Since its debut in 2022, pre-orders for the Playdate console have far outpaced actual orders, making it difficult to get. Long wait times have resulted when ordering the crank-adjacent portable as a result. All of that is about to change, as the maker has declared the console may be shipped out right away upon purchase.
In addition, Playdate achieved a noteworthy milestone: from 50,000 preordered units shipped last year to over 70,000 units shipped. Though this widespread availability could not continue long, manufacturer Panic says it has now “caught up” to all Playdate preorders. According to the corporation, there are only a “limited number” of consoles that can be bought right now. Shipments are said to depart within two to three days, according to the online business.
Playdates will no longer be available for purchase without prior notice to the public, according to Panic. When there is a waiting time or when supply is limited, however, the store will make it very apparent.
Additionally, the maker is now able to export to several new nations, such as Hungary, Greece, New Zealand, South Korea, and Malaysia. The latter point is very crucial because the console is really made in Malaysia. It’s always a plus when the product can be used by the folks who made it.
The firm says, “Going forward, Panic will notify the public when Playdates are in stock and ready to ship.” When a Playdate is out of stock, customers can still make a purchase; however, they will be informed that their order will not be shipped until Panic has a fresh batch of Playdates available for shipment. Greg Maletic, head of special projects at Panic, stated in an interview with The Verge that order fulfillment times “should be significantly shorter now” and that purchases “will be fulfilled in the near term anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.”
The Playdate’s Seasonal Model and Potential Second Season
Upon its inception, the Playdate had a seasonal concept in which a weekly selection of 24 new games from renowned developers were sent to the device. New releases have only been sold through Catalog or Itch since that time. Maletic does, however, clarify that Panic is still considering a second season, provided that all the technical issues associated with creating twenty games covertly are resolved. He says, “We were really happy with how the first season came out.” We also know from our surveys that the final product was well-received by the customers. We thus wish to repeat it without a doubt.
Panic is organizing a second video presentation to reveal upcoming titles on the platform. There will be more information about this event later on. August saw the most recent showcase, which included a variety of oddball yet interesting titles. To those who don’t know, the Playdate is a unique kind of portable game system. It has a charming bright yellow appearance and a manually turned crank that doubles as a control mechanism. The 24 free games that come with every $200 system may be unlocked twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. Additionally, Playdate Catalog is an online store where you can buy games.
