We've been keeping an eye on Playdate, the cool little handheld from Panic. It's a device that certainly slides into a niche category, as it has a tiny black and white screen, a crank and an interesting approach to game distribution - 'seasons' where downloads arrive each week. The events and challenges of the past year delayed it somewhat, but now there are details of its imminent pre-order window.
Pre-orders will go live on the official website on 29th July at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK / 7pm CEST. Panic has outlined various details, such as the first batch being due in late 2021, a list of countries it's shipping to, and it's worth noting that pre-orders take payment right away (though can be cancelled and refunded).
In terms of pricing, pre-orders will open on the system itself at $179USD (system + season 1 of 24 games) and the Cover at $29USD. The rather neat dock is 'coming soon' so won't be part of those initial orders.
If you're intrigued but still on the fence our chums at Eurogamer have been hands on with the system, also trying four of its earliest games - be sure to check that out.
Will you try to pre-order this next week?
This article was originally published by nintendolife.com on Fri 23rd July, 2021.
Comments 28
I really like this concept of a handheld. It's a decent-ish price, from the publishers of Untitled Goose Game, and it won't "sell out".
Can't wait to spend an inflated price on this because of scalpers or a GameStop bundle.
Can't wait.
I'm grabbing one and cranking that baby up.
So it’s a low power exclusives machine with lots of built in gimmicks?
I mean, I love my Wii U but I wouldn’t suggest anyone else follow that business model.
It seems like every handheld has a D-Pad these days... Except for Switch.
Oh I can't wait for all the vids to pop up showing people on trains jerking away in a furtive manner and then it turns out that SURPRISE! They are actually interfering with themselves as they missed out on preordering one of these - 'Don't just play with yourself, put that energy to better use and preorder a Playdate now!'
Removed - inappropriate
I emailed and asked about shipping costs to the UK.
“It will roughly be around 20 USD to ship and 40 USD for taxes to get a unit to the UK, though those are not final numbers. It should be in the same ballpark though.”
$240 is about £175. Unfortunately out of my price range.
This looks really nice, but I think $180 for the base unit and 24 mini-games prices it too high for people with a passing curiosity.
There are things like PICO-8 as a platform for small indie homebrew games, similar restrictions and novelty albeit digital, with a small admission fee.
Does anyone here know if Poolsuite.fm is exclusive to the dock? EDIT: on this device I mean. I know it's also a website and on Apple and Android
@MrGawain 'So it’s a low power exclusives machine with lots of built in gimmicks?'
Well that worked out well for the DS and 3DS.
The Wii U failed for different reasons - primarily because of bad marketing - people didn't know what it was and how it related to their existing Wii.
Definitely getting this, been waiting since it was first announced.
@MrGawain
"So it’s a low power exclusives machine with lots of built in gimmicks?"
Worked well for the Switch
😜
As cool as this thing is and as far as pre-order goes I'm excited but may passed on this for now.
The Eurogamer preview wasn't overly impressed. I'm genuinely not sure of the point of this thing. Other than 'it has a crank'. Will be a race to see which bombs harder - this or the Amico.
I like this device, but it's too expensive for what you get.
@noobish_hat Ouch!
The idea of receiving random games once a week is kinda interesting, but the idea of spending £150 on a low res, monochrome, device with not much going for it is quite preposterous to me. Dislike the idea of the crank. I'm thinking of a Private Frazer. An even number. And the opposite of succeed.
Im defo preordering this
Really need to know more about the games before spending that kind of money.
Seems like a lot to spend for a non-color screen device. After shipping costs, that thing's the same price as a Switch mini. I was expecting something more like $100.
The NES mini was $60, and I suppose this has wifi. And a crank, hehe.
I'm really interested in this, but balking at the price, especially when you don't even know what games and how many will be released down the line.
It doesn't have enough good games to seem worth spending that kind of money, unless you want to try programming your own as it will have a free software development kit. Will wait and see what that is like before considering buying.
Yeah I’m having g this! Been watching for a while and excited to have a new toy. Charging $30 for a cover is disgusting though. Stick it in the bag for free, it shouldn’t be an extra IMHO.
@riChchestM it's not, you can use it without the Stereo add on
I'm getting one for sure. Plus Teenage Engineering had a hand in its development and I love them.
I honestly love the idea of this device, but £99 would have been the most I'd be willing to pay. £180 just to get the thing in the country is a bit much, I'd rather put that towards Switch games.
I have to get this, Teenage Engineering is awesome and getting 24 games for it plus the stuff from the user community this should be a lot of fun. I'll bet because of the low res and non-backlit screen the battery on this thing should be really nice, and as a long time gamer I'm always looking for new ways to play and that crank should be a fun new thing to play with. I also love that it's got no analog joystick or a bunch of buttons and is very low res. It looks like something that would have existed when I was a kid, but the modern cpu and crank and wifi ensure that it will play unlike anything I've played before, or at least the potential is there.
@Monkeyboy Hard pass, £175 is crazy
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