There are countless apps designed to bring the Game Boy experience to your phone, but nothing can replace the chunky, plastic feel of the iconic console. Now, there's an Android smartphone case that will finally let you game like it's 1989 again.
The Smart Boy Development Kit by Hyperkin turns Android smartphones into handheld consoles that can play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Hyperkin is now taking pre-orders for the retro $60 Android case, which plugs into any appropriately-sized Android phone running KitKat 4.4.4 or above via microUSB.
The retro case features a fully functional D-pad as well as A and B keys and runs games featured on the original Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. It's not expected to ship until December 1 2016 though, so you've got plenty of time to rummage around for those old games before the Smart Boy starts hitting doormats.
It also doesn't look like the current $60 case is a fully-finished product. Hyperkin is including an open source serial app and firmware to let developers turn the Smart Boy into a "retail-ready model," according to the company's website.
Hyperkin is offering a percentage of retail-ready Smart Boy units to anyone who improve its app and firmware so it's ready for a wide-scale public release.
The Smart Boy's release was originally touted a year ago, when Hyperkin appeared to be gearing up for an iPhone-only release, but after debuting the case at this month's E3, it appears the company has switched focus onto Android phones.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
