PREVIEW

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Cast your mind back to 1997, and there was only one toy to have - an electronic Tamagotchi pet.

Now, nearly 30 years after a generation of kids fretted over feeding the cluster of pixels they kept on a key chain, it has a futuristic, AI-powered successor.

The Sweekar was unveiled on the show floor of CES 2026 in Las Vegas earlier this month. Like the Tamagotchi, it’s a computerised pocket pet - one that not only develops a complex personality over time, but also grows physically.

At first, Sweekar looks like a small, egg-shaped toy. It has an incubation stage that can take up to two days. The egg sits on its base until it “hatches”, after which the baby stage lasts between five and seven days.

That is followed by a teenage phase, which can span between 21 and 45 days, before the Sweekar finally reaches adulthood.

With each life stage, Sweekar grows slightly larger. Like the original Tamagotchi, every phase brings new challenges for its owner.

The early days require frequent care and basic language interaction. During the teenage stage, the device becomes more intelligent and begins to display a clearer, more distinct personality. Once fully grown, Sweekar becomes largely autonomous, needing less attention but unlocking more complex interactions.

Just like many a Tamagotchi left in a school locker or around a friend's, neglect has consequences. Before adulthood, a poorly cared-for Sweekar can “die”.

After reaching a certain level, however, it can look after itself, aside from needing to be recharged.

Developed by Chinese startup Takway, Sweekar weighs just 89 grams and is designed to be carried everywhere. It comes in pink, yellow, and blue, with interchangeable shells and optional outfits - from cowboy hats to snowboard gear.

Takway says the device emits gentle warmth and subtle “breathing” rhythms to create a more lifelike presence. It also remembers its owner’s voice and previous interactions, allowing it to reference shared activities and experiences.

Once mature, Sweekar can even set off on its own virtual excursions, returning with stories of what it has been up to.

Its personality is shaped through interaction using behavioural modelling inspired by the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator, while a combination of large language models allows it to learn and respond in a more context-aware way over time.

This 2026 update on the Tamagotchi idea does come with a 2026-style price, however, as one is expected to cost between $100 (£75) and $150 (£112) when it launches via Kickstarter later this year.

But for parents keen for their kids (or themselves) to relive the joy they had with their electronic pets in the late ’90s, that may well be a price worth paying.