Upstart company to release gaming handheld this year

Playdate, a small gaming device that's more or less a Game Boy built for modern times, will cost $179, with pre-orders starting in July, the system's creators at Panic announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: Dedicated portable gaming devices have faded away as mobile phone gaming has grown, but Playdate's makers hope that a retro black-and-white handheld with some modern quirks can find an audience.

• The Playdate's signature feature is a crank that can be used to help control games.
• But its most intriguing offering is a seasonal gaming subscription, free to system purchasers, that will dole out two new games a week.

Correction: A previous headline incorrectly said the gaming device will be released this summer.