The Tamagotchi was released in the late 1990s and it was a toy that captured the imaginations of kids (and some adults) around the world, quickly establishing itself as a cultural phenomenon. Tamagotchis still exist and we’ve seen it reimagined as an app, but its popularity has never been the same since. However, a company called Takway thinks it has the answer with its new Sweekar toy , an AI-powered physical version of a Tamagotchi which was unveiled at CES 2026 .
The Sweekar is a physical version of the Tamagotchi
Firstly, we should note that the Sweekar toy isn’t an official Tamagotchi toy, but rather it has been reimagined as a physical version of it . This means if one of the things you wish you could do with your Tamagotchi is to touch it or pet it, now you can. And seeing how it’s 2026, to no one’s surprise, the Sweekar comes with built-in AI smarts.
So, what does it do? Basically it’s like a smart companion of sorts. You’d play with it like you would a Tamagotchi. You’ll feed it and play with it to keep it happy. The built-in screen displays its face which will let you know how it’s feeling. It even goes as far as remembering your voice and the various “activities” you’ve done together.
Built-in growth cycle
The Sweekar starts off as an egg. Following a two-day incubation period, it will “break” out of its shell to reveal its face. From there, you’ll have to care for it. The Sweekar will go through various life cycles, from baby to teen before eventually reaching adulthood. Once it is an adult, you won’t need to care for it as much. It can go off on its own virtual adventures and becomes less needy.
Eventually, when you hit level 51, your Sweekar becomes unkillable. This means that it’ll stay alive as long as the hardware doesn’t fail and you keep it charged. It’s honestly such a novelty, but seeing as how people have been going crazy over those Labubu dolls, the Sweekar seems like a more hi-tech and interactive alternative.
Takway has not mentioned when it will be released. However, the company does plan to eventually launch a Kickstarter campaign. Early estimates suggest that it could be priced around the $100-$150 range. So, anyone planning to pick one up for themselves? Will the Sweekar become 2026’s hottest new toy/accessory?
