Game reservation, prices, features and season 1 game date

Game reservation, prices, features and season 1 game date
Update: Playdate pre-orders are still available, but shipments as of now will arrive in 2022, according to the official website. Details below. Playdate is a curious little thing. Created by video game publisher Panic, this delightfully retro handheld evokes a Game Boy-like aesthetic from a hardware and software perspective, while offering modern conveniences like Wi-Fi connectivity and USB-C charging. This is a pleasant surprise, and hopefully an interesting alternative to two upcoming handheld behemoths, namely the Nintendo Switch OLED and the Steam Deck; the former is arguably a small hardware upgrade, while the latter has impressive specs and a Steam library. portability at a relatively high price. The Playdate, then, could be a real refresher in the laptop space. It's more affordable than the Steam Deck and OLED Switch, and it comes with its own bespoke suite of games. Interested? Read on to find out how you can reserve the Playdate for yourself, as well as what to expect on the device and when you can finally play it.

Playdate pre-orders and prices

Pre-orders for the Playdate handheld console have opened at Panic's clean place Thursday, July 29 at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST. The starting cost is €179 (approximately €129 / AU$239) before shipping, and for that price you'll get the console and access to 24 games as part of "Season 1" of the Playdate library. You can also pre-order the Playdate sleeve for $29 (about $19 / AU$39). This clamshell case folds over your PlayDate and magnetically attaches to the device, allowing it to more effectively protect your screen. If you're just getting into Playdate, mark your timeline for 2022. Late-2021 shipments for the console — some 20,000 units by 2021, according to Playdate maker Panic — have ushered in a 2022 delivery date.

Playdate release date

There's no word on an official Playdate release date yet, but it's slated for a 2021 release. With the Nintendo Switch's OLED launching in October, Panic may want to get his handheld out before then. Nintendo's mid-gen update hits the market. A stereo docking station for Playdate is also in development, though no pricing or release date has been announced yet. The docking station will be able to charge your console and act as a Bluetooth speaker and pen holder. Yes truly.

Playdate features: what do you get with Playdate?

La consola Playdate en su caja

(Image credit: Panic/Playdate) On his website, Panic notes that Playdate is "familiar," but insists that it's "like nothing you've ever seen." That may be true, as the handheld certainly has an odd build and oddly unique features. Let's look at what's most important first: that gorgeous reflective 2,7-inch monochrome display. If it seems a bit smaller, that's because it is. The Playdate is a small device, but just like Nintendo's forgotten Game Boy Micro, games are sure to look remarkably crisp and clear on such a custom screen. In terms of controls, Playdate has a simple D-Pad and two face buttons. There's a menu button located above the speaker and to the side of the screen, which can also be used to pause games or activate other ancillary features like putting the system to sleep. The thing that stands out the most literally has to be the crank on the side of the Playdate. This crank folds out and can be manipulated as a method of control for some games. It can easily be mistaken for one of those kinetic charging features, a feature that would allow you to recharge the battery by starting the mechanism, but the Playdate website insists that's not the case.

Playdate Games Season 1

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(Image credit: Panic/Playdate) Now let's get to the really cool stuff. As mentioned, purchasing Playdate will give you access to 24 games, which will be released on a consistent schedule of two games per week. You don't have to pay anything extra to access the games, and they will be added to the system automatically every week. The Playdate website says that this is also only the first season of games, with more projects planned for the future: “We are lining up more games and working on cool ways to distribute them. Here is the list of currently confirmed Season 1 matches: If you are the creative type, Playdate might also be the perfect option for you. The Playdate SDK will be available for free after launch. When combined with Playdate's browser-based Pulp game creator, you'll be able to develop and test your own Playdate games and load them directly into the console. We're really impressed with what we've seen so far with the Playdate handheld console. There are plenty of handheld devices out there that are shoddy, but we don't get that Playdate feeling. The console looks sleek and professionally designed, and we love its distribution model of featuring completely unique games released on a regular basis. Can't wait for Playdate? Check out these Nintendo Switch Lite deals below: Today's best Nintendo Switch Lite deals

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