The Flipper Zero digital multi-tool already has many uses, Now it can even play games thanks to the partnership with Raspberry Pi. This comes in the form of a new add-on for the device, appropriately called the Video Game Module.
The module is powered by an RP2040 microcontroller developed by Raspberry Pi, and it can run games programmed in C, C++ and MicroPython. However, the module goes a few steps further to accommodate the quirkiness of the Flipper device. It has sensors for hand tracking, a 3-axis gyroscope, and a 3-axis accelerometer, so games can include tilt and shake functions.
Now you might be wondering why you would play real games on Flipper Zero’s tiny screen. The 1.4-inch monochrome display may work for the hacking mini-game often associated with the device, but it’s likely to struggle with anything else. Fortunately, the Video Game Module allows you to output video to external displays.
In other words, a set of sensors combined with the video output of the module turns the Flipper Zero itself into a controller, and the game is played on a real screen. It will be great to see what the open source community does with this thing. as it may end it’s just, you know, good.
This is the latest Flipper Zero module, and programmers will likely experiment with the hardware. There’s a built-in USB-C connector to interface with a microcontroller to make changes, and the whole thing can actually work on its own without needing to plug into Flipper’s gadget. Think of it as one part Flipper module and one part
Flipper Devices founder and CEO Alex Kulagin hopes the accessory will “open up new ways to use Flipper Zero” and “bridge the gap between retro-gaming nostalgia and cutting-edge research.” The Video Game Module is $49 and the Flipper Zero is $169.
The game is the latest use for Flipper Zero. This digital Swiss army knife was originally designed as a multi-tool for hackers, but it is fully open source and can interact with devices via IR, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth and physical connections. Users have turned these adorable Dolphin-inspired gadgets into universal remotes, keychain testers, GameShark-like cheats, and more. They can also unlock certain safes, but you didn’t hear that from us.
