AYANEO has just made a surprising announcement that has caught the gaming community off guard—they’re putting a stop to the production of their much-anticipated handheld devices, the AYANEO Flip DS, known for its dual-screen reminiscent of the Nintendo DS, and the Flip KB, which boasts a full keyboard.
The word from their official Indiegogo page was clear: “After careful planning and strategic evaluation, we’re hitting pause on the AYANEO FLIP for now. This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one we believe will allow us to bring better experiences through our current and upcoming products.”
This news is especially startling considering the Flip DS line, powered by Windows 11, managed to pull in an impressive $867,542 through crowdfunding on the same platform last year. So, if you were among the backers and haven’t gotten your device yet, unfortunately, it’s not coming.
Having personally reviewed the AYANEO Flip DS, where I awarded it four out of five stars, I can vouch for its unique features, which makes this development quite disappointing.
The company also made a statement addressing backers: “We understand there might be some disappointment, and we take responsibility for any frustration this may cause. While the FLIP project is on hold indefinitely, we’re committed to pioneering new advancements in handheld gaming, and your insights will guide our future projects.”
Initially, this move made me wonder if AYANEO was facing some internal challenges. However, their commitment to harnessing feedback for future products suggests they’re not throwing in the towel on new device development just yet.
Now, for those who backed the project but haven’t received their device, AYANEO is offering a couple of options. You can either get a full refund or opt to exchange your pledge for another AYANEO product, with any price differences being adjusted.
For those seeking a refund, you’ll need to contact [email protected] within the next 30 days. If you don’t hear back in three days, the company recommends using their website’s Live Chat feature to ensure your request is processed.
However, those who have already received their Flip handhelds seem to be out of luck, as neither refunds nor exchanges are available to them.
As for why AYANEO decided to halt production, it’s a bit of a mystery. Despite the successful Indiegogo campaign, the move suggests potential production issues, design challenges, or perhaps even legal hurdles.
AYANEO is known for releasing a multitude of handhelds each year, which makes me speculate if perhaps they’ve stretched themselves too thin by juggling too many product lines. The clamshell design of the Flip devices is indeed a niche, and maybe the demand wasn’t as high as anticipated, or the production costs left them with a less than desirable return on investment.
I’ll stay on the lookout for any more updates from AYANEO regarding this situation. Keep an eye on this space for more insights into why the Flip DS and Flip KB lines have been discontinued.
