The OpenLara project, an open-source implementation of the classic Tomb Raider game, has been successfully ported to the ESP32-P4 microcontroller. This development board, priced at $25, features a dual-core RISC-V processor running at 400 MHz and consumes approximately 1 watt of power.
The hardware setup includes 64MB of PSRAM and 768KB of SRAM. In the demonstration by TheAlexKid777, the game runs at a native resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, which is then scaled to 1,024 x 600 pixels on an LCD screen. Audio is managed via an integrated ES8311 codec, and input is handled by a USB keyboard.
The ESP32-P4 chip also includes AI instruction extensions, a digital signal processor, and 55 programmable GPIOs. This project highlights the increasing capabilities of modern microcontrollers, which now possess sufficient processing power to handle tasks that previously required more demanding hardware.
The ESP32 family of microcontrollers has previously been utilized for various projects, including retro Mac emulation, ad-blocking devices, and running large language models with 28.9 million parameters. Some of these devices are available at a starting price of $5.
