OpenAI starts selling $200 retro handheld console: create games with a single sentence, Codex helps you write them onto physical cartridges

Beating AI News Flash: OpenAI has partnered with American retro gaming hardware company ModRetro to launch a $200 Codex special edition Chromatic. This is a retro handheld console similar to the Nintendo Game Boy that can play games via cartridges. Now, users can also use Codex to create new games for it.

Users simply need to install the ModRetro plugin in Codex on their computer and describe the desired game characters, maps, and gameplay. Codex will then invoke development tools to generate pixel graphics, game rules, and a runnable game file.

Once the game is ready, users can first playtest it on the computer and have Codex make revisions based on feedback, or connect the handheld via USB for testing. Once satisfied, users insert the included programmable cartridge into the handheld and have Codex write the game onto the cartridge. After unplugging the data cable, the game can be played independently.

Each cartridge can hold only one game at a time, but it can be rewritten repeatedly. Writing a new game will overwrite the old one and may also erase save data. Before the first write, users need to update the handheld's firmware and enable developer mode.

OpenAI has already showcased 13 games made with Codex, which users can play directly in their browsers. The first batch of co-branded handhelds is currently sold out, and the official restock is expected on November 19.