Panic Paid Over $1 Million to Playdate Developers Through Catalog

Developers creating games for the Playdate handheld gaming system have earned more than $1 million through the device's Catalog storefront since its launch in March 2023. According to Panic, the company behind Playdate, exactly 289,305 game copies have been sold through their digital marketplace, resulting in $1,043,186 in payments to game creators.

"Playdate might be an indie platform, but seeing numbers like this makes us realize that even an indie platform can be meaningful in the gaming world," Panic stated in an email announcement (via Game Developer). "Catalog has been successful beyond our expectations."

Since its debut, the Catalog store has grown to include 262 carefully selected titles. However, this doesn't represent the complete Playdate library, as the device also allows players to add games from other platforms like itch.io through sideloading.

Recently, Panic announced a $30 price increase for the Playdate console due to rising manufacturing costs. Starting March 25, new Playdate systems cost $229, up from the previous $199 price point.

In exciting news for current Playdate owners, the company just announced its second season of games featuring 12 new titles that will release weekly beginning May 29th. One of the most anticipated additions is a new project from Subset Games, the team behind popular titles FTL and Into the Breach.

The success of this small, unique gaming platform demonstrates that independent gaming hardware can find its place in the market when paired with quality content and dedicated developer support.