The Panic crank-equipped Playdate console is a big reason that 2021 could be a great year for “alternative” consoles, and its developers showcased a new feature on Twitter that they said was “perfect” for streamers. What they are showing you is a PC application that allows you to plug in the little yellow device and mirror your screen on the monitor. It is probably very useful for game development, but it will also be useful for streamers and content creators once the device is started.
Here’s a fun little thing we did. Connect your Playdate, launch this application and it will mirror your Playdate screen to your PC / Mac / Linux in real time. Perfect for streamers, YouTubers and better accessibility. The PC input can go to Playdate too! pic.twitter.com/OE8q1X0txC
– Playdate (@playdate) March 24, 2021
According to the tweet, it also allows the controller to pass back from the PC to the device, which can help make games more accessible to players who need help and already have controls set up on their PC. The tweet did not reveal a date for shipments, although orders are expected to begin “in early 2021”. A follow-up tweet encouraged interested parties to follow an affiliate account, @playdatealerts to stay on top of the big news, so if you’re trying to beat the rush, this may be the way to go.