The concept of caring for your own virtual pet was once seen as a fad, following the explosion in popularity and later decline in interest for Tamagotchi upon its initial debut in the late 1990s. Instead, Y2K nostalgia and new iterations of the toy have pushed the creatures back into the public consciousness. As more companies seek to create virtual pets of their own and Tamagotchi creators Bandai push out new designs and updated editions to keep up with demand, Tamagotchi Ring might just be the most unique (and smallest) version to date, designed to bridge the gap between style and functionality.
Revealed at Japan’s annual Tokyo Toy Show at Tokyo Big Sight, the Tamagotchi Ring is the company’s attempt to bring the toy explicitly into the world of fashion by shrinking the virtual pet down to a size that can fit on your finger. The whole device measures just 23mm x 28mm in size (roughly 0.9inch x 1.1inch), all while remaining fully functional through minuscule buttons and a screen roughly half the size of the already-tiny trinket. The fact that your pet now lives on your hand will certainly ensure you don’t forget to feed or play with it, with promotional images showing people wearing it while holding cake and other items.
Yet the device feels most catered towards being a fashion accessory, and that’s no coincidence. With Tamagotchi’s nostalgic revival amongst those who grew up with it and the obsession with Y2K bringing in younger fans, Bandai has sought to expand the franchise beyond toys by partnering with artists and fashion brands both large and small, including Uniqlo .
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