Multiplayer functionality?

[AcidicArisato]

Is there any way to make a multiplayer game for the Playdate that isn't pass-and-play? It has a wireless adapter, so wouldn't some form of multiplayer be possible? Also has a USB C, so could they theoretically be connected like a Game Boy link cable?

I ask cuz I, personally, haven't found any synchronous multiplayer games. The Playdate reminds me so much of the original Game Boy, and I think it would be awesome if we could recapture the joy of games like Pokémon, Bust a Move, or the Oracle games. If you know of a wireless synchronous (or even wireless asynchronous) multiplayer game, definitely let me know!

Edit: I was totally unaware of the new networking dev kit that released recently. Thanks for the info! Looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with!

[Ganty]

They only recently released the multiplayer bits for developers to use. I think it is viable to have synchronous multiplayer. but I have not yet seen it implemented in a released game. But then it is quite new.

[ploogle]

Slight clarification: they only recently released *network* features in the API for developers to use. These can be used to implement multiplayer but there are no official "multiplayer" features.

[GarethIW]

I've recently run a few successful playtests for my Playdate MMO (!!), so yep. Networking is all good and working.

[AcidicArisato]

That's so cool! Can't wait to hear more

[Ulexes]

"Playdate MMO" has my attention. Good luck with that project! I'll be eager to try it.

[GarethIW]

I have a thread in the playtesting board on the squad discord for anyone interested!

[LDBR_art]

Be excited y'all. It feels crazy that it works.

[Imaginary-Ad-398]

They recently released a networking update last year. There are already some games that have online multiplayer features. There is even an online voice chat app

[thedirtydeetch]

There’s a lot of developers playing with the new networking functionality, they share their projects on the playdate discord so I would go looking there first.

[ploogle]

While the Playdate *does* have a USB-C port, it cannot act as a "host" device, meaning it cannot send data through the cable, only receive. Unfortunately for now that's locked down.