system, McMaster and Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder and chief product officer of Mysten Labs, acknowledged: DecryptionGG says that devices running the OS can also play crypto games built on other networks. But of course, Mysten hopes that native integration will allow more developers to build on top of Sui.
cryptocurrency incentives
SuiPlay0x1 will definitely be compared to other products. solana saga smartphone. Considering the clumsiness of the interaction, decentralized app Solana Labs chooses to develop (dapps) using popular mobile devices from leading companies, but builds its own flagship-quality Android smartphones with Solana's native integration and hardware wallet functionality. I chose to.
Although Saga initially proved to be a niche device with limited demand, it could be used to effectively create a corps of loyal users, earning token airdrops and other incentives along the way. It was helpful to know that I would be able to do it. give me a second wind.Currently, Solana Labs Cheap “Chapter 2” successor Around that kind of mentality.
swipe play 0x1. Image: Mysten Labs/Playtron
No doubt, SuiPlay0x1 will be compared to what Solana Labs did with Saga. Playtron and Mysten acknowledged that, but also said that everyone already has a cell phone, and many people don't want to give up their phones for models with better crypto hooks. They're more bullish on the idea of a cryptocurrency-infused gaming handheld that can play just about anything.
But they see a similar benefit to SuiPlay0x1 ownership as the previous Saga: a user-only benefit. Think free tokens or assets to encourage players to try new games, possibly on-chain rewards, or even discounts and incentives for Sui users. They also plan to subsidize the device in some way to lower the price and attract players.
“Imagine being able to preemptively airdrop assets to people who have a device to get them into the game. User acquisition costs have dropped significantly,” Abiodun says. “Imagine being able to attract users with rewards and loyalty schemes, keep them playing the game for a long time, and actually get more value in the long run.”
He added that the device will allow people to “make payments without the hassle of traditional payment methods.” USDC others stable coin.and owned by the user NFT It could function like an “engagement pass” that grants special perks.
And just like many of the late Solana Saga buyers snatched up their last remaining cell phones. Claim your share of BONK meme coins According to Abiodun, this was worth more than the price of an actual phone at the time, and the Misten Institute plans to “subsidize” the cost of the handheld system with incentives to encourage people to join the Sui gaming ecosystem. It is said that
swipe play 0x1. Image: Mysten Labs/Playtron
“We absolutely give people an incentive to buy this device,” he said. “Ultimately, we think the ecosystem of these players will be extremely valuable over the long term, so it's a no-brainer investment from our perspective.”
Abiodun mentioned “token incentives” during the interview, but after this article was originally published, a representative from Mysten Labs said there could be different types of incentives and that there are It has been made clear that one option is not “everything”.
Mysten Labs and Playtron have not yet announced the potential price of SuiPlay0x1 or details on how to incentivize purchases with token rewards. However, McMaster believes it could eventually become affordable and attractive enough to bring new users into the crypto world, and perhaps even disrupt the status quo. ing. Anti-cryptocurrency mindset of many gamers.
“This is a potential opportunity to open up people who haven't really been involved with cryptocurrencies before,” he said. DecryptionThis is GG. “But this is the first time that this class of device is available at an incredibly affordable price.”
Editor's note: This article was updated after publication to include clarification from Mysten Labs about the types of incentives that may be offered.
