panic announces a new Playdate update display, It is scheduled for tomorrow (September 9th) at 6:00 pm (Italian time). The presentation will be broadcast on Panic’s YouTube channel and official website live.panic.com and is aimed at Playdate Season 3a new collection of games developed specifically for small, portable consoles.
Season 3
During the display Games included in Season 3 Playdate owners will also be notified when they can start playing them. The Season system provides for the progressive release of games, with new games distributed simultaneously to buyers of that season globally each week.
The idea behind this project is to create a collective event for the community, allowing players to discover and try the same games at the same time. This is a model that was conceived in the early stages of Playdate development and seems to have been well received. Playdate Season 2 releases on May 28, 2025, over 15,000 copies purchasedThat’s an interesting number for such a small ecosystem.
Panic does something no major console maker has done: It reimburses Playdate customers for customs duties
The announcement of Season 3 comes just days after another scare move, this time related to U.S. import tariffs. The company charged customers between 15% and 19% between 2025 and 2026 due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the reversal in February, Panic began refunding tariff amounts to customers and businesses were once again able to receive refunds.
Cabel Sasser, co-founder of Panicexplained the choice in fairly direct terms: “We get to keep more than just the money, and we’re really happy to give it back. It’s an easy way to know we made the right decision.”
at the same time, Overall sales of Playdate exceeded 80,000 units. The console is currently sold out on Panic’s online store, but you can buy it in person at the company’s booth during the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, which is scheduled for October 9-11. Alternatively, interested parties can sign up to be notified when new inventory becomes available again.
