Playdate
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Playdate.- Playdate is helping Big Ben ring on timeThe Playdate handheld console is being utilized to help Big Ben, the iconic clock tower in London, maintain accurate time. This innovative use case highlights the versatility of the Playdate's hardware.
The makers of Playdate, the console-with-a-crank, will no longer accept games created with generative AIPanic Inc, the creators of the Playdate handheld console, have announced that games utilizing generative AI for art, audio, music, text, or dialogue will no longer be accepted on the Playdate Catalog store. This policy change aims to address concerns surrounding the use of AI in game development, though custom-written AI functions within games are still permitted. Existing titles that used AI will remain but will be flagged.
Panic won't release Playdate titles that use some forms of generative AIPanic will no longer allow developers to publish titles on its Playdate storefront, Catalog, that use generative AI tools for art, audio, music, text, or dialog. This policy change comes after a game that used AI for coding and writing was included in Playdate Season 2. While AI assistance in coding will still be permitted and flagged, the use of generative AI for creative assets is now prohibited.- PANIC CELEBRATES PLAYDATE’S ANNIVERSARY BY ANNOUNCING PLAYDATE SEASON THREE, COMING LATE 2026Panic has announced Playdate Season Three, a collection of new games for their handheld console, scheduled for release in late 2026. The company also highlighted its 'Playdate for Education' program, which provides discounted hardware to educators, and the release of 'Office Chair Curling,' a cross-play title available on both Playdate and Steam.
- Playdate Season 3 is coming later this yearPanic has announced that Playdate will receive a third season of curated games later this year, in time for the holidays. The company has not yet revealed the number of games or the cost for Season Three, but the previous seasons have offered a variety of titles. Additionally, the highly anticipated game Office Chair Curling is now available for purchase on Playdate and Steam, featuring online cross-play.
"Creativity is the key": how PC hardware's smaller manufacturers are navigating the RAM shortage disasterSmaller PC hardware manufacturers are navigating the current RAM shortage by using less memory in their products or leveraging their unique market position. Companies like Commodore International with the C64 Ultimate and Panic with the Playdate are less affected due to lower RAM requirements, while Framework utilizes a modular approach and direct supplier contact to manage component sourcing. Despite these strategies, some firms like the Pi Foundation have had to increase prices, and the overall outlook suggests the shortage, driven by AI demand, could persist for several more years.