Deploying your game to your Playdate

Installing your game’s .pdx file onto your Playdate

1. What .pdx file? If you’re using the SDK, you probably know where your game’s .pdx file is. If you’re using Pulp, click on the Download PDX button on the left side of the Pulp UI.
2. Attach your Playdate to your computer via USB cable.
3. Now put your Playdate into Data Disk mode in one of two ways:
   • The easy way: launch Settings on your Playdate. Choose System → Reboot to Data Disk.
   • The quick way: hold down your Playdate’s Lock button, Menu button, and d-pad LEFT for a few seconds.
4. After your Playdate’s disk mounts onto your computer, open it.
5. Find the Games/ folder. Drag your .pdx file into it.
6. Take your Playdate out of Data Disk mode by ejecting the Playdate disk on your PC, or pressing the A or B button on your Playdate.
7. Your game should now be listed in the Launcher and be ready to run! (If you can’t find it, try looking in the Sideloaded folder.)

If you’re using the Playdate SDK’s Simulator

…it’s even easier.

1. Attach your Playdate to your computer via USB cable.
2. Launch the SDK Simulator.
3. Look for the Simulator app’s Device pull-down menu. (If you don’t see it, make sure your Playdate is powered-up and unlocked.)
4. Choose Device → Upload Game to Device from the app’s pull-down menus.
5. After a few seconds, your game should run automatically on your Playdate.