Playdate is an upcoming indie handheld console created by software developer Panic. It will have both console-exclusive titles but will also operate as a dev kit for third-party developers wishing to port their games to Playdate. Panic says that the price point isn’t meant to be too expensive or too cheap, set at $149.
This begs an important question though. In a gaming market saturated by cinematic graphics and most indie games, which often find themselves left in the shadows of AAA titles, are easily accessible via PC, if not on mobile devices, is the handheld console Playdate worth a triple-digit price tag?
In both design and concept, the idea of Playdate is founded in how much the gaming industry has been fueled by nostalgia. While some gamers constantly call for old classics to be remade or even simply ported to new consoles, other gamers are still developing entire games for old consoles like the Game Boy.
Speaking of the Game Boy, Playdate’s design mimics Nintendo’s handheld console of the ’90s and is reminiscent of the popping vintage yellow seen with many Game Boy Colors. In terms of the screen, Panic says itself that “it might be tempting to compare the screen to, say, the Game Boy,” because the graphics are what one would see with retro video games like Pokemon Yellow or Super Mario Land, even though Playdate’s screen is enhanced to forgo the gridlines and blurring of dated technology. But it’s also not backlit, much like the Game Boy, something rarely seen with modern consoles.
The Playdate is taking advantage of the resurgence in popularity for old school gaming. For example, pixel art is a common medium seen online in the last decade, and games such as Ikenfell, Celeste, and Stardew Valley utilize that charm to their advantage.
And when comparing the Playdate’s price point to the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, the figures aren’t that far off from one another. The original Game Boy released in 1989 for $89.99, which is worth nearly $190 when factoring in inflation. However, the Game Boy Color was priced at $69.99 retail, which is worth about $112 today. But while consumers were paying similar prices for similar experiences back in the day, it’s worth taking into account how accessible games of this caliber are on a spectrum of platforms.
The main issue that Playdate’s sales will likely see is its competition with other indie consoles or indie gaming platforms. PC clients such as Steam and Itch.io were always the most common hosts for selling, purchasing, and downloading indie games because these clients are often the easiest ways for small developers to publish games themselves. The Nintendo Switch has now established itself in the indie scene, especially thanks to its own dev kit, though it’s not as easily accessible to small or less experienced development teams.
Playdate forgoes the hassle of going through a third party or Panic to get games ported onto the handheld console. Developers can directly upload games formatted for Playdate seamlessly, according to Panic. Still, why would consumers spend $149 on a handheld console to play popularized indie games, when most are available via phones and PCs, devices that most people have?
Firstly, Playdate will release console exclusive games in seasons. Each season will last one week, with a new game releasing each week. The idea is for Playdate owners to feel a sense of shared exclusivity with other players by experience the game together. But while console exclusives often drive sales for PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, is it enough to drive sales for Playdate into a successful margin? Secondly, Panic is banking on Playdate’s nostalgic value, between its 90s-inspired design and 1-bit graphics, to appeal to a niche group of gamers.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not consumers want to pay $149 for a novelty 90s experience revitalized to be modern. This tactic has worked for products in other markets, such as modern Polaroids and other instant cameras. But for the more frugal buyer, it’s worth keeping in mind that, other than the indie console exclusives and the crank mechanic, there’s little Playdate can do that other modern consoles, mobile phones, or PCs cannot.
Playdate is slated for a 2021 release.
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