Creoqode Lyra+ project ends abruptly with crowdfunding campaign cancellation
Last month, we reported that Creoqode had announced the Lyra+, a handheld games console based on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. Built around a QLED IPS display, the Creoqode Lyra+ was billed as a successor to the Lyra, which the company sold for £149. While Creoqode managed to deliver the Lyra, it has already cancelled the Lyra+.
Having exceeded its campaign goal with US$64,274 in pledges, Creoqode announced via Kickstarter that producing the Lyra+ is no longer viable. In a post, the company explains:
Unfortunately due to the unexpected increase in material costs our suppliers can no longer commit to the pricing we initially agreed. Therefore, we are unable to offer the product at the price we initially promised to you.
Creoqode has always been committed to fulfilling its promises and not letting down its customers by offering competitively priced products. Although it saddens us dearly, we have no other choice but to announce that we will be cancelling Lyra+ campaign. We have worked very hard in creating a product that has a unique offering to its customers and were very excited to share our product with you. Unfortunately, current circumstances are prohibiting small enterprises to go to market with the products envisioned, but we would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for your continued support. Your support has contributed to the success of our four previously launched products.
For context, Creoqode had hoped to offer the Lyra+ to Kickstarter backers for £299. Eventually, the device would have retailed for £459, putting it in competition with the Steam Deck and the AYN Odin series. However, the Creoqode Lyra+ would have utilised the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4), not a powerful Snapdragon or x86-based SoC. Hence, the Creoqode Lyra+ would have been playing games with the Broadcom BCM2711, an SoC with four ARM Cortex-A72 cores, a VideoCore VI GPU running at 0.5 GHz and access to LPDDR4-3200 RAM. It remains to be seen whether Creoqode will re-launch the Lyra+; it has not ruled out bringing another project to market in the future, either.
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