CRKD’s Global Brand Manager Jack Guinchard told us on the Retrospect Podcast that new products were coming our way before the end of the year, and he’s certainly keeping his word. The brand behind the epic Nitro Deck that you will no doubt have seen here on Retro Dodo and in our photos has had even more success of late with their NEO S controller range, but they’ve taken things one step further today by releasing a controller that proves size doesn’t matter, and that with the CRKD ATOM, gaming on the go is a breeze.
Just look at the size of this thing! At 68mm long, 35mm wide, and 12mm deep, it’s not too dissimilar in size from the Thumby Color handheld from TinyCircuits, the main difference here is that this collectible keychain controller can hook up to Mac, PC, Switch, smartphone, and tablet devices to let you game properly wherever you are. Why use onscreen controls when you have a controller dangling from your keys? And of course, I chose PAL Grey to feature in the picture above – retro vibes all the way!
The Atom comes in 8 different colours including the translucent shells that we’ve come to know and love through using handhelds over the years and indeed the CRKD and NEO S! Choose from Sky Blue, CRKD Grey, Leaf Green, PAL Grey, Hot Pink, Yuzu Yellow, Glacier Blue or Atomic Purple. Attach them to a keychain or lanyard and use a wrist strap while playing to avoid launching it into the abyss or dropping it!
This thing lasts for 10 hours too, so that’s plenty of gaming time while on a journey or for a gaming session at a friends house. Commenting on the ATOM, CRKD Global Brand Manager Jack Guinchard said “At CRKD, we’re dedicated to creating gaming gear that elevates both the gaming and collectible experience, letting gamers stand out and play different, with products that are just as enjoyable to use as they are to collect.
“We believe the ATOM is the ultimate expression of our mission statement,” Jack continued, “an impossibly small yet surprisingly useable wireless controller that is certain to turn heads when gaming on the go. With a choice of eye-popping colors and an impressive feature set that allows gamers to play across multiple gaming platforms, we believe that ATOM is the ultimate summer & holiday accessory for any discerning gamer.”
Anyone wanting to grab an ATOM can do so today! Priced at just £19.99 / $19.99 / €24.99, the controllers are set to ship out at the end of August 2024. And for those of you heading to Gamescom, the ATOM is available to try out in the flesh in the consumer booth (Hall 10-2 Booth F033), so make sure to give it a try! Head to the ATOM page on the CRKD website to secure yours!
