These two crypto-integrated handhelds are aiming to make Web3 gaming happen—because if it doesn't work the first time, try, try and try again

Let's kick off with some terminology: Blockchain. Bitcoin. NFT. Web3 gaming. Provided your eyes haven't rolled so far into the back of your head you're still able to read the rest of this article, I have some terrible news for you—two new handhelds are aiming to corner the market once more on blockchain-based gaming, only this time, it's mobile.

First up we have the SuiPlay0X1, a handheld gaming device with «native Web3 capabilities», or at least, a pretty render of one (via Ars Technica). Announced proudly as «the world's first blockchain native handheld games console», the SuiPlay 0X1 is integrated with the Sui blockchain, a Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform.

What that means for potential buyers is handheld «Web3 gaming», which in basic terms is essentially gaming connected to a blockchain or with some cryptocurrency integration. Your in-game assets can be tracked and transferred on a blockchain, and in this case you can set up a crypto wallet tied to your handheld. Bully.

But keep your fork, crypto fans, because there's more. Hot on the heels of a sneak preview event at Paris Blockchain Week on April 7 was the Twitter announcement of the BitBoy One, a translucent orange Web3 gaming handheld (via Tom's Hardware). Developed by Ordz Games, it too makes a bold claim, in this case that it's the «world's first Web3 gaming device», and otherwise looks like a standard emulation handheld that once spent a frantic night with a Terry's Chocolate Orange.

However, there's a party trick. Despite the relatively meagre hardware inside, including the four year old Arm SoC-based Rockchip RK3566, 32GB of internal memory and 4GB of RAM, Ordz claims that not only can you use it as hardware crypto wallet, you can also earn tokens through the device by playing blockchain play-to-earn games. And as if that wasn't enough crypto in your handheld gaming experience, the creator—the mysteriously named z3th—says that you'll also be able to mine Bitcoin using the device. Very