Playdate shipping date slips until 'early 2022'
In August, Panic announced that it had sold 20,000 units of the Playdate, the tiny portable console with a crank handle. Initially, the company claimed it would dispatch these orders before the end of the year, presumably in December. By contrast, the company expected to ship further orders in 2022.
However, Panic has delayed the shipment of the first 20,000 Playdates until 'early 2022'. Panic has not confirmed when 'early 2022' is, though. Additionally, orders 20,001 through 40,000 will ship in 2H 2022, with 40,001 to 50,000 on track for late 2H 2022.
Panic also notes that all orders after 50,000 will get out the door in 2023. It is worth stressing that Panic is still accepting pre-orders on its website. A banner states that pre-orders placed now will ship in 2022, but we suspect this will be quietly altered to 2023, eventually.
Apparently, faulty batteries and a CPU shortage are the reason for the delay. In an email, Panic explains that it cannot source any more of the current CPU for two years, forcing it to revise the mainboard to accommodate a new CPU.
Source(s)
Panic via Liliputing
