Game Bub brings open-source FPGA power to classic Game Boy games

In a nutshell: FPGA projects aimed at emulating the original Game Boy experience aren't exactly uncommon. However, a new handheld project promises better compatibility with Game Boy games and accessories while using a fully open hardware platform.

Eli Lipsitz, a software engineer with a passion for retrocomputing and video game emulation, is seeking funding to complete his latest project. Game Bub is an open-source handheld that emulates Game Boy hardware using a powerful field-programmable gate array chip. The developer is aiming to raise $100,000 and has already collected over $70,000 from 207 backers, with 20 days remaining in the crowdfunding campaign.

FPGAs feature programmable logic that can be reconfigured to mimic entirely different chip designs. They are highly efficient for specific computing tasks, such as AI, and are especially popular for hardware-based emulation projects.

Game Bub is different from previously released FPGA-based Game Boy emulators, Lipsitz explains ...