> At a Glance
> – Sweekar, an AI-powered pocket pet, debuts at CES 2026
> – Grows physically larger through egg, baby, teen, adult stages over 45+ days
> – $150 price tag dwarfs the original 1996 Tamagotchi’s £10 cost
> – Why it matters: Nostalgic millennials can now raise a digital companion that learns, evolves, and dies without the pixelated limits of the ’90s
The magenta Tamagotchi that devoured playground attention in 1996 has a 2026 successor. At CES in Las Vegas, a handheld AI companion named Sweekar promises the same emotional hook-except this time it literally outgrows its shell.
From Egg to Autonomous Adult
During a demo, the device lay egg-shaped in my palm. Three gentle taps on its crown lit yellow ears; the shell cracked on-screen to reveal sleepy eyes. Standard incubation lasts up to two days, but show-floor units were ready to hatch on cue.
Life stages mirror the original’s cadence with a physical twist:
- Incubation: 0-2 days, egg on charging base
- Baby: 5-7 days, high-frequency care plus basic language learning
- Teen: 21-45 days, sharper intelligence and emerging personality
- Adult: autonomous, lower maintenance, richer mini-games
Each transition adds bulk; the chassis expands as Sweekar “grows up.”
Stakes, Skills, and Kickstarter
Neglect your digital charge and it dies, echoing the Tamagotchi graveyards of yesteryear. Early neglect taught ’90s kids responsibility; AI promises deeper payoff for modern owners who keep it alive.
| Stage | Duration | Key Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | 5-7 days | Vocabulary basics |
| Teen | 21-45 days | Personality lock-in |
| Adult | Indefinite | Autonomous play |
Pre-orders open via Kickstarter later this year; retail price set at $150-fifteen times what an eight-year-old once nervously handed over for neon-pink pixels.
Key Takeaways
- Sweekar revives the Tamagotchi loop with AI brains and a body that swells as it ages
- Owners face the same existential bargain: nurture daily or watch it perish
- At $150, the nostalgia premium is steep, but early adopters can claim first-batch bragging rights on Kickstarter
Three decades after playground beeps ruled recess, the next generation of digital pets is ready to hatch-wallet weight and all.
