AYANEO’s clamshell Windows handheld joins the crowdfunding hall of shame

AYANEO’s clamshell Windows handheld joins the crowdfunding hall of shame

Ayaneo Flip DS

Credit: AYANEO
  • The AYANEO Flip has been discontinued before all orders were shipped.
  • The project was successfully funded last year, but order fulfillment has been delayed several times.
  • Backers who didn’t receive their devices can request a refund or another AYANEO product within 30 days.

Crowdfunding is one of the main ways new retro gaming handhelds are produced, with huge discounts for those willing to take the risk. Those risks don’t always pay off, though, with the latest high-profile cancelation coming from AYANEO.

The AYANEO Flip, which was successfully crowdfunded last Spring, raised over $850,000 on Indiegogo. There were two versions available, one with a second screen, similar to a Nintendo DS, and another with a full keyboard. Order fulfillment has been delayed due to parts shortages, but the project has now been discontinued entirely, with some backers never receiving their devices.