The electronic hobbyist community has gone crazy for the release of the Raspberry Pi Pico, a dirt-cheap microcontroller board powered by a custom chip. Intended for simple projects, the Pico’s custom RP2040 microcontroller has considerable potential, not least in retro gaming.
Just days after its unveiling, Pimoroni has announced a group of devices based on the RP2040, including a handheld console, the PicoSystem.
Combining the 32-bit dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ processor (max 133Mhz) RP2040 with a 240×240 IPS screen, joypad, and buttons, this is a pocket-sized games console with a USB Type-C port, Li-Po battery, and 264kB of SRAM. While shipping dates are TBC, the device will cost £58.50, including VAT.
It is ridiculously small. Indeed, it is debatable whether you’ll get to enjoy any authentic retro gaming with the device, especially if you have anything approaching grown up fingers. Still, it should make an interesting-if-expensive keyring…
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.