Mac developer Panic entering the handheld gaming market with the $149 Playdate console

Panic, a longtime Mac developer responsible for apps similar Transmit in addition to Coda, yesterday unveiled a build novel handheld gaming system, dubbed Playdate. Panic has been edifice character Mac software since its inception in addition to Playdate is their rattling starting fourth dimension slice of hardware.

Custom-designed inward partnership alongside Swedish device makers Teenage Engineering, the portable device fits inward your pocket. It runs a custom operating organisation in addition to features a 400-by-240 pixel resolution dark in addition to white display alongside no backlighting.

The display has high reflectivity despite non beingness backlit, Panic said.

On the surface, it mightiness endure tempting to compare the concealment to, say, Game Boy. But Playdate’s display is quite different: it has no grid lines, no blurring, is extremely sudden in addition to clear, in addition to has much higher resolution. It sounds strange to say, but: it’s really a ‘premium’ black-and-white screen.

Other hardware features include Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a headphone jack in addition to a USB-C port for charging. Having worked on the projection for 4 years, Panic hinted they mightiness create taking pre-orders for Playdate afterward this twelvemonth ahead of its launch inward 2020.

Oh, in addition to Playdate has a crank. Yup, you lot read that right.

About those games. We reached out to approximately of our favorite people, similar @KeitaTakahash, @bfod, @helvetica, @shauninman, in addition to many more.

Here’s a peek at one: Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure, from Keita. It’s fun in addition to funny. pic.twitter.com/0Ibwqr5k3I

— Playdate (@playdate) May 22, 2019

Panic says that the crank is an actual flip-out rotational controller “that puts a fresh spin on fun”. Some games purpose it exclusively, like Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure from Keita, approximately purpose it alongside the D-pad in addition to approximately non at all, the companionship explained. “We wanted this matter to come upward out of nowhere, fully formed in addition to simply blow everybody’s minds,” Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser said inward the comprehend storey of the latest final result of Edge magazine.

Playdate prototypes. The device has been 4 years inward the making.

Speaking of games, they’re all included alongside the organisation in addition to volition endure delivered to the possessor each week, for a few months. “But here’s the trick: every game is a secret,” Panic wrote. “Our dream is simple: that you lot wake upward on novel game 24-hour interval excited to run across what you lot tin play next.”

Some of the games coming to Playdate’s monochromatic display.

Panic set together a nicely designed, technically rattling impressive website promoting the handheld console in addition to then larn ahead in addition to cheque it out yesteryear pointing your browser to https://play.date.

Aside from edifice approximately of the finest Mac apps, Panic also started publishing video games. You may bring heard almost Firewatch, a stunning mystery guide chances for macOS from Campo Santo prepare inward the Wyoming wilderness. And afterward this year, Panic volition set out approximately other video game, the joyful Untitled Goose Game from Push Me Pull You creator House House.

What practice you lot build of Playdate, boys in addition to girls?

Let us know yesteryear leaving a comment below.

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