Redherring32, a skilled hardware modder and woodworker, has taken the gaming community by storm by crafting the very first portable Xbox console. Unlike typical creations, this piece of work is carved directly from the motherboard of an original Xbox, complete with a 9-inch 480p display. It also boasts modern features, such as support for Wi-Fi 6, enabling Xbox Live connectivity, and a 100W PD USB-C port for quick charging.
This remarkable mod stands out in the Xbox community as one of the boldest undertakings to date, marking the debut of a genuine handheld Xbox console conversion. This is quite a leap from the conventional handheld, compact, or compact-modified versions often seen in PlayStation and Nintendo communities.
Amidst all the speculation and buzz about an official handheld Xbox console potentially in the pipeline, it’s amusing to witness an enthusiast like Redherring32 beating Microsoft to the chase. Granted, such a device from Microsoft would likely cater to current-gen gaming rather than embracing the classic 480p capabilities of the original Xbox. It’s worth mentioning, though, that another modder had once managed to push the original Xbox to play Halo 2 in 720p.
Redherring32 has gone above and beyond to squeeze all that original Xbox hardware into a portable frame. The journey is well-documented in the unique Twitter thread, which displays the meticulous effort of trimming down the Xbox motherboard. To achieve this feat, he also created 12 custom PCBs specifically for the project alongside a detailed guide, pioneering this one-of-a-kind mod.
He plans to make the project open-source by providing all PCB designs via GitHub, a move eagerly anticipated by the modding community. While a demonstration video and gameplay footage are expected soon, they were not yet available as of this writing.
This innovation marks a first for the Xbox, although other gaming consoles have been similarly downsized. Redherring32’s background includes projects like the “TinyTendo,” a handheld NES, and the “PicoPad,” touted as the world’s smallest NES controller—both of which remain open-source.
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