From PC Mag: Children of the '90s, rejoice! Your favorite digital companions are set to return later this year. To celebrate Tamagotchi's 25th anniversary this winter, Japanese toy maker Bandai is resurrecting the digital pets as a wearable for your wrist.
Rounder than the original egg-shaped keychains, new Tamagotchi Smart devices feature new characters and items, as well as touch and voice controls so you can lovingly stroke and talk to your virtual ward. Perennial functions like a pedometer, digital clock, and the option to pair with a friend are also included, but it would be a stretch to call this a smartwatch.
Only one pet can be raised on each device at a time, but "marriage may give birth to the next generation of children and grow into another type of Tamagotchi," according to the product's translated FAQ page.
Introduced in Japan in November 1996 (then to the rest of the world six months later), the handheld toy became one of the biggest fads of the late '90s and early '00s. A true global sensation, Bandai counted more than 82 million Tamagotchis (which translates as "Egg Watch") sold as of 2017—the same year it introduced a new series of smaller simulation games, available exclusively in Japan for 2,000 yen each (about $18).
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