Playdate

Playdate Specifications

Playdate is a handheld gaming system created by Panic Inc. that began shipping in May 2022. It features a 3-inch, 400x240 pixel color IPS screen and a rotating crank and two buttons for controls. Playdate also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity, as well as 4GB of storage space. The device comes pre-loaded with games developed by several well-known game designers, with a new title released every week for a total of 24 games that will update directly on the system without any additional purchase or download required. Playdate is priced at $179 USD (excluding tax), which includes all of "Season One" games, and is available for pre-order on the official website.

The device is small, square, and yellow and features a black-and-white 1-bit display, a 4-way directional pad, two game buttons, and a mechanical crank, which can be tucked away when not in use.

It was designed in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, a Swedish consumer electronics company.

Playdate uses a Sharp Memory LCD screen similar to e-paper displays. Each pixel can remember its state (black/white) without needing to be refreshed, resulting in faster refreshing and lower power usage with a wide 170° viewing angle.

Panic has announced two accessories for the device. A purple cover was released simultaneously with the device's 2022 launch. A yellow "stereo dock" that charges the Playdate and functions as a speaker and a penholder does not yet have a release date.