First and foremost, we sincerely apologize to all Chessnut supporters who have pre-ordered and patiently waited for Move. This update is slightly delayed because our marketing team was attending Computex Taipei last week, leaving us little time to focus on production and shipping until now. But rest assured—production has been running smoothly as planned since May 18th. Below, we’ll share detailed progress on all aspects of Move.

1. Move’s Debut – Computex Taipei 2025

Computex, one of the world’s largest electronics exhibitions, brought together exhibitors, media, and visitors from across the globe. It was the perfect stage for Move’s grand debut. We placed Move front and center at our booth, and it did not disappoint. It drew massive attention, with passersby—from casual attendees to international YouTubers—often gasping in awe and reaching for their cameras to capture it. The most frequent praises we heard were: “This is just like Harry Potter!” and “The most innovative product here!”

Due to overwhelming curiosity, we had to cover Move with a protective case to prevent interruptions from people picking up the pieces. Still, we allowed some chess enthusiasts to try it out. Overall, Move received unanimous acclaim, reinforcing our confidence in delivering an exceptional product to our loyal supporters.

Good news on battery life: Addressing concerns about piece battery capacity, we’ve upgraded it. During the exhibition—a high-interference environment with continuous PGN playback—the pieces lasted ~12 hours. Under normal gameplay (less frequent movement than PGN), battery life should reach up to 12 hours.

2. Production Update on Move

As mentioned earlier, the production of Move has been progressing as planned since May 18th. In the initial phase, we focused on manufacturing the piece bases. As you know, each board requires 34 bases, so prioritizing their production in bulk was an efficient approach. To date, we’ve completed a significant number of piece bases and assembled many board units. These are now awaiting aging tests before final packaging. 

However, we’ve encountered an issue with the plastic pieces’ mold injection. Earlier, we received trial samples of the plastic pieces, assembled them with gold bases, and filmed a demo video. Unfortunately, the surface texture and detailing still require refinement, so we’ve asked the mold factory to further optimize the design. As a result, shipments of the plastic-piece version may be delayed by 1–2 weeks, depending on the mold adjustments. We’re closely coordinating with the factory to expedite the process and sincerely apologize for this unforeseen delay.

3. Shipping & Delivery Update for Move

Based on the current progress, the first batch of Move with wooden pieces will be packed and ready to ship next week.

Shipping Methods & Delivery Timelines

Since some backers may not be fully aware of our shipping process, we’d like to clarify how deliveries work to set accurate expectations:

1. Shipment Origin: All products are shipped from our factory in Shenzhen, China.

2. For the US & EU (Most Customers):

· To reduce costs and offer free shipping, we first send bulk orders via sea freight to local warehouses in the US and EU (transit time: 2–3 months).

· Once arrived, local logistics partners handle last-mile delivery.

· Trade-off: This method is cost-effective but requires longer waiting times.

3. For Other Countries:

· Shipments are handled individually by freight forwarders.

· While this incurs additional shipping fees(You've already paid in your pre-order), delivery is faster—typically ~1 month after dispatch.

Order Fulfillment Process

· Orders will be shipped in batches based on sequence and destination.

· Delivery times may vary due to logistics factors (customs, carrier delays, etc.).

· We’ll provide tracking numbers as soon as they’re available and keep you updated.

We will process and ship all orders in batches according to the original purchase sequence and destination. However, due to varying shipping routes and individual package circumstances, delivery times may differ between customers. We sincerely apologize in advance if your order arrives later than others, and we want to assure you that we're expediting the shipping process as much as possible. Tracking numbers will be promptly updated and shared with each customer as soon as they become available.

4. Addressing Concerns & Enhancements

Move has undergone continuous hardware/software improvements, now meeting our stability benchmarks after rigorous lab and real-world testing (e.g., Computex). Below, we address key concerns:

Q1: Will the first batch have defects?
As the 7th chessboard product in Chessnut's lineup, Move benefits from our established reputation for quality that our community has come to trust. Our team fully recognizes that Move represents a revolutionary innovation in chess technology - which is why we've invested significantly more resources into its R&D and testing phases compared to previous products, ensuring optimal usability and stability.

You can rest assured about Move's reliability for two key reasons:

1. It builds upon six generations of proven Chessnut engineering excellence

2. Our development process included:

· Extended stress-testing periods

· Rigorous quality control protocols

· Real-world scenario simulations

Should any hardware issues arise, our exceptional customer support team stands ready to provide immediate assistance and solutions.

Q2: With their complex mechanical/electronic components, are the piece bases prone to failure? Would one broken base render Move unusable?

We fully understand these concerns. Here’s how we’ve addressed them:

Built to Last

· Reliable Design: The bases use high-quality materials and modular engineering, ensuring 3+ years of normal use without issues.

· While rare, wear and tear over time could eventually affect individual pieces.

User-Replaceable Design

· To future-proof Move, we made the bases easy to replace—no technical expertise required.

· If a base fails, you can order a replacement Chessnut base (priced at $19.90 each, free during the warranty period). 

Proactive Support for Early Backers

· During initial production, we observed that defects (though minimal) were mostly tied to piece bases.

· As a token of appreciation and to ensure peace of mind, every Move pre-order will include 4 extra piece bases as backups.

· This way, if you encounter an issue, you can swap the base immediately without waiting for replacements.

We hope this approach reassures our backers and reflects our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Q3: Warranty & Optional Accessories for Chessnut Move

Chessnut Move, like all other Chessnut products, comes with a standard 1-year warranty. Many users have asked whether they can purchase an extended warranty for added protection, just as they can with our other products. The answer is yes—we will release a 2-year extended warranty purchase link at a later date, and customers who pre-order the Move can choose to buy it as needed.

Additionally, we’ve designed exclusive accessories for the Move, including a Carrying Case and a premium wooden charging box. The design details for the Carrying Case are still being finalized, and it will be available for purchase once completed.

These accessories are optional, so users can decide whether to purchase them based on their preferences and needs. Due to coordination with external suppliers, the accessories will take longer to produce than the Move itself, so they will ship separately and arrive later than the board.

That concludes our latest update. We sincerely appreciate all the love and support for Chessnut Move from our community, and we're confident it will exceed your expectations!