Game Bub, an open-source FPGA handheld designed for retro gaming, has just launched on Crowd Supply. Built to natively support Game Boy and Game Boy Advance cartridges, it also features link cable compatibility for multiplayer gaming with other Game Bub units or original Nintendo handhelds.

Game Bub is built around an AMD Artix-7 XC7A100T FPGA, equipped with 101,400 logic cells and 607.5 KiB of block RAM. The FPGA runs custom-designed cores for accuracy and low-latency performance, while an ESP32-S3 microcontroller manages auxiliary tasks such as wireless connectivity.

Game Bub Block Diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The handheld includes 32 MiB of SDRAM and 512 KiB of SRAM alongside a microSD card slot for ROM loading, cartridge backup, and homebrew support. With built-in features such as a real-time clock, accelerometer, gyroscope, and rumble motor, it delivers broad compatibility with both commercial titles and community-developed projects.

Game Bub uses a 4.0-inch IPS LCD with a 720 × 480 resolution and stereo 1 W speakers, complemented by a headphone jack for private play. A rechargeable 3000 mAh battery provides more than 14 hours of use, with charging handled via USB Type-C.

Developers can extend the system with PMOD expansion and leverage Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE, which are included in the hardware but currently unused in the base configuration.

Game Bub PCB Layout
(click image to enlarge)

For extended play, an optional dock accessory adds digital video output for connecting to TVs and monitors, along with support for wireless controllers including Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and 8BitDo models. Wired controllers are also supported through USB ports on the dock.

Game Bub
(click image to enlarge)