An ambitious developer, known as Tuxality on YouTube, is working on an emulator to revive the lost gaming history of the Zeebo gaming console. The Zeebo was an obscure rival to major gaming consoles like the Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3, but it only launched in two countries.
Back in 2009, the Qualcomm-backed Zeebo was introduced with a grand plan to target markets like Brazil and Mexico, where the prices of popular gaming consoles were too high for most people. Priced around $170 in US dollar conversions, the Zeebo featured built-in cellular 3G functionality and had support for approximately 40 games. Prominent game developers like Activision, Capcom, EA, Disney Interactive Studios, and id Software were onboard to create software for the console.
Distinguishing itself from traditional consoles, the Zeebo was a pioneer as it exclusively relied on digital downloads instead of discs or cartridges. It predated the rise of mobile gaming consoles like the Ouya, and its strategy was aimed at offering affordable gaming experiences to underserved markets.
However, the Zeebo’s plans didn’t pan out as expected, leading to the end of its operations in its only two markets by 2011. Despite teasing future launches in China and Russia and an upcoming Android-based system on its website, the company eventually disappeared without any further developments. The URL that once served as the Zeebo’s online home now redirects to a supplements ad, signifying its demise.
Tuxality’s video demonstrates early progress in creating an emulator capable of loading the Zeebo’s operating system and running the game Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D. The emulation currently exhibits graphical issues, which are typical of early emulator builds. Nevertheless, this project is encouraging for video game preservationists, as it showcases the effort to conserve the history of gaming hardware, even for relatively obscure and short-lived consoles like the Zeebo. The gaming community benefits from preserving the legacy and library of gaming platforms, no matter how niche they may be.
