SuiPlay0x1 handheld console unboxing, is it a new chapter in GameFi or just another piece of electronic waste?

The SuiPlay0x1, after a year of waiting, will finally start shipping this summer. This gaming handheld, co-launched by Mysten Labs(, the parent company of Sui), and Playtron, supports gaming platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, and GOG, and is built with a Sui Wallet system, allowing players to manage NFT assets and earn rewards, achieving a seamless transition between Web2 and Web3.

However, at the beginning of the launch, there were continuous reports of issues such as incompatibility with games as advertised, taxes being more expensive than the machines, and chaotic logistics. Would this handheld device be yet another ideal that is very full but in reality very skinny?

The following are the feelings of the physical unboxing.

An experimental handheld device, the purchase experience is like a roller coaster.

SuiPlay0x1 is defined as an experimental handheld device, priced at 599 Mg, with pre-orders starting in September 2024.

But in reality, the 599 does not include taxes, logistics, and other costs of the machine. For Taiwanese consumers, an additional 35 for shipping and 932 NTD for business tax must be added, making the total amount 20,641 NTD, which is slightly more expensive than the selling price of 19,800 for the SteamDeck OLED, not to mention the 14,380 for the Nintendo Switch2.

During the nearly six-month pre-order period, consumers were unaware that the selling price did not include shipping fees and taxes, which inevitably cast a shadow over the long-awaited excitement and even sparked a backlash against SuiPlay's official account on social media.

A youthful operating system paired with impressive hardware, looking forward to a more complete experience.

Display: 7-inch IPS bezel-less screen, resolution 1920 × 1200 Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7840U Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X 7500MHz Storage: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD Battery: 48-50Wh, supports 65W PD fast charging Connectivity: WiFi 6E / Bluetooth 5.2 Operating System: Playtron GameOS

The hardware of SuiPlay0x1 featuring the AMD Ryzen7 7840U is indeed a major highlight, but compared to the advantages of the Switch2 and SteamDeck on their own platforms, the use of the self-developed GameOS operating system by Playtron results in relatively limited game compatibility.

In the GameOS interface, games are categorized into three types: "Compatible", "Unknown", and "Not Supported". "Compatible" refers to games that have been thoroughly tested and confirmed to be compatible, "Unknown" refers to games that have not been tested at all, while "Not Supported" includes games with a probability of functioning less than 50%. After some casual play, it shows that the games marked as "Not Supported" are few, with most games showing as "Unknown". Surprisingly, AAA titles like Black Goku, God of War, and Cyberpunk 2077 are all on the "Compatible" list, so there is still some expectation for playability.

Interestingly, the GameOS operating system is still clearly immature. When I first got the device, I quickly discovered the screenshot function and excitedly played, taking many screenshots from the system update during startup, game downloads, to the game screen that I wanted to share with everyone. However, I still can't find where those files are now, let alone export the images to social media platforms.

Is the gaming ecosystem still being established, and will GameFi welcome a new chapter?

As a handheld device focused on Web3, the integration with blockchain is definitely a highlight among highlights.

When ordering SuiPlay0x1, a Playtron account will be created, and the Playtron account will come with a Sui Wallet address. So far, the total value of airdrops for regular accounts is approximately 71 USD, including $Sui, $DeepBook, $WAL, $SuiNS, $Bluefin , and other tokens and NFTs.

In the handheld interface, the Wallet section is directly placed at the top menu bar. During the actual transfer test on the computer, the account balance on the handheld changes very quickly. Unfortunately, the featured game XOCIETY is under maintenance, so I can't experience firsthand how the in-game items and character NFTs interact with the handheld and the blockchain.

There is potential in SuiPlay0x1, looking forward to the future refinement of Playtron.

In summary, while SuiPlay0x1 does not achieve a perfect score in terms of game compatibility, it is not an unplayable machine. Compatibility will be a balancing act between major game developers and Playtron. With the console's performance still on par with the mainstream market, GameOS will strive to optimize compatibility for large, phenomenon-level games. The real highlight in the future will be how Sui's original games showcase the economic benefits of Web3.

The issues of energy consumption in detail, loud fan noise, and somewhat plastic workmanship are not the main problems that draw criticism; the real focus must be on how well Playtron and Mysten Labs can deliver an exceptional gaming experience on the blockchain.

This article SuiPlay0x1 handheld unboxing, is it a new chapter in GameFi or just another piece of electronic waste? First appeared on Chain News ABMedia.