Phantom Game Console

The Phantom video game console was a device that was intended to allow users to play current and future PC games, and would use a direct-download content delivery service instead of the cartridges and discs used by most game consoles.

The device was announced in 2002 by the startup company Infinium Labs, who stated that they were going to release a revolutionary new gaming platform that would offer an on-demand video game service, delivering games via an online subscription. However, the company did not release any specific details, and a working prototype was not seen until 2 years later at the May 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E³). At this point, they released details of the proposed hardware specifications:

• CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+
• Video card: Nvidia GeForce FX 5700 Ultra, with 128 MB RAM
• RAM: 256 MB
• Hard drive: 80 GB "content cache"
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio
• Control: Custom game pad and keyboard-mouse combination unit called a "lapboard".
• Wireless modules will be used to support a wireless lapboard and game pad.

The Phantom Lapboard was a keyboard and mouse designed to be held on the lap (for example, when sitting on a sofa in front of a TV), and its innovative design was nominated for the "Best of Show" category at the E³.

Further details were also released at this time about the Phantom's direct-download content delivery service. Phantom owners would be able to purchase games through the system's interface by connecting the system to a broadband Internet connection and downloading the content directly onto the unit's hard drive. Subscription plans would also be available that would include rental of the unit along with a number of games each month.

Although Infinium Labs claimed that the unit would go on sale that November for the Christmas season, the company still had not found any retailers, licensed games or developed the online delivery software. The November deadline was missed, and a new date of January 2005 was set for launch, which was then later put back to March. However, that date passed too and the Infinium Labs did not appear at the 2005 E³. Although there were rumours that the console would be ready in Autumn 2005 (around the same time as the Xbox 360), that date was also missed.

On 21 February 2006 it was reported that the Phantom video game console had been delayed indefinitely pending further funding, and a later announcement on 15 August 2006 stated that the Phantom game console would no longer exist.