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The Playdate handheld console has intrigued developers since its 2021 debut with its 400x240 1-bit display and physical crank. Now, with Playdate OS 2.7 introducing HTTP and TCP networking support, the device enters uncharted territory for connected applications. Developer Seth Larson recently documented his hands-on experience exploring these new capabilities, providing valuable insights for the game development community.

Larson's journey began with environment setup on Ubuntu 24.04 using Playdate's official SDK and simulator. His workflow mirrored classic game development cycles: "Within source/main.lua put the following Lua code," he instructed, demonstrating Playdate's Lua-centric development approach. The SDK enables rapid iteration with simulator testing (triggered via Ctrl+Shift+B) followed by USB deployment to physical hardware using the Device > Upload Game option.

-- Basic HTTP request example
import 'CoreLibs/object'
import 'CoreLibs/graphics'
import 'CoreLibs/sprites'
import 'CoreLibs/timer'
import 'CoreLibs/networking'

local function makeRequest()
    local url = "https://sethmlarson.dev"
    local request = playdate.networking.http.get(url)
    request:setCallback(function(response)
        if response.status == 200 then
            print("Success!")
        else
            print("Failed: " .. response.status)
        end
    end)
end

playdate.inputHandlers.push({
    AButtonDown = makeRequest
})

Network analysis revealed minimalist yet functional implementations: requests default to essential headers like Host, User-Agent (identifying as Playdate/3.0.2 on hardware), and Connection: close. Larson captured traffic using Wireshark, confirming successful HTTPS connections to external endpoints. This represents a significant shift—early Playdate games operated in complete network isolation despite Wi-Fi hardware.

The implications are substantial for indie developers: networked leaderboards, dynamic content updates, and multiplayer features become feasible within Playdate's severe hardware constraints. As Larson notes: "There's no doubt lots of experimentation ahead for what's possible with a networked Playdate." This evolution transforms the device from a nostalgic novelty into a platform capable of modern connected experiences, all while retaining its distinctive charm and development philosophy.

Source: Seth Larson's blog