Over 53,000 Units of Playdate Sold

The Playdate handheld gaming console, which features a unique hand-crank control mechanism, has surpassed 50,000 units in sales since its launch last year. According to Eurogamer, the device's manufacturer, Panic, has confirmed that a total of 53,142 units have been sold to date, with 27,000 units already delivered to customers. The remaining units are expected to be shipped by the end of the year, exceeding the company's initial projections by more than double. In a statement, the company expressed its enthusiasm, stating: "The fact that we have now sold over 53,000 units, despite facing parts shortages that led to extended delivery times, is truly encouraging. As our delivery times shorten and Playdate becomes more readily available, we are looking forward to an even more successful second year." Initially announced in 2019, the Playdate was designed to provide users with 'seasons' of 24 games developed by prominent indie game developers and other creators. The device has since been updated with an on-device store, allowing players to purchase individual titles. The initial batch of pre-orders sold out within 20 minutes in 2021. Recently, the company announced a price increase from $179 to $199 to account for rising manufacturing costs.