The Raspberry Pi Pico Hero handheld: A Unique Gaming Experience
This impressive little handheld can run custom, homebrew games and even emulate other systems, and it’s powered by a Raspberry Pi. Developed by a maker known as Phlash Thunderstorm, the Pico Hero is a refreshing twist on handheld gaming that you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on.
The Pico Hero stands out from other Pico handhelds thanks to its larger screen, better speaker, and a custom form factor that includes a beautiful, custom purple PCB and artistic flair.
Originally, it was developed as a means to play homebrew games, but it can also emulate other systems too. In a demo video shared on YouTube, Phlash Thunderstorm showcases the Pico Hero successfully emulating a modified version of a Sega Mega Drive emulator.
Originally created by Bzhxx for ARM Cortex STM32H7 Cortex-M7 MCUs, the emulator was modified so it could run on the Pico Hero handheld. You can check out the emulator in action below:
The RP2040 Plus module provides the necessary power, while the 3.2-inch screen and parallel interface help enhance the gaming experience. The handheld also includes three buttons, a power switch, and an analog control stick.
Other specs include an audio output provided by a three-watt speaker, and all necessary data is stored on a microSD card. The Pico Hero is held together with a beautiful, custom purple PCB designed specifically for the project, and the software is available on the official project page on GitHub.
If you’d like to see the Pico Hero in action, you can check out the YouTube video above, and be sure to follow Phlash Thunderstorm for future updates.
Pico handhelds are always fun to follow, and the Raspberry Pi is no exception. While the Pi is certainly a powerful device, it’s impressive to see what it can do when it’s shrunken down to a tiny form factor.
