Over the past four years, we - the LNH team - have been working hard on a project that some of you guys may have already heard about: an open-source flashcart that supports the DS, DSi and 3DS (in DSi mode), by the name of DSpico.


The project evolved from a simple flashcart, to a collection of individual components that work together. Each component has been separated in their own repositories, and can be modified to your liking. Each repository comes with their own README's and documentation.The DSpico project consists of the following components:

• DSpico Hardware - The hardware of the DSpico.
• DSpico Firmware - The firmware for the DSpico.
• DSpico Bootloader - Bootloader for the DSpico.
• DSpico DLDI - The DLDI for the DSpico.
• WRFUxxed exploit - Full-access DSi-mode exploit for WRFU Tester that can be used with DSpico.
• Pico Launcher - Front-end for Pico Loader.
• Pico Loader - DS(i) rom loader. Supports various flashcards, including the DSpico.

Guides to build your own DSpico, as well as instructions for compiling the software are also available. We tried to make the process as friendly as possible. An overview of the features can be found on the website, although each README has much more extensive documentation.

DSpico project index and guide: https://github.com/LNH-team/dspico
Our website: https://www.lnh-team.org/

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Here are a few images of DSpico:

Spoiler: Images

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QUICK FAQ (will be updated over time)​

- Q: Why use micro-usb over usb-c ?
- A: When we were making the hardware, using USB-C introduced more components that simply didnt fit on the board. We also had concerns of the usb-c port fitting nicely in the cartridge port, and fragility concerns with the shell.

- Q: Where can I order one ?
- A: Your best shot is joining a group buy, or finding a store that manufactures DSpico. We (the LNH Team) will not sell any boards.

- Q: How is compatibility ?
- A: Most of the DS library, as well as homebrew, should work. We do not have an official compatibility list, and we are aware of a few titles that do not work correctly at the moment.

- Q: Does this plays 3ds executables ?
- A: No.

- Q: Am I forced to use Pico launcher ?
- A: No. For instance, Wood menu and TwilightMenu++ work just fine. And vice versa as well, pico launcher is usable on other flashcarts.

- Q: Can i use ntrboot with this ?
- A: Yes, you can perform ntrboot on both 3ds and DSi. We recommend powering the board via micro-usb for DSi ntrboot.

- Q: I need assistance. Where do i go ?
- A: Join the DSi hacking discord, there is a dedicated dspico channel where you can ask your questions.

 

[RocketRobz]

Is this the first dsi flashcard (supporting dsi enhanced games) since the cyclods iEvolution?
I guess it can't be, as that's crazy, but I don't recall others.

Yes, it is.

 

[codezer0]

Is this the first dsi flashcard (supporting dsi enhanced games) since the cyclods iEvolution?
I guess it can't be, as that's crazy, but I don't recall others.

Sure seems that way. Back then I went for the DStwo for the additional hardware it had not requiring a DSi to use fully.

Got a *lot* of mileage from the DS two. To the point the contacts for the microsd card corroded and it couldn't boot anymore.

While objectively, a jailbroken 3DS should be able to handle everything up to that point, having something for the remaining DS systems is always a positive.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Damn that's awesome.

Now, the question is - do I really need another project to build on top of all of the other ones in my backlog? Because damn I'm tempted.

 

[Flame]

Damn that's awesome.

Now, the question is - do I really need another project to build on top of all of the other ones in my backlog? Because damn I'm tempted.

Temp me up, baby!

 

[chrisrlink]

Yes, it is.

wonder if it needs a crap donor rom like what cyclo needed

 

[RocketRobz]

wonder if it needs a crap donor rom like what cyclo needed

No, the DSPico does not require a donor ROM at all.

 

[The Catboy]

Silly question, but GBA ROMs how it do with that?

 

[DSoryu]

Is this the first dsi flashcard (supporting dsi enhanced games) since the cyclods iEvolution?
I guess it can't be, as that's crazy, but I don't recall others.

Yes, the DSpico has full DSi mode support, including DSi exclusive titles and DSiWare, thanks to a "emuNAND" implementation. Only NAND savetype games (like Face Training) are still incompatible.

Post automatically merged: Nov 27, 2025

Silly question, but GBA ROMs how it do with that?

GBARunner3 can be used directly from pico launcher, as it supports custom argv extensions and even GBA covers.

 

[Exnor]

Kudos and thank you to all involved.

 

[benrt]

Congrats on this, it's awesome to finally see an open-source option for this. Does the Pico Launcher software work on DS Lite systems? I just want to make sure before I try loading it on my Ace3DS clone.

 

[VinsCool]

This is seriously impressive!
I wonder how long until a similar thing could be done on the 3ds, even if I'm aware it's mostly pointless compared to using a Custom Firmware.

 

[jonhon]

Will this have exclusive software like the dstwo?

 

[ertaboy356b]

Hmm, seems expensive on my end to put together. I'll wait and see for the "chinese" release.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Nice work! I tested the loader out and so far it seems to work great. As for the frontend, it's nice, but I feel there should be options on how the user can adjust their file system layouts. I'm not huge on the default layout (really bad for directories).

 

[Gericom]

Nice work! I tested the loader out and so far it seems to work great. As for the frontend, it's nice, but I feel there should be options on how the user can adjust their file system layouts. I'm not huge on the default layout (really bad for directories).

What other layouts would you be looking for besides horizontal grid, vertical grid, banner list and coverflow? I did hear some people would like a simple, dense, file list though.

 

[Technicmaster0]

wonder if it needs a crap donor rom like what cyclo needed

It needs a donor rom for unmodded DSi/3DS systems. But the donor rom is "WRFU Tester v0.60 (fixed header)". Because of that donor rom, it's region free and has all permissions. No donor rom for modded DSi/3DS systems and DS/DS Lite systems required.

Congrats on this, it's awesome to finally see an open-source option for this. Does the Pico Launcher software work on DS Lite systems? I just want to make sure before I try loading it on my Ace3DS clone.

Yes. You can also just copy the ace3ds+ build from the launcher to the SD card and test it. Or you can use flashcart-bootstrap to chainload it replacing the original launcher. Pico launcher also supports pokemon black/white 2 which doesn't work properly on these cards, but there might be issues with other games (so chainloading can make sense).

Will this have exclusive software like the dstwo?

There are a few tests using the USB port (I think one for using the DS as USB mouse and one for using it as a USB speaker or so), but it doesn't have much processing power overhead so it won't get an exclusive emulator or something like that.

Nice work! I tested the loader out and so far it seems to work great. As for the frontend, it's nice, but I feel there should be options on how the user can adjust their file system layouts. I'm not huge on the default layout (really bad for directories).

The options to adjust the layour are at the icon at the top right corner. But you have to use the keys to "get there". You can't press them with the touch screen at the moment

 

[Apache Thunder]

...Pico launcher also supports pokemon black/white 2 which doesn't work properly on these cards, but there might be issues with other games (so chainloading can make sense)...

To add to that, I've tested Pokémon Black 2 with Pico Loader on my Ace3DS X and that was the only cart I have where it works properly on a new save. On my DSTT, og R4, and M3DS Real, BW2 gets stuck on the dialog where professor asks for your name. (it hangs before it transitions to the keyboard screen where you type your name in).

Though I used a save from this cart on one of the others it had this freezing issue on and it seemed to run fine so the bug was limited to only new saves. Acekard 2i build seems to be broken at the moment. On my hw81 AK2i, it whitescreens on everything I try to boot with it.

EDIT: Nevermind. The issues I was having on ak2i were the result of most of my roms on that one happening to be encrypted still and I hadn't put my bios dumps on it so that's why I was having issues. Once I put my dumps on it, it now works.

 

[Gericom]

To add to that, I've tested Pokémon Black 2 with Pico Loader on my Ace3DS X and that was the only cart I have where it works properly on a new save. On my DSTT, og R4, and M3DS Real, BW2 gets stuck on the dialog where professor asks for your name. (it hangs before it transitions to the keyboard screen where you type your name in).

Though I used a save from this cart on one of the others it had this freezing issue on and it seemed to run fine so the bug was limited to only new saves. Acekard 2i build seems to be broken at the moment. On my hw81 AK2i, it whitescreens on everything I try to boot with it.

EDIT: Nevermind. The issues I was having on ak2i were the result of most of my roms on that one happening to be encrypted still and I hadn't put my bios dumps on it so that's why I was having issues. Once I put my dumps on it, it now works.

This might be a dma related issue. The ACE3DS platform has dma support implemented.

 

[RibShark]

I'm curious whether the DLDI on this cart can work without booting into it (like how the R4 Ultra carts work). If so would be cool to see this potentially re-used as an alternate MicroSD slot.

 

[Gericom]

I'm curious whether the DLDI on this cart can work without booting into it (like how the R4 Ultra carts work). If so would be cool to see this potentially re-used as an alternate MicroSD slot.

Currently not. You need to go through secure mode. However, some changes to the firmware might be possible.