FlippyDrive for GameCube: A Budget-friendly Alternative to Optical Disc Emulators

Update: Pre-orders now available through Crowd Supply

It’s no secret that the reliability of retro console optical drives is a significant concern for gamers. The $38 ‘FlippyDrive’ Optical Drive Emulator (ODE) offers an innovative solution, allowing users to retain their GameCube’s original disc drive while loading games from solid-state media.

• Price: $38
• Release: January 2025
• Features include no-solder installation, SD card or Wi-Fi capability, and the ability to stream audio. This compact solution is compatible with the Raspberry Pi Pico W platform and boasts enhanced performance compared to existing alternatives like SD2SP and Broadband adapters.

The FlippyDrive’s design aims to improve upon existing ODEs by providing a faster loading speed than SD2SP2, BBA, or memory card loaders. It utilizes the Swiss programme for game loading but the team area also developing in-house software, CubeBoot, known for its attractive user interface.

Check out Macho Nacho’s YouTube video about the FlippyDrive.

For those interested in exploring this unique modding option for their GameCube, you can preorder yours now here.

Have you used an ODE before? How do the features of the FlippyDrive compare?