Need to Know
06 : 08 : 21

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.

London – Sustainable innovation platform The Mills Fabrica is opening a circularity hub in London’s King Cross, expanding from its roots as a heritage revitalisation project for the textiles industry. Through the space, the organisation will pioneer regenerative solutions across the technology and lifestyle sectors. Its multi-faceted site includes a concept store and innovation gallery, members-only co-working spaces and a technology lab for prototyping solutions.

Encouraging next-generation talent, it will also offer a start-up incubation programme and a curated events programme around sustainable innovation. By providing a space for industry experts to come together in this way, The Mills Fabrica recognises the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving positive change. Vanessa Cheung, founder of The Mills Fabrica, says: ‘We’re confident that having a hub in London’s King’s Cross can only catalyse our mission to drive a resilient and positive future with an ecosystem of innovators, collaborators and passionate souls.’

Elsewhere in the food and drink sector, we recent spoke with alternative food manufacturers The Urgent Company about its aims of partnering with like-minded companies to accelerate sustainability.

Young people aged 18–24 in Europe feel uncatered for when it comes to healthy food advice, according to a survey by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which found that many are turning to social media to find the information they need.

According to the study, a majority (75%) say they need clearer advice on how to eat healthily, while 65% argue that they received limited healthy eating education at school. To fill this education gap, 67% say they regularly look at social media content – on platforms such as TikTok or Instagram – to find out about healthier food options.

These findings point to a generation that are willing to take ownership of their eating habits. And where large brands and institutions are failing them, they are turning to familiar online spaces to build their own knowledge of mental and physical wellbeing. While we’ve previously identified the influence of viral recipes on TikTok, there is a burgeoning opportunity for such platforms to offer advice on healthy habits.