

Quick Summary
Panic will openly sell its quirky Playdate gaming handheld at last.
It had previously only fulfilled pre-orders dating back a couple of years, but is now ready to sell the device to one and all.
A few years ago, the Playdate burst onto gaming's scene as a proposed antidote to the constant churn of massive mainstream releases.
An alternative to consoles like the PS5 and handhelds such as the Nintendo Switch, it's a tiny little handheld made of satisfying materials, with a much smaller library of indie games that are largely short, simple and full of fun ideas.
After a lengthy period during which the Playdate has slowly been shipping to the thousands of people who pre-ordered one, its creator Panic has finally announced that it's fulfilled all of those orders.
This means that, for the very first time, you can head to the Playdate website right now and order one for yourself, with the expectation that it'll arrive with you in just a few days.
The Playdate looks adorable, too, and this means that many of us can finally get the chance to see what it's like to use – in particular, testing out that all-important little side crank, one of its most unique features.
The handheld has a small black and white display, a D-pad, two buttons and the crank, and that's basically the extent of its controls, which means that developers have had to be inventive in making games for it.
The console also comes with a unique way to give you games - once you get it set up, you'll get two free games a week, for 12 weeks, giving you a sort of weekly dose of new ideas.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
This means 24 games for free overall, although you'll also have access to the console's modest storefront, which offers a couple hundred more to pick from at will.
With an eight-hour battery and diminutive size, this is a pretty unique bit of kit. It'll set you back $199, although there's no UK store so you'll have to order in dollars.
It's definitely one for lovers of unique handheld gaming experiences.
What remains to be seen is whether there's ever any followup hardware, or if Panic feels its work is done having come up with this idea and very successfully launched it over the last few years.
Max is T3's Staff Writer for the Tech section – with years of experience reporting on tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having previously flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor.
-
Struggling to nail push-ups? A fitness expert says this simple hack will make them stronger
A simple tweak to your arm position can make all the difference
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
Android Auto 14 beta arrives and it sets the groundwork for major changes
More details link Android Auto to significant car control changes
By Chris Hall Published
-
The 5 Xbox handheld features that would make rumoured console an instabuy
If Xbox's handheld console is real, I want these features
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Nvidia's new ray-tracing tech has me excited to play one of my favourite old games again
Half-Life 2 RTX looks revelatory
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
This huge new game is stretching even my PS5 Pro to its limit
Monster Hunter Wilds is a beast in all senses
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
3 PS5 Pro mistakes that everyone makes – and how to avoid them
Streamline your PS5 Pro experience
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
I'm playing a massive new game that makes me yearn for the Switch 2
The old Switch hardware is creaking
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
How to watch the new PS5 State of Play showcase today – more than 40 minutes of new games
PlayStation will host a new livestream for PS5 and PS5 Pro owners today – here's everything you need to know
By Rik Henderson Published
-
I've fallen in love with my PS5 Pro at last thanks to this huge new game
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has put my console through its paces
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
The Switch 2 could be the greatest console ever, thanks to one key detail
That back catalogue is going to be genuinely crazy
By Max Freeman-Mills Published