$40 DIY e-ink reader streams Pokemon to any browser via ESP32 WiFi emulator
Mescallan · reddit · 2026-09-12
Reddit user Mescallan built a $40 open-source device with Claude's help: an ESP32 plus a $27 e-ink display, a D-pad on the back, and laser-cut acrylic shells, forming an e-reader that plays Pokemon on any browser.
The ESP32 broadcasts its own WiFi and serves the emulator and ROM directly to the browser, so processing stays local with no app or internet needed, while saves persist across devices. The e-ink UI is drawn from in-game sprites and reads the emulator's memory to display live game data as a dashboard.
He's also prototyping Texas Hold'em with cards on the e-ink and hands on phones, plans to open-source the repo Monday, and envisions a moddable e-ink + ESP32 platform. A full build write-up is on his blog.
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