Japanese startup company, Beatrobo, is planning to launch their Pico Cassette product, a game cartridge that can be hooked into your smartphone through its headphone jack, according to Engadget. Although the cartridges don't actually hold the games, instead allowing you access to them via the Internet once connected, they aim to provide a sense of nostalgia and ownership for those that miss the act of using cartridges to play their games in the current generation where physical media continues to decline.
"Sure, you can get "Chrono Trigger" on your iPhone, but it's just not the same," said Hiroshi Asaed, CEO and founder of Beatrobo.
The Pico Cassettes utilize an authentication key that gives you access to Beatrobo's servers, allowing you to play the game across devices without having to start over each time, according to TechSpot. They utilize Beatrobo's existing PlugAir technology, which is used in Japan to sell physical music and video content, according to The Verge.
As of now, the Pico Cassettes are only available as technology demos; at the Tokyo Game Show (TGS), only one game, which was very reminiscent of Flappy Bird, was available to play. However, Beatrobo hopes to get them off the ground soon through crowdfunding efforts and partnerships with content partners.
