This DIY USB-C Controller Turns Any Smartphone Into A Retro Handheld

CanyourememberbackwhenIpostedanimageofahandhelddesignthata3Dartisthadconcocted,causingverymixedopinionsonoursocials?Well,itseemsthatsomeonehastakenthegeneralgistofanattachableJoyconcontrollerandadaptedittoattachtoanyUSB-Cdeviceforplayingretrogamesonthego. ThislittlecontrolleriscalledtheRP2040-poweredgamepadandcomesfromGermandesignerMaxKern.ItworksasaHIDcontrollerperfectforretrogaming,andwhilethesidebuttonsdoenablelandscapemodegaming,I’mseeingthisassomethingbestsuitedforverticallyorientedemulators(moreonthatinasecond).Everythingcanbe3Dprintedandassembledathome,too! Credit:MaxKernNowIknowwhatyou’regoingtosay,andno,I’mnotsuggestingthatthiswillreplacetheneedforanyoftheretrohandheldsthatwecoverhereatRetroDodo,butinthesamewayasthe8BitDoMicroControllerholderandtheGAMEBABYphonecaseprovideasolutionformobilegamerstogainmorecontrolovertheirfavouritetitles/emulatorsinaportableway,thisUSB-Cplug-and-playdeviceisdefini