The handheld designed just for fun!
The Playdate is a handheld game console developed by Panic and first released to the market in April, 2022. Originally announced on May 22, 2019, the console was set for an early 2020 release. After production delays caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the system was shipped to preorder backers in July 2021 and then received a mainstream release in April, 2022.
The device is designed as a very simple device. The screen is a one-bit monochrome display that utlizies Memory LCD technology from Sharp, along with a four direction D-Pad and A and B buttons. In addition, the system also features a crank on the side which can be used as an analog control.
True to the system's name, the "Playdate", games for the system are delivered online in "seasons", with one new game releasing per week every season. The console's first season which started at launch, includes 24 games. In addition, the console is open-source so games can be sideloaded.
Technical specifications
Processors- STMicroelectronics STM32F746 (ARM Cortex-M7F) 180 MHz
- Espressif Systems ESP32-D0WDQ6 80 MHz
Memory
- 16 MB internal memory with 4 GB Flash storage
Display
- 2.7-inch, 400 × 240 1-bit (173 ppi) Sharp Memory LCD
Connectivity
- 2.4 GHz WiFi b/g/n
- Bluetooth 4.2
- USB-C
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
Current game library
- A Joke That's Worth $0.99
- b360
- Battleship Godios
- Bloom
- Boogie Loops
- Casual Birder
- Crankin's Time Travel Adventure
- Daily Driver
- Date of Life
- DemonQuest 85
- Direct Drive
- Echoic Memory
- Escape From Complex 32
- Executive Golf DX
- Faraway Fairway
- Flipper Lifter
- Forrest Byrnes: Up in Smoke
- Getting There
- Hyper Meteor
- Inventory Hero
- Lost Your Marbles
- Mars After Midnight
- Omaze
- Oxy Con Brio
- Pick Pack Pup
- Playmaker
- Ratcheteer
- Robot Fishing
- Sasquatchers
- Saturday Edition
- Sketch, Share, Solve
- Snak
- Spellcorked!
- Sprout
- Star Sled
- Questy Chess
- Whitewater Wipeout
- Widget Satchel II: Return of Sprocket
- Zipper
