Play Solana is set to begin shipping its first handheld gaming console, the Play Solana Gen 1 (PSG1), on October 6, marking a significant step for the Solana ecosystem into the hardware space.
The PSG1 boasts gaming-ready specifications, including an octa-core ARM processor, 8GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a touch LCD display. It also incorporates a built-in hardware wallet and fingerprint authentication, enabling users to securely store crypto assets while gaming. To provide early access and other ecosystem benefits, Play Solana launched a limited non-fungible token (NFT) collection for 2,000 holders.
This launch follows Solana’s previous venture into consumer-facing products with the Saga smartphone. In 2022, Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, introduced the Saga, an Android-based, blockchain-focused smartphone. The Saga provided access to native Web3 tools like a Seed Vault, the Solana Mobile Stack, and a decentralized applications (DApp) store designed for Solana ecosystem participants.
The Saga’s launch initially received mixed reactions but ultimately saw success in 2023, driven by a free airdrop of the BONK memecoin. This led to a surge in demand, with the phone fetching up to $5,000 on eBay, far exceeding its original $599 price tag on the Solana Mobile website.
In 2024, Solana Mobile announced a second-generation mobile phone, aiming to be more than just a “memecoin phone.” By 2025, the phone had garnered 150,000 pre-orders, with estimated revenue reaching $67.5 million. Solana Mobile began shipping the Seeker phone in over 50 countries on August 5.
Solana is not the only blockchain network venturing into handheld gaming devices. Mysten Labs, the creator of the Sui blockchain, announced in 2024 that it would deliver the SuiPlay0X1, a handheld gaming device integrated with the Sui network, in the first half of 2025.
