Pixelcade Sidekick Displays
Pixelcade Sidekick is currently in Beta. Use the Pixelcade Companion mobile app to upgrade to the Pixelcade Beta software. Join the #sidekick channel on the Pixelcade Discord to join the beta.
FAQs
If I purchase a direct-sold Pixelcade Sidekick from pixelcade.org, do I still need to unlock the Sidekick feature in the Pixelcade software?
No — Pixelcade automatically recognizes a direct-sold Sidekick and unlocks it for you.
Will I need to use a powered USB hub?
In our testing, 1–2 devices in the 3.5″–5″ size range work fine without a powered hub using a 10 ft USB-C cable. 7″ devices will need a powered USB hub, since they draw more power. We recommend a powered hub whenever possible for the most stable connection.
Can I connect and run multiple Sidekicks at the same time?
Yes — just connect each one over USB and it'll show up in Pixelcade Companion's Sidekick settings tab. We highly recommend a powered USB hub when running multiple Sidekicks.
Will other ESP32 displays work that aren't listed?
No — Pixelcade's Sidekick firmware is built specifically for each supported model. We can create firmware for additional ESP32 displays based on popular demand, so let us know what you'd like to see supported.
Can I purchase my own ESP32 display?
Yes, as long as it's one of the supported devices listed above. Once you have it, activate it with a one-time Sidekick purchase and flash Pixelcade's firmware right from Sidekick settings.
Can I run Pixelcade Sidekick without a Pixelcade marquee or Pixelcade Pulse device?
Yes — Sidekick works alongside your existing Pixelcade devices, or entirely stand-alone.
How much does Pixelcade Sidekick cost if using my own device (BYOD)?
$49 if you already own a Pixelcade LED or LCD marquee, $99 if you don't. This unlocks unlimited Sidekick devices on that machine — add more later, DIY or direct-sold, at no extra cost.
Does a Sidekick need Wi-Fi or an internet connection?
No — the Sidekick device itself connects over USB only, no wireless of any kind. The Pixelcade software does use the internet for two optional things: downloading the bundled Sidekick Artwork pack (covers box art/descriptions for most games out of the box) and, if you link a ScreenScraper.fr account, live backfill for anything that pack doesn't cover. Day-to-day use works fine offline once artwork is cached.
What happens if I unplug a Sidekick mid-game, or mid-flash?
During normal use it's safe to unplug at any time — Pixelcade detects the disconnect and simply drops that device until it's reconnected, no corruption. The one case to avoid is interrupting an active firmware flash: a failed/interrupted flash can leave the device with a blank screen. If that happens, just reconnect and reflash — it fully recovers.
Do I need to create an account on screenscraper.fr?
It's not technically required, but highly recommended. Pixelcade Sidekick's built-in artwork downloader covers most consoles and popular games out of the box, but it won't have everything. Linking a free ScreenScraper.fr account lets Sidekick dynamically fetch artwork for whatever games aren't already covered.
What games support high scores?
Select games on the MAME and FBNeo wheels support the high-score card. See the full list of supported games here.
What games support the in-game HUD powered by DOFLinx?
Select MAME (Windows) and FBNeo (Linux) games. See the list here.
What consoles & games support RetroAchievements?
Quite a few — details at retroachievements.org. Note that MAME itself does not support RetroAchievements, so simply launching a game through MAME in a front end won't earn achievements. FBNeo has more limited arcade compatibility, but it does support achievements for the games RetroAchievements covers.
How do I get a RetroAchievements API key and enable it in Pixelcade?
Sign up for a free account at retroachievements.org, log in, click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings → Applications, and copy your Web API key. Enter that along with your username in Pixelcade Companion's settings.
What front ends support RetroAchievements?
Batocera, RCade, RecalBox, RetroBat, LaunchBox, and possibly more.
What games support the controller & button legend card?
Most popular MAME and FBNeo games.
Direct Sold Pixelcade Sidekick Displays
Sidekick companion displays mount wherever fits your build — next to the main marquee, flush into a control panel, or anywhere else that makes sense — and you can plug in as many as you like. Each one shows box art, game descriptions, logos, controller legends, RetroAchievements status, and live score/stat HUDs for select MAME and FBNeo games, plus Pixelcade widgets like sports scores, stocks, weather, What to Watch, Retro Trivia, an earthquake monitor, planes overhead, and more. Touch-enabled models let you swipe through box art, descriptions, and other display modes on demand. They run on off-the-shelf ESP32 display boards and connect with a single USB cable — power comes over that same cable, so no separate power supply is needed. (Running several displays at once? A powered USB hub keeps them all fed.) Here's what's supported today, and the two ways to get one running.
Two Ways to Get a Sidekick Running
A pre-flashed, ready-to-plug-in unit with arcade mount. Connect it over USB, pick the model in Companion, and it's licensed and working immediately — no purchase step needed afterward.
Buy any of the supported displays below yourself from your usual retailer, then:
- Plug it in over USB — Companion detects it automatically.
- Activate it with a one-time Sidekick purchase — $49 if you already own a Pixelcade LED or LCD marquee, $99 if you don't. Unlocks unlimited Sidekick devices on this machine, DIY or bought direct, all the same.
- Flash Pixelcade's firmware from Sidekick settings in the Pixelcade Companion mobile app (one tap). If you run into any issues flashing from the app, you can flash instead from a desktop computer using the web-based flasher — a backup method that only works in a Chrome or Edge desktop browser (it requires Web Serial, which isn't available on mobile browsers or Safari/Firefox).
Supported Displays
| Model | Resolution | Touch | Search For | Photos | Where to Buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMOLED 1.91″ | 536×240 | No touch | LILYGO T-Display-S3-AMOLED (1.91″) | Amazon | ||
| 2.1″ Round Display (Elecrow) | 480×480 (round) | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel 2.1 HMI ESP32 Rotary Display (480×480 round, knob) | Elecrow | Turn the dial to switch cards (clockwise for the next card, counter-clockwise to go back), or swipe as usual. Every card is resized to fit the round screen: photos fill the circle, box art and logos are sized to fit inside it, and text cards are centered so nothing is cut off. One USB-C port, used for both flashing and normal operation. WiFi is flaky on this board (weak antenna), so USB is recommended. | |
| 2.4″ Display (Sunton) | 320×240 | Touch (capacitive) | Sunton ESP32-2432S024C | Amazon | The capacitive-touch version (model number ends in “C”). Not the same board as the 2.8″ below. | |
| 2.8″ Display | 320×240 | Touch (resistive) | ESP32-2432S028R (“Cheap Yellow Display” / CYD) | Amazon | ||
| 3.5″ Display (Resistive) | 480×320 | Touch (resistive) | Sunton ESP32-3248S035R | Amazon | Resistive touch is not good. 3D printable stand | |
| 3.5″ Display (Capacitive) | 480×320 | Touch (capacitive) | Sunton ESP32-3248S035C | Amazon | Micro USB connector (not USB-C). 3D printable stand | |
| 3.5″ Display (Elecrow Advance) | 480×320 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel Advance 3.5 HMI ESP32-S3 (480×320) | Elecrow | Has two USB-C ports: use the one labeled USB1 / OTG for flashing and normal operation, not USB0 / UART0. If the first flash won't connect, hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT, then try again. | |
| 4.3″ Display (Sunton) | 480×272 | Touch (capacitive) | Sunton ESP32-4827S043C | Amazon | ||
| 4.3″ Display (Waveshare) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | Waveshare ESP32-P4-WIFI6 4.3inch | Amazon | Use the USB port labeled UART initially for the first flash, then use the USB labeled port for normal operation and ongoing flashing. | |
| 4.3″ Display (Elecrow Advance) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel Advance 4.3 HMI ESP32-S3 (800×480) | Elecrow | Same board family as the 5″ Elecrow Advance with a smaller screen, but it has its own firmware: pick 4.3″ (Elecrow Advance) in Companion. | |
| 5″ Display (Sunton) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | ESP32-8048S050 / JC8048W550C | Amazon | 3D printable case | |
| 5″ Display (Elecrow Basic) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow ESP32 Display 5 inch HMI (red board, RGB, 800×480) | Elecrow | The red board, not the Advance or AI series (see the note on 5″ boards below). | |
| 5″ Display (Elecrow Advance) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel Advance 5.0 HMI (RGB, 800×480, ST7262 driver, GT911 touch) | Amazon | ||
| 5″ Display (Elecrow AI) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel AI 5.0 ESP32-P4 HMI Display (RGB, 800×480, ST7262 driver, GT911 touch) | Use the USB port labeled UART initially for the first flash, then use the USB 2.0 labeled port for normal operation and ongoing flashing. | ||
| M5Stack Tab5 | 1280×720 | Touch (capacitive) | M5Stack Tab5 | DigiKey | Built-in speaker plays short chimes for certain events, like unlocking a RetroAchievement. 3D printable stand | |
| 7″ Display (Elecrow) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | ESP32-8048S070C / Elecrow CrowPanel 7.0 / IoTeikXgo (RGB, 800×480, 4MB flash) | Amazon (with case) | Also sold without a case (red board, same electronics); both work the same way. | |
| 7″ Display (Sunton) | 800×480 | Touch (capacitive) | ESP32-8048S070 (no trailing “C”) / EC Buying ESP32-S3 7.0 (RGB, 800×480, 16MB flash / 8MB PSRAM) | Amazon | ||
| 10.1″ Display (Elecrow) | 1024×600 | Touch (capacitive) | Elecrow CrowPanel Advanced 10.1 ESP32-P4 HMI (1024×600) | Elecrow | Built-in stereo speakers play short chimes for certain events, like unlocking a RetroAchievement. Use the USB port labeled UART initially for the first flash, then use the USB 2.0 labeled port for normal operation and ongoing flashing. | |
| 10.1″ Display (Guition) | 1280×800 | Touch (capacitive) | Guition JC8012P4A1C_I_W_Y1 | ProEngi | Built-in speaker plays short chimes for certain events, like unlocking a RetroAchievement. Has an optional battery, so it can be tapped in and out of full power-off right from a power icon on its boot screen. Use the bottom USB port (labeled UART) initially for the first flash, then use the top USB port afterward for normal operation and ongoing flashing. |
Pixelcade Sidekick 7″