Panic’s latest handheld console Playdate recently started taking pre-orders, and fans emptied the stock in around 20 minutes. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, the system sold over 20,000 units in the time period.
Panic did continue taking up pre-orders for the next batch of stocks, which will be delivered next year. The Firewatch publisher will be providing free software development kits for the Playdate, and a number of developers are already onboard for developing games for Playdate – including Return of the Obra Dinn’s Lucas Pope.
Playdate will be doling out these games as a part of its seasons, wherein fans will get a title for free every week for 12 weeks during the first season. Given that fans have flocked to the handheld in an unprecedented manner, it’s quite possible that many more developers start developing games for it.
Valve’s latest Steam Deck also sold out in a similar manner, and Valve has already extended pre-order periods for the handheld.