This Playdate Mod Turns the Handheld Into the Cutest Little Robot Ever

Panic’s $200 Playdate has had an interesting run as a pint-sized gaming device, but the charming handheld with a crank has proved it’s capable beyond games. Now, the little handheld could have some mobility options in the form of a wheelchair-like add-on. With the PlayBot dock, the device can maneuver by itself. More than that, it turns it into an interactive, playful pet robot, ala the KEYi Loona.

France-based hardware DIYer Guillaume Loquin developed the PlayBot, a dock for the Playdate attached to two wheels, a motor, and a few extra surprises in its 3D-printed shell. Loquin developed extra software that uses the device’s accelerometer and microphone to interact with the user and the world around it. Along with PlayBot’s built-in IR, distance, and light sensors, the Playdate becomes a desk-side pet with a surprising amount of personality. In a video, PlayBot startles awake when nudged. It can also stop itself from rolling off the desk.

The side-loaded software includes all-new animations, giving the Playdate expressive eyes akin to the device’s original startup animation. When you turn the crank, it cycles through half a dozen eye types, making the little bot dizzy. Loquin provided all the code for the companion app, plus all the STL and PCB files for the hardware, on their Github profile. You can build one yourself with the right board and access to a 3D printer.

PlayBot is built using a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller, while everything else is printed. It makes it a rather simple build for those who know what they’re doing, and it’s well worth it if you own a Playdate and wish to make it your favorite desktop companion. The dock also acts as a place to charge your Playdate when unused. The developer said the dock normally gets around 45 minutes of activity on a full charge.

The PlayBot’s open-source nature also allows more developers and animators to develop new capabilities. I could imagine sticking a pencil holder onto the shell and using a gesture to ask PlayBot to come over to my side of the desk when I need to scribble a thought. Inefficient? Obviously. Extremely cute? For certain.

The Playdate itself has proved to have a surprising amount of staying power. Developer Panic has its on-device app store that includes a surprising breadth of titles, e-readers, and other distractions for your $200 doohickey. Last month, Playdate showed off a few arcade cabinet-style devices to promote some landmark Playdate titles. However, I prefer my devices to be small and handheld. Now, I can’t help but imagine how great it would be to have my Steam Deck dock roll up to me on wheels every time I’m in the mood for handheld gaming.