The little console that could do it, Playdate, gets a at 12 p.m. ET. Manufacturer Panic promises a 14-minute presentation full of new games that may or may not use the console's strange little crank.
We only know of one game that will be featured at the event, but it's a doozy. Lucas Pope, the creator behind And has been busy preparing a Playdate title called March after midnight. We'll likely get a new trailer for the game, which was first revealed in 2021. Panic also says the event will include an “update” on the title. So the long wait is almost over.
March after midnight has Papers please, although it is set in an alien world and not a fictional Cold War country. You play as a gate guard on an alien colony responsible for letting people in. It certainly looks a lot like Papers please volume. As you can see, the graphics are absolutely stunning and the game certainly uses that crank.
Panic hasn't teased any other games that will take center stage during the showcase, so it's anyone's guess. This is an original console that practically requires unique gameplay elements, so we might be in for some nice surprises. The company said the event won't feature any hardware updates, for those looking for a Playdate 2.
To that end, the console is almost two years old but for the purchase. Before last week, customers had to wait months after ordering the console before it shipped. Now you will receive one within two to three days.
For the uninitiated, Panic has concocted a truly distinctive style and The bright yellow Playdate features a traditional D-pad, two buttons, and most importantly, a crank control mechanism. The console costs $200 and each purchase gets you 24 free games, with two unlocks each week for 12 weeks. This is the first developer showcase for Playdate