US & Stockholm – Playing into the demand for alternative gaming experiences, software company Panic is making its first foray into hardware with the launch of a handheld games console called Playdate. Created in collaboration with electronics company Teenage Engineering, Playdate takes cues from retro game devices, with a black and white screen and an analogue controller called the crank. Unlike many major games consoles, Playdate operates a fortnightly drop of games from indie developers, which will eventually become a library of about 24 games.
Further expanding its appeal among gaming communities, Panic is also offering a free software development kit for users to make and distribute their own games. This creator approach echoes some of the ideas we explore within Alternet Economies, as shifting digital behaviours usher in new value frontiers for both brands and consumers.
Playdate also offers further proof of how influential the gaming sector is in shaping the future of multiple industries. Indeed, the games market is increasingly offering innovative paths for everything from product drops to youth activism.
Strategic opportunity
Discuss how your company can support and promote peer-created content. Outside of gaming, arts and media brands can design hardware that facilitates creation and sharing within fan communities