Playdate games can be authored on any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC. And if you're using Pulp, Chromebooks are supported, too.

To run the games you create, you'll need either a Playdate device, or the Playdate Simulator app (free and included) that runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

No. The Playdate and Pulp development kits come with a Simulator app that can run Playdate games without a Playdate device.

Ideally, one Playdate per student. But students can share Playdates, too.

The Playdate and Pulp development kits come with a Simulator app that can run Playdate games right on the computer the student is coding and debugging on. They can then install their games on shared Playdates periodically to try it out "on the real thing".

Either the 1) Playdate Software Development Kit or 2) Pulp browser-based game builder is required. Both are free to use, and do not require the purchase of any Playdate hardware.

If using the Playdate SDK, a coding environment like Microsoft's VS Code or Panic's own Nova is recommended.

Lua and C are the best options, used in conjunction with our Playdate SDK. Check out our Lua and C documentation, and even download the development kit to try it out before having to purchase anything.

The simplest way to program Playdate is to use Panic's visual game builder, Pulp. (This video tutorial is a good introduction. You can even try out Pulp yourself!)

Many are in development, with some listed above. We also have online channels (via the Discord app) where educators can coordinate these efforts. Fill out our survey if you would like access.

Playdate was created by Panic Inc.

Founded in 1999, Panic is a corporation in Portland, Oregon that follows its heart in an effort to make nicely made things that bring everyday joy. Originally — and still — a Mac app developer, Panic has also become a video game publisher that has helped to release into the world Firewatch, Untitled Goose Game, and many other titles.

In 2021 Panic released Playdate, and has been touched by the overwhelming enthusiasm and developer support Playdate has received.

All Playdates come with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

Playdate holds up well with regular use, but it does best in settings where it’s treated with a bit of care — like classrooms where students are hands-on, but guided.

We have a few solutions that we recommend for all education purchases:

1. We offer protective covers for Playdates, offered in multiple colors. Playdate can stay in this cover while in-use.

2. For educational customers, we also offer a special heavy-duty case. It's super-durable, inexpensive, and it'll give classroom Playdates a extra level of protection while not being used.

3. To afford educators some piece of mind we offer on-hand replacements, which allow you buy a small supply of spare Playdates at significantly reduced cost. If one of your primary Playdates breaks, you can call one of these into action at a moment's notice while you send your primary Playdate off for repair.

1. Contact us through our support form. We will set up either a replacement or a repair depending upon whether your are still under warranty.
2. A replacement or repair can sometimes take several weeks. If having Playdates available for your students is critical, we recommend purchasing low-cost on-hand replacements for just this situation. How to do so will be communicated to you when you make you place your order.

See educational pricing below.

All standard Playdate software development kits and tools are free of charge.

The Playdate OS user interface is in English, and its included fonts are Latin-only. But our Caps font creation tool (requires a free Playdate account) can be used to develop Playdate fonts that can include Unicode characters for any language.