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Well over a decade since Sony Xperia Play was considered a phone and gaming handheld, a new brand named Ayaneo is all set to reintroduce this concept while focusing on smartphone gaming.
Although Ayaneo unveiled this device in early November, they have finally come forth with the complete information on their first smartphone console launch, titled Ayaneo Pocket Play.
Ayaneo Pocket Play appears to be a thick smartphone when shut. Slide it open, and it reveals itself to be a gaming console in a manner that bears resemblance to the Xperia Play. As a gaming console, it offers a complete keyboard setup with a D-pad, face buttons ABXY, and four shoulder buttons.
Ayaneo has definitely leaned on nostalgia in remaking this formula with a focus on a 2026 gaming crowd in mind. The slide function enables a seamless transition from phone usage to gaming in this Pocket Play device. Ayaneo has updated this traditional design in many ways.
The most interesting addition over Sony’s design from a decade ago would have to be the integration of two touchpads, a design element that is more characteristic of PC gaming handhelds.
As explained by Ayaneo, these touchpads can be assigned a function to work as virtual joysticks or customized control schemes better suited for different genres of gaming. The same technology can be expected in the company’s upcoming flagship handheld, Next II.
Although the specs have not yet been revealed by this firm, a quick look at some early images shows an appearance of slots, which suggests support for external storage expansion, a very versatile option for gamers with large game files.
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Pocket Play is Ayaneo’s first foray into the smartphone arena, but it enters a very congested space. Gaming-centric smartphones such as Redmagic 10 Pro and Asus ROG Phone series currently have a stronghold in this niche.
Smartphone giants like Apple and Samsung are not far behind in their processing capabilities to support heavy gaming.
While Ayaneo still benefits from being a hardware-focused gaming device with an experimental approach towards phone-console hybrids, it currently lacks a major competitive product in the market.
Ayaneo hasn’t revealed anything when it comes to this product’s specifics. Their Pocket Play is set to arrive on Kickstarter soon, but no pricing decisions have been made or a schedule for launch.
With a good execution, it might just establish a spot in a community where gamers want both nostalgia and innovation, and this can prove that Xperia Play may have finally gotten a second life through Ayaneo’s newest console.
