Set it up, move it, get started
The PlayPop 8 needs little explanation. Plug in the HDMI cable, place it in front of the TV, and start the game. No controller is required. The 12-megapixel front-facing camera tracks your body at 17 points and translates your movements into the game. Some titles allow up to four people to play simultaneously.
The console is surprisingly small. The cube measures just 76 millimeters per side and weighs around 343 grams. Inside, it boasts 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, along with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. For what the PlayPop 8 aims to be, that's more than adequately equipped.
At IFA, playing with it was indeed as straightforward as Blackview promises. It requires no complicated setup and you don't have to learn any complicated controls. Instead, you wave your arms, do lunges, or jump around in front of the screen and hope the camera understands what you're doing.
Most of the time it did. Clear movements were reliably recognized, though faster or smaller gestures were occasionally a bit less precise. This has little to do with the precision of a gamepad, but that would be the wrong benchmark.
The PlayPop 8 isn't meant to be a PlayStation replacement at all. It wants you to get up, play five minutes of basketball, and then make room for the next person. For this kind of "party gaming," it works surprisingly well.
You do need a bit of space.
It's not quite as simple as "just stand in front of the TV and start watching." The camera needs some space to get a good view of the body.
Blackview recommends a distance of approximately 1,5 meters between one person and the console. If multiple people are playing simultaneously, this distance should be two to three meters. The PlayPop itself should be positioned between 40 and 140 centimeters above the ground.
In a large living room, that's no problem. In a small apartment, it could quickly become cramped. Especially if four people jump at the same time and swing their arms. I would definitely move the coffee table out of the danger zone beforehand!
Five games are included; the rest require a subscription.
Blackview includes five free starter games. Thunder Ace, Chef Slash, Basketball, Mole Whack, and Beat Step are designed to work offline. At launch, there are 22 games available, spanning categories such as action, party games, sports, and puzzles. These include Bowling Strike, Happy Run, Speed Racer, Smash King, and Candy Guard.
Anyone wanting to play more than the five free titles will need Game Pass. Blackview offers it for three or twelve months. New games and seasonal content will be added quarterly.
The camera can be covered.
A camera constantly pointing into the living room isn't likely to be met with enthusiasm by everyone. Blackview has therefore incorporated a physical shutter. When the PlayPop 8 isn't in use, the lens can be covered directly on the device.
According to the manufacturer, the data required for motion detection is processed locally. Blackview also advertises that the platform is ad-free and contains no adult content. This makes it quite clear who the company is targeting with the PlayPop 8. Families are clearly the main focus here, rather than traditional console gamers.
My impression
The PlayPop 8 impressed me most at IFA with its simplicity. No controller, no complicated button layout, no lengthy learning curve – you just stand there and play.
The motion tracking wasn't perfect in my brief test, but good enough that I didn't constantly think about it. The main questions that remain are how long the games will keep players engaged and how attractive Game Pass will ultimately be. The PlayPop 8 certainly doesn't replace a traditional console. However, I can easily see it being a great device for family game nights, parties, or a quick session, provided the price is right.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the PlayPop 8 can find further details on the PlayPop 8 product page.
