![[Complimentary Game] The Tale of Bistun for PlayStation 5 or Switch (North America)](https://www.intergamerz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Complimentary-Game-The-Tale-of-Bistun-for-PlayStation-5-or-360x180.jpg "[Complimentary Game] The Tale of Bistun for PlayStation 5 or Switch (North America)")
Last January, Ayaneo embarked on a crowdfunding journey for its innovative clamshell designs powered by AMD Ryzen, the Ayaneo Flip handhelds—specifically, the Flip DS and Flip KB models. Just a month into this venture, we shared our initial thoughts on the Flip DS, only to learn now the full production has been unexpectedly terminated.
The buzz around the device had been quite positive. Updates along the way indicated promising enhancements, especially with its internals upgrading from a ROG Ally Z1 Extreme-equivalent AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the more advanced Ryzen 7 8840U. Yet, on February 25, Ayaneo dropped a bombshell: they won’t be making any more of these handhelds. Those who backed the project have until March 27 to either request a refund or opt for a trade—albeit with potential additional costs—for another Ayaneo device.
This sudden halt is surely a letdown for the fans and backers who eagerly awaited the gadget’s launch post-crowdfunding. It’s quite a shame, especially since various outlets have already received units for review, and it seems a few backers did get their hands on the devices. Ayaneo typically handles crowdfunding pretty well, but this hiccup serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of such endeavors—you’re investing with a hope, not a guarantee, of receiving a product.
The situation does leave me feeling a bit melancholy. In earlier discussions, I highlighted the Flip DS as a fantastic modern successor to the iconic Nintendo DS and 3DS.
The Flip DS was especially intriguing with its dual-screen setup and robust internals capable of emulating the Nintendo Switch and running top-tier PC games. It was a standout in a handheld market often dominated by options like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, offering unique features like second-screen support for multitasking and system tweaks in real-time.
Yet, sometimes, even the most promising projects don’t reach fruition. On the bright side, the few Ayaneo Flip DS and KB models that made it into the wild have now become coveted collectibles. For those interested, securing one of these rare gadgets might mean digging deep into your pockets, as they’ve become quite the hot-ticket items.
