Playdate, a new handheld gaming console from Panic, is built in Kedah, but Malaysia has been left out of the launch list.
The console is shipping to the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia but Malaysia is excluded from the list due to “the most complex shipping scenario of all”, according to the manufacturer.
“For tax reasons, our factory is unable to ship Playdate units directly to customers in Malaysia, which would’ve been super convenient.
“And shipping them all the way to our warehouse in California, then all the way back to Malaysia, would be ridiculously expensive for the customer," the company stated in its FAQ.
However, the company has not given up and said it will continue to find ways to make the product available in Malaysia, urging local gamers to register their interest in Playdate via its online form.
ALSO READ: The upcoming Play date handheld gaming console is being made in Malaysia
Back in 2019, Panic engineer Dave Hayden shared on Twitter that Playdate was being manufactured at a factory in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
He said a production consultant who worked there before recommended the location, describing the factory as a “great fit” for the project.
In the same year, Panic shared a peek of their production line from the factory, showcasing how workers assembled and tested the devices.
ALSO READ: Did you know Nintendo’s Switch game console is now made in Malaysia?
Originally planned for release in 2020, the first batch of orders had to be delayed due to the pandemic and manufacturing issues.
Playdate, unlike other consoles, has a crank on the side that can be used for movement and other manoeuvres in original titles like Crankin' Time Travel Adventure.
Players will receive two new games each week for 12 weeks once they complete setting up the console.
The device costs US$179 (RM765).
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