ODROID-GO is an Arduino Compatible, ESP32 based Portable Gaming Console Kit

When I first saw Hardkernel made ODROID-GO portable gaming console, I immediately thought they did a Linux device ala PocketCHIP, since so far the company has only designed Android & Linux development board.

But ODROID-GO game console is actually based on Espressif ESP32 WiSoC,  programmable with the Arduino IDE, and launched to celebrate Hardkernel’s 10-year anniversary.

ODROID-GO

ODROID-GO specifications:

ODROID-GO Block Diagram
Click to Enlarge
  • SoC – Custom ESP32-WROVER module with ESP32 SoC @ up to 240 MHz, 16 MB Flash, and 4MP PSRAM
  • Storage – micro SD card slot connected via SPI
  • Display –  2.4″ 320×240 TFT LCD (SPI)
  • Connectivity – WiFi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz – 2.5GHz, Bluetooth 4.2 BR/EDR, BLE
  • Speaker – 0.5Watt 8Ω Mono
  • USB – 1x micro USB port for charging (500mA) and USB-UART communication
  • Expansion Port – 10-pin header with  I2C, GPIO, IRQ at 3.3Volt
  • Misc – Buttons: Menu, Volume, Select, Start, A, B, Direction Pad
  • Battery –  3.7V/1,200mAh Li-Polymer good for up to 10 hours of continuous game playing timeThe game console does not come assembled however in order to server as an educational tool as well.
ODROID-GO Kit
Click to Enlarge

The kit shown above includes the following items:

  • ODROID-GO board
  • Front & back enclosures
  • 2.4″LCD module + LCD window
  • 4 button rubber , 2 button rubber, 2x 2 button rubber, button set
  • 8Ohm 0.5W speaker
  • 1x 10pin male header
  • 10x screws
  • Micro USB cable
  • 1,200mAh Li-ion battery

You’ll find instructions, and the complete technical details about the board including schematics, and Arduino documentation in the Wiki. You’ll also learn how to prepare a micro SD card to run the emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and SEGA Master System.

ODROID-GO Arduino Programming

It’s not all about gaming though, as you can leverage the 10-pin header to use the kit as an Arduino development board with built-in display.

ODROID-GO game kit is sold for $32 plus shipping on Hardkernel store.

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29 Comments
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RobBrownNZ
5 years ago

I’m such a sucker for this sort of stuff! I’ve ordered 2, for absolutely no good reason…

willy
willy
5 years ago

Well, for exactly the same stupid reason I ordered 4. I’ll give some away to friends. It’s your fault 🙂

blu
blu
5 years ago

Must.. resist.. the urge.. to buy..

Jerry
Jerry
5 years ago

Doesn’t raspberry already cover these uses with better community support?

CampGareth
CampGareth
5 years ago

A raspberry pi isn’t portable and doesn’t include battery management so would need that adding on. But sure, in theory you could use a pi for this stuff.

roel
roel
5 years ago

According me the gamegirl (from the lakka theme?) is using a pi zero.

Dingo
Dingo
5 years ago

I really like that it can be reprogrammed easily, especially since they expossed the GPIO pins on the top and wifi. I think people will do some really cool things with these.
Their not to expensive I’ll probably order one or two to play around with.

Gaetano
Gaetano
5 years ago

Let’s start with vintage computer emulation! Can this emulate a Commodore 64? And a Commodore Amiga? 😮 😛

Romain
Romain
5 years ago

Probably a c64 with low precision emulation. Forget about Amiga. Keep in mind limited buttons.

Basically 8 bit stuff should be OK to emulate provided you can control the games with handheld controls.

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

Check PocketSprite, it’s also using ESP32, and runs multiple emulators. It has much smaller (but OLED) screen though.

atarier
atarier
5 years ago

It is a nice product. But Pocketsprite has too small low resolution display with tiny buttons.
It is not comfortable to play longer time. I also need several GPIOs to play with hobby electronics.

Inder
Inder
5 years ago

Is it because of ODROID-GO craze that the Hardkernel site has crashed? The main page shows “Under construction” and the other pages show errors.

atarier
atarier
5 years ago

Their site is okay now.
If you live in the US, buy it from https://odroidinc.com/collections/odroid-development/products/odroid-go or https://ameridroid.com/products/odroid-go to save shipping cost.

Inder
Inder
5 years ago

Yes, the site is up again now! Since I live in Korea, I can directly order from Hardkernel.

theguyuk
theguyuk
5 years ago

Put Zx Spectrum on it and annoy those still waiting for a Vega+ ; )

atarier
atarier
5 years ago

Vega+ seems to be dead. http://retro-computers.co.uk/ I didn’t know that.

theguyuk
theguyuk
5 years ago

True, go look at the indigogo post on the funding site, passing it to a collections agency.

The Vega + backers should ask Odroid to build them one ! 🙂

asd
asd
5 years ago

whats the difference between this one and the https://www.bittboy.com/ for 19.99 $

theguyuk
theguyuk
5 years ago
asd
asd
5 years ago

on which is the Star Gate?

theguyuk
theguyuk
5 years ago

First I am talking of a Nes clone of this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_(video_game)

It is not a exacte clone of the cabinet game.

I have it on a Terminator HG-916

Suffers from the repeated games scam but Galaga, Arkonoid. Star Force, 1942, Exerion, Sky Destroyer etc

https://www.tvc-mall.com/details/terminator-hg-916-2-8-inch-tft-screen-portable-handheld-game-console-support-tv-output-blue-sku84990106b.html

j4c0b
j4c0b
5 years ago

did i get right there is no audio jack3.5mm?

crashoverride
crashoverride
5 years ago

There is no audio jack, but ESP32 has bluetooth so you could add bluetooth headphone support to your app.

Mihai
5 years ago

Sadly oDroid has issues with customs. I ordered 2 (one for me, one for a colleague) and I got a refund. I asked them to tell me when issues are fixed. I really, really wanted to get my hands on one. I still want one.

Mihai
5 years ago

We got confirmation from oDroid in the forums that the batteries are to blame. Still waiting for a solution, I am glad they are aware of this issue https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?uid=22425&f=158&t=31354.

Nathan
Nathan
5 years ago

Does anyone know where I can find the software library for the odroid go

Khadas VIM4 SBC