Samsung is said to be releasing a tri-fold phone next year, but the Korean company may have a more exciting product warming up under the radar.

A new patent has been posted at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (via 91mobiles), revealing that Samsung Display is working on what the patent describes as an “electronic gaming machine.”

The technical drawing depicts a foldable handheld gaming console, similar to the Game Boy SP, Nintendo's Game Boy masterpiece.

It should be noted that Samsung Display is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. As such, the division regularly produces displays for both Samsung devices and other consoles like the Nintendo DS. This means that Samsung can make foldable displays for other companies' game consoles, which would still be interesting.

The console shown in the technical drawing appears to have a flip-style folding design reminiscent of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and includes what appears to be a Flex Hinge for a clamshell phone. From the drawings, it is not clear if there is an external display like the Flip 6 features.

There appears to be a recessed button and joystick that may be removable.

The drawings show the device from all angles: folded, open, in profile, and angled. It appears reasonably thin.

The patent appears to have been filed over two years ago, but was only recently approved by the US Patent Office.

Since this is the first we have heard of such a device from Samsung, it is unclear if this suggested device will be mass produced.

However, if Samsung is not making a folding console, it may suggest a partnership with another game console manufacturer, such as Nintendo.