Have you ever thought about developing a game for Sony’s PocketStation? Now, this dream can finally come true! Retro developer Orion Soft recently listed a new PocketStation development kit on itch.io. For only $15, you can easily enter the development world of this mini handheld console.
The SDK is described as “a C language library and tool set that allows you to easily create games and demonstration programs for Sony PocketStation.” The kit supports multiple functions such as pixel drawing, sprite drawing, key processing, etc., allowing you to unleash your creativity and create your own PocketStation games.
As soon as the news was released, it caused heated discussions on social media, and even Necrosoft’s creative director Brandon Sheffield also forwarded the relevant message, attracting the attention of more retro game enthusiasts.
A bit controversial, but it doesn’t affect your creative enjoyment
However, as the popularity of this SDK increases, some players point out that this suite does not seem to be much different from the version released for free by Orion Soft in 2013. According to BlueSky user lollie.me, this SDK was available for free on Orion Soft’s website for more than ten years until it was removed from the shelves in 2024. The re-listed version has almost no other changes except for moving a sample image.
Additionally, it was discovered that acknowledgments to Miko Hoshino and Martin Korth were removed from the .txt files in the kit. These two made important contributions to the 2013 project, and Miko Hoshino’s C library is the basis of this SDK.
Start creating your PocketStation games now!
Regardless of the controversy, this SDK does make PocketStation game development accessible to more people. For just $15, you get a complete set of tools to start creating your own handheld gaming world.
Now, would you like to give it a try? This time, the opportunity to become a PocketStation developer is right in front of you!