Panic Showcases Some Projects Being Developed For Playdate Including id Software’s Doom

For those who need some help remembering, Untitled Goose Game publisher Panic announced to be developing a new and retro-appealing handheld titled the Playdate. While offering the reminiscent appearance from its black & white screen, the firm innovates the industry with a built-in crank equipped on the side of the handheld. Offering a bundle of games when it launches, many users online instantly grew a liking for the new device.

With a 2020 release window slated for the Playdate, Panic began working on initiating the Developer Preview for teams to start experimenting with the game. Howbeit, not much on the current catalogue of games featured uniquely on the Playdate was presented since its announcement. With the billboard Crankin’s Time Travel Adventures being the featured title for the system, fans grew hungry to see more.

Luckily this week Panic hosted an update thread on Twitter showcasing some upcoming projects for the Playdate. Those titles include new experiences and even reiterating on familiar properties for the approaching handheld.

Expanding on the already existing games being translated to the Playdate, Panic shares some innovative ways to play our favorite games. Such as crank-powered Tetris which allows users to navigate on the screen for where to place the next tetriminoes. Or classic Klondike Solitaire being coded exclusively in Rust which is very unheard of. The most effective featured game happens to be id Software’s Doom where the crank can be used to turn the minigun as they mow down demons.

As for some new software to be in the works for the Playdate, you can find the unique dungeon crawler Down the Oubliette merging the genre with tower defense or Daily Driver utilizing the crank to put tension on drifting mechanics. RNGParty’s tilt-n-tumble-inspired project also makes an appearance as it shows its use of the ‘accelerometer’ for the Playdate to work as a form of gyro controls. And some games are played traditionally with the crank absent with a shape-combining puzzler also shared to be in the works.

The firm does disclose that these games are still projects and might not reach full release for the Playdate. Panic ends the thread by sharing that a “BIG UPDATE” will be arriving in the coming months to disclose new details on the Playdate. That includes what games will be included in the full package alongside when exactly the handheld will arrive with an official date to pre-order the device.

Back during PAX West last year, Rectify Gaming got the opportunity to sample the Playdate and shared a first-hand experience with the upcoming handheld. You can read the first-impressions piece by heading here.

Are you excited to see more of the Playdate later on?

The Playdate is slated to arrive sometime in 2020 for $149.99.