Rapper Soulja Boy is as soon as once more making an attempt to promote a sport console, this time promoting what seems to be to be a rebranded Retroid Pocket Flip 2 underneath the identify SouljaGame Flip.
In a submit on Instagram (noticed by Retro Dodo), the artist identified for his 2007 hit music “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” could be seen exhibiting off what seems to be a Retroid Pocket Flip 2. He stated the gadget is definitely a brand new SouljaGame Flip console that’s “out proper now” and could be purchased from his web site. He stated it has “all of the video games you want,” a “quick processor,” and “good graphics.”
Soulja Boy was initially promoting “his” console for $436, over twice the $209 value the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 at present goes for on Retroid’s official website. However since information started to flow into concerning the rebranded gadget and its hefty price ticket, the worth appears to have been slashed to $200, really making it cheaper than shopping for the gadget immediately from Retroid.
The web site the place the SouljaGame Flip could be ordered exhibits photos that look to be taken straight from Retroid’s personal web site, solely with some further photos exhibiting white packaging that say SouljaGame. Even the names of the totally different console colours on the Soulja Boy web site are the identical as that of the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, together with the GameCube-inspired GC colour scheme. The console’s retailer web page description states the SouljaGame Flip is “the final word handheld gaming console endorsed by Soulja Boy.”
Retro Dodo reached out to Retroid about the entire affair, and acquired an official assertion that made clear Soulja Boy promoting repackaged Retroid Pocket Flip 2s isn’t any type of official partnership.
“This isn’t any type of official licensing deal,” Retroid stated. “He doesn’t have permission to rebrand our merchandise and promote them as his personal. The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 is patented within the US by ourselves.”
It is at present unclear if Retroid will pursue authorized motion, however it’s not the primary time Soulja Boy has tried to promote sport consoles. In 2018, the rapper offered Chinese language emulators underneath his personal label, and once more in 2021 with a rebranded Game Boy-inspired handheld known as the TRDR Pocket.
The hand-held gaming market is at present booming, with a rising retro emulation gadget market and the discharge of the Nintendo Change 2 and Xbox-branded ROG Ally.