Frequently Asked Questions

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How big are games?

Playdate's total internal storage is 4 GB. Playdate games can be a variety of sizes - for reference, the smallest game in Season 1 is Omaze, at 59.7 KB. The largest game in Season 1 is Echoic Memory, at 158.5 MB. Panic recommends a file size of around 20 to 40 MB for an average Playdate game.[1] Source 1, Source 2

Can Playdate support online play?

Playdate comes with a Wi-Fi chip. Currently, games published either through Seasons or Catalog have access to a Leaderboard API, which can check in to Panic's servers and provide scoreboards for games that opt in. There is currently no support for broader online play (such as real-time multiplayer), or access to leaderboards outside of Season and Catalog, due to performance and security concerns. Source

Does Playdate support Bluetooth?

Playdate has a Bluetooth chip on-board. Currently, there's no user-accessible software support to utilize it. Playdate will receive Bluetooth audio functionality in the future, with the Stereo Dock (coming soon). Support for other Bluetooth audio devices are being considered, but isn't confirmed due to issues with battery life and latency.

How durable is the Crank?

Users report no noticeable issues with the crank's readings after 3 years. Source

Does Playdate have a rumble motor?

No, Panic ran out of space within the unit. Source

Is there a Playdate game store?

Yes! Panic has their own curated store called Catalog, which is a curated selection of apps available both on the Playdate itself, as well as on the web.

Can you sideload games?

Yes! You can sideload games onto your Playdate very easily, either through Panic's servers or directly, over a USB connection. Source

What do the different colors of the lock light mean?

The console checks into Panic's servers 10 minutes after you lock it, and then in 10-hour intervals thereafter until you open it again.

A "New game(s) available!" purple light will flash if it sees and successfully auto-downloads some new games to your device while it's asleep (so, if you sideloaded something and didn't go to download right away, or if some new season games have arrived).

A "New Catalog games!" aqua light will flash when it sees a new Catalog batch in its next check.

When the Playdate's not sleeping...

A white light followed by toppling blocks on-screen is a signification of an e0 system crash. Send in a crash report!

A steady orange light is a sign that the mic's actively recording. This is most easily visible in the Input Test.

A steady blue light means the Playdate's in Data Disk mode, sharing its DATA segment. (In Data Disk mode, a flashing purple light represents disk activity.)

A steady green light means the Playdate's in Recovery Disk mode, sharing its BOOT segment. (In Recovery Disk mode, a flashing yellow light represents disk activity.)

A steady yellow light means the Playdate's in System Disk mode, sharing its SYSTEM segment - this isn't accessible by a user.

A red light flashes briefly when the device resets.