PicoBoot – Raspberry Pi Pico Modchip for the Nintendo GameCube

PicoBoot

Overview

PicoBoot is an open-source modchip for the Nintendo GameCube that uses a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. It is one of the most accessible and widely adopted GameCube modification solutions available, enabling homebrew loading, region-free play, and direct boot into Swiss without requiring original modchip hardware or an Action Replay disc.

Key Features

  • Open-source firmware — freely available and community maintained
  • Uses a low-cost Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller
  • Boots directly into Swiss or any other ELF application on power-on
  • Region-free game loading
  • No disc required for homebrew entry
  • Relatively straightforward installation for those comfortable with soldering
  • Compatible with all GameCube hardware revisions (with minor variation)

Compatibility

PicoBoot is compatible with all Nintendo GameCube models, though the installation process varies slightly between DOL-001 and DOL-101 revisions. It works in conjunction with Swiss and an SD card adapter (such as SD2SP2) for full game loading functionality.

How It Works

The Raspberry Pi Pico is flashed with the PicoBoot firmware and soldered to specific points on the GameCube motherboard. On power-on, the Pico intercepts the GameCube boot process and loads the specified ELF file — typically Swiss — from an SD card before the standard IPL runs.

Official Resources

Licence

PicoBoot is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). All rights remain with the original developer and contributors.

RetroReplay UK is an independent retailer. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the PicoBoot development team. See our Community Acknowledgements page.