He modeled a new case around it, borrowing the cartridge pocket from an earlier NFC media player he built for movies. The pocket was deepened to make room for an eject button that pushes a lever at the rear, popping the cartridge loose. Crucially, the old cartridge library still fits.

Since the chip runs at a 45W TDP, the intake and exhaust were sized generously and kept clear of obstructing geometry to keep noise down. Prototypes were printed in recycled PLA; the final shell is carbon-fiber-reinforced PETG, with olive-green decorative panels bolted on over an air gap for a bolt-on armor look, plus orange buttons for contrast. Panel details were marked with a UV laser. An attempt to fill debossed logos with gold-flecked UV resin didn't pan out, so the cartridges were laser-engraved instead, each with its own in-universe Easter egg.

The clever part is the software. Rather than the Home Assistant setup his movie player used, this runs different firmware on identical hardware. The ESP32 pushes the cartridge ID over USB serial to the mini PC, where a small Python app sitting in the system tray maps each ID to either a Steam ID or a path to an .exe. Insert the cartridge, and the game launches.

Two more catches: the ESP32 needs an external USB cable running to the mini PC, because the board's unlabeled internal headers weren't worth risking. It's being folded into a version two of the cartridge player instead, the creator said.

So, in a way, building this small console seems like the creator's way of making their voice heard, or registering a protest to show that they stand with physical media. The case files are free on Printables, linked in the YouTube video description.