OpenArcade

Made how you play.

What is it?

A modular game controller designed for accessibility. Build your own layout from separate modules or snap them together—play from your lap, a table, or wherever works for you.

Standard controllers assume one-size-fits-all. OpenArcade doesn't.

How it works

OpenArcade breaks a controller into pieces:

• Child modules – Buttons, joysticks, D-pads in their own housings
• Parent module – Central hub that connects to your PC or console

Wire the modules together or use them independently. Arrange them however's comfortable for you—spread out on a table, held in different hands, mounted wherever works.

Architecture

┌─────────────┐     BLE      ┌──────────────┐     USB/Bluetooth     ┌──────────┐
│  Child      │ ◄──────────► │  Parent Hub  │ ◄───────────────────► │  Game    │
│  Module(s)  │  (ESP32)     │  (RPi Zero)  │  (HID emulation)      │  Console │
└─────────────┘              └──────────────┘                       └──────────┘

Each child module (ESP32) broadcasts its inputs over Bluetooth. The parent hub (Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W) subscribes to all modules, aggregates the inputs, and presents itself as a standard game controller to your computer or console.

Project structure

├── firmware/esp32/          # Child module firmware (NimBLE GATT server)
├── server/                  # Parent hub BLE client (Python + bleak)
├── configurator/            # 3D controller layout designer
└── Deliverables/            # System design docs, hazard analysis, etc.

Getting started

Hardware requirements

• Parent hub: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
• Child modules: ESP32 development boards
• Inputs: Arcade buttons, joysticks (Sanwa/Seimitsu compatible)
• Power: USB-C or battery pack
• Housing: 3D printed (see CAD files in documentation)

Flash the child modules

cd firmware/esp32
idf.py set-target esp32
idf.py -p /dev/ttyUSB0 flash monitor

The module will start advertising as "OpenArcade-XX" over BLE.

Run the parent hub

cd server
uv run runtime_main.py

The Pi will run the async BLE runtime, subscribe to module notifications, and output the aggregated controller state.

Install as boot services on Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

sudo ./packaging/rpi/install-rpi.sh

This installs OpenArcade under /opt/openarcade, stores persistent config in /var/lib/openarcade/config.json, and enables three systemd services for the USB gadget setup, the BLE/HID runtime, and the serial config service.

Design your layout

Open the 3D configurator to visualize module arrangements and plan your controller setup.

Tech stack

Layer	Technology
Child firmware	ESP-IDF, NimBLE, C
Parent hub	Python, asyncio, bleak
Configurator	Three.js, React
PCB design	KiCad
CAD	Autodesk Inventor
3D printing	Bambu Studio / PrusaSlicer

License

See individual component licenses.