DSpico - An open-source flashcart for the DS(i)

SuffahBish · Dec 14, 2025

111112oo_ said:
Thanks, the DMA thing is what I expected but didn't know how to word it.

As for the non DSpico hardware differences, what about DSi mode support and whatnot, surely that doesn't work on other cards?

DSi mode does only work on the Pico. But I saw Apache Thunder got it working in DSi mode on some other cards that have re-writable flashes by replacing the DS game header with one from a DSi game. It was in the discord. I have no idea how easy or hard that is to do.

Gericom · Dec 14, 2025

ber71 said:
Great project.
If i understand correctly, pico-loader and pico-launcher are a flashcart thing atm.
Is dsi/3ds support planned, for running from the console sdcard?

Maybe at a later time. It's more complicated to do, because the DSi SD card can only be read from the ARM7.

111112oo_ said:
Thanks, the DMA thing is what I expected but didn't know how to word it.

As for the non DSpico hardware differences, what about DSi mode support and whatnot, surely that doesn't work on other cards?

If the flashcard starts in DS mode (which is normally the case), you can't use DSi features.

Post automatically merged: Dec 14, 2025

SuffahBish said:
DSi mode does only work on the Pico. But I saw Apache Thunder got it working in DSi mode on some other cards that have re-writable flashes by replacing the DS game header with one from a DSi game. It was in the discord. I have no idea how easy or hard that is to do.

View attachment 545339

View attachment 545338

It also requires a special homebrew application to launch the card. After all, those flashcards don't support the normal DSi boot process.

Apache Thunder · Dec 15, 2025

Yeah you can get away with using a DSi rom on some flashcards if you are using a 3DS. 3DS seems to not care so much about it for some reason. Maybe it ignores the failed TWL blowfish init for these cards and tries to boot them anyways (at least that's how it seems to behave on soft modded 3DS consoles). At least for homebrew roms it's possible on 3DS. You may certainly run into problems if you actually tried to implement modcrypt stuff in your TWL homebrew rom for some reason.

But DSi System Menu is much more strict. Once you put a TWL rom on a DS only flashcart it will not show up in the menu anymore. Only Unlaunch can still boot it (and that's assuming Unlaunch works with your particular flashcart)

Funnily enough there wasn't much downside to doing this to a Datel Games n' Music because that card already doesn't show up on DSi System Menu. (some new flashcard check or flaw in how these older cards handle NTR blowfish is why DSi System Menu rejects them. Not sure unless someone decides to dig into System Menu and tries patching some of that out or something).

Rather then using TWL roms on your flashcarts which makes them harder to use on a DSi you can instead use this if you really want DSi Enhanced features for your old flashcart:

https://github.com/ApacheThunder/ntr-hb-menu/tree/deluxe

This is a special build of hbmenu I made that autoboots Pico Launcher (if it's present, otherwise it shows filebrowser where you can choose the nds file to launch):

It can DLDI init many flashcarts like DSTT, Acekard 2i, og R4, CycloDS Evolution and a few others. Through this app you can launch things off your flashcart in TWL mode and that includes Pico Launcher. I've been able to run DSiWare and such most the cards I was able to boot Pico Launcher with this. This would be the optimal route for such carts if you really want TWL mode stuff for your games. Just note Pico Loader was designed to use TWL features on a DS Pico so game support for this boot method is not guaranteed to the same as what you'd get from a DS Pico. And since this app is not affiliated with the DS Pico team, don't expect to get support from them for this method either.

Turn your old flashcart into a Temu DS Pico at your own risk.

111112oo_ · Dec 16, 2025

Apache Thunder said:
Yeah you can get away with using a DSi rom on some flashcards if you are using a 3DS. 3DS seems to not care so much about it for some reason. Maybe it ignores the failed TWL blowfish init for these cards and tries to boot them anyways (at least that's how it seems to behave on soft modded 3DS consoles). At least for homebrew roms it's possible on 3DS. You may certainly run into problems if you actually tried to implement modcrypt stuff in your TWL homebrew rom for some reason.

But DSi System Menu is much more strict. Once you put a TWL rom on a DS only flashcart it will not show up in the menu anymore. Only Unlaunch can still boot it (and that's assuming Unlaunch works with your particular flashcart)

Funnily enough there wasn't much downside to doing this to a Datel Games n' Music because that card already doesn't show up on DSi System Menu. (some new flashcard check or flaw in how these older cards handle NTR blowfish is why DSi System Menu rejects them. Not sure unless someone decides to dig into System Menu and tries patching some of that out or something).

Rather then using TWL roms on your flashcarts which makes them harder to use on a DSi you can instead use this if you really want DSi Enhanced features for your old flashcart:

https://github.com/ApacheThunder/ntr-hb-menu/tree/deluxe

This is a special build of hbmenu I made that autoboots Pico Launcher (if it's present, otherwise it shows filebrowser where you can choose the nds file to launch):

It can DLDI init many flashcarts like DSTT, Acekard 2i, og R4, CycloDS Evolution and a few others. Through this app you can launch things off your flashcart in TWL mode and that includes Pico Launcher. I've been able to run DSiWare and such most the cards I was able to boot Pico Launcher with this. This would be the optimal route for such carts if you really want TWL mode stuff for your games. Just note Pico Loader was designed to use TWL features on a DS Pico so game support for this boot method is not guaranteed to the same as what you'd get from a DS Pico. And since this app is not affiliated with the DS Pico team, don't expect to get support from them for this method either.

Turn your old flashcart into a Temu DS Pico at your own risk.

Nice to see that there's potential for this. How does a DSi rom on a 3DS without your hb menu run? Not something I'd try now due to the currently incomplete nature of DSpico, but I'll keep it in mind.

--------

Here's my current understanding of DSpico, anything here I've gotten wrong?
+Open source.
+USB port.
+Supports DSi enchanced, DSi exclusive and DSiware games.
+Fast loading.
+~The DSpico loaders can be installed on other flashcarts (Without DSi game support unless you get hacky), though currently most cards don't have full support.
-No premade cards being sold currently.
-Current game compatibility issues, such as no NAND save games or some games with AP.
-No cheats currently.
-No "suspend" currently.
+All the negatives should be fixed at some point.

Coderkei · Dec 19, 2025

Recieved my DSPico earlier this week. Tested to ensure AKMenu-Next works on the DSPico and it appears to work fine, it just boots in NTR mode instead of DSI mode, I will add some checks to the next version to account for that, but it does work nicely with Pico Loader, nice and fast

Post automatically merged: Dec 19, 2025

111112oo_ said:
Nice to see that there's potential for this. How does a DSi rom on a 3DS without your hb menu run? Not something I'd try now due to the currently incomplete nature of DSpico, but I'll keep it in mind.

--------

Here's my current understanding of DSpico, anything here I've gotten wrong?
+Open source.
+USB port.
+Supports DSi enchanced, DSi exclusive and DSiware games.
+Fast loading.
+~The DSpico loaders can be installed on other flashcarts (Without DSi game support unless you get hacky), though currently most cards don't have full support.
-No premade cards being sold currently.
-Current game compatibility issues, such as no NAND save games or some games with AP.
-No cheats currently.
-No "suspend" currently.
+All the negatives should be fixed at some point.

More or less, althought if by "suspend" you mean Sleep mode, that should work. For the cheats, soft reset and save compabilility, these are all being actively worked on.

Expect to see Premade carts soon because I have already seen a few people looking into manufacturing these on a larger scale (Kaico labs and a few others).

DSoryu · Dec 22, 2025

Pico-loader v1.2.0 has been released

Get it here: https://github.com/LNH-team/pico-loader/releases/tag/v1.2.0

Changelog:

Improved Pokémon IR sensor AP patches - by @taxicat1
- Fixes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Support for DSProtect patches in static arm9 - by @taxicat1
Support for unusual DSProtect configurations - by @taxicat1
- Fixes Dragon Ball: Origins 2 and Puyo Puyo 7
Fixed some retail roms being detected as homebrew
- Fixes Scooby Doo! - Unmasked and Kim Possible - Kimmunicator
Added a proper implementation of save verification
- Fixes Madagascar, Bleach: Dark Souls and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Always boot roms with slot 1 and 2 mapped to arm7
- Fixes FastVideoDSPlayer homebrew
Fixed some system tool DSi roms being misdetected as DSiWare
Improved Sdk5DsiSdCardRedirectPatch

DSoryu · Dec 28, 2025

Pico-loader v1.3.0 has been released

Get it here: https://github.com/LNH-team/pico-loader/releases/tag/v1.3.0

Changelog:

Properly set the supported language, user language, and region based on the ROM's region - by @R-YaTian
- This bypasses the region lock or language lock in some dsiware games.
Fixed CardiTaskThreadPatch to apply the right patch for all signatures
- This fixes various games, including Chibi Robo! Park Patrol, Rainbow Islands Revolution, MechAssault - Phantom War and Diddy Kong Racing DS (USA).
Added missing OS_ResetSystem signature - by @taxicat1
- Fixes crashes in Tetris DS and other games that have this signature.
Added check to CardiTaskThreadPatch that the required slot is actually mapped to arm7.
- Fixes Power Rangers - Samurai.
Added support for roms with a writable NAND chip.
- Fixes WarioWare D.I.Y., Face Training, Jam with the Band and Nintendo DS Guide.
Added special save initialization for Jam with the Band and Daigassou! Band-Brothers DX
Optimized space usage of supercard platform - by @edo9300
New supported platform: Datel (Games n' Music and Action Replay DS(i)) - by @edo9300
New supported platform: Stargate 3DS - by @lifehackerhansol

Flame · Dec 28, 2025

DSoryu said:
Pico-loader v1.3.0 has been released

Get it here: https://github.com/LNH-team/pico-loader/releases/tag/v1.3.0

Changelog:

Properly set the supported language, user language, and region based on the ROM's region - by @R-YaTian

This bypasses the region lock or language lock in some dsiware games.

Fixed CardiTaskThreadPatch to apply the right patch for all signatures

This fixes various games, including Chibi Robo! Park Patrol, Rainbow Islands Revolution, MechAssault - Phantom War and Diddy Kong Racing DS (USA).

Added missing OS_ResetSystem signature - by @taxicat1

Fixes crashes in Tetris DS and other games that have this signature.

Added check to CardiTaskThreadPatch that the required slot is actually mapped to arm7.

Fixes Power Rangers - Samurai.

Added support for roms with a writable NAND chip.

Fixes WarioWare D.I.Y., Face Training, Jam with the Band and Nintendo DS Guide.

Added special save initialization for Jam with the Band and Daigassou! Band-Brothers DX

Optimized space usage of supercard platform - by @edo9300

New supported platform: Datel (Games n' Music and Action Replay DS(i)) - by @edo9300

New supported platform: Stargate 3DS - by @lifehackerhansol

Stargate 3DS, Datel Games n' Music and Action Replay DSi

Mother of Arceus

toledot · Dec 29, 2025

Guys I'm new to all this and I read this thread and the majority of it was gibberish. I already downloaded and tried the DS Pico software on my 3 USD flash cart R4 clone from Ali, and it ran it fine. I ended up using AOS because it had precompiled GBA emulation. I was also able to run Pokemon Conquest (DSi) on my 3DS. I'm trying to figure out why anyone would want the DS Pico software over the other options, can you explain it to me like I'm a toddler? Please and Thank you.

Jayro · Dec 29, 2025

Can we please stop using micro USB ports? USB C is the standard now, and is the same price as micro USB.

XLuma · Dec 29, 2025

Jayro said:
Can we please stop using micro USB ports? USB C is the standard now, and is the same price as micro USB.

The official rpi pico uses micro usb, so we went with what the official boards/specs used (and we knew it would fit on the board). The community is working on USB-C versions however.

orangy57 · Dec 30, 2025

Jayro said:
Can we please stop using micro USB ports? USB C is the standard now, and is the same price as micro USB.

The team mentioned that USB-C is a lot bigger in the shell and requires more circuitry for the standard.

Also it's a flashcart for a handheld from 2009, it already has a proprietary charger that you need to lug around anyway I don't think a microusb is an issue. Chances are if you want to do some cool USB stuff you'll be using it in an environment where you have a micro USB cable laying around

Apache Thunder · Dec 30, 2025

Jayro said:
Can we please stop using micro USB ports? USB C is the standard now, and is the same price as micro USB.

Do note there will be sacrifices if you go with a USB-C design. There's a reason the original run uses micro-USB. There are some efforts being made into making a USB-C variant. If you really want one of those I suppose you can just wait for that to come out.

But as for what you'll miss out on if you insist on getting a USB-C version, be prepared to use a smaller label:

DS-Xtreme is a good example of this. The older USB port they used on it required a massive notch on both sides of the shell while the DSpico used the slightly newer micro-USB port so they can more or less use a normal top shell on it. But that's not possible with the USB-C version so most likely you'll end up with a huge notch cut out for it on both sides of the shell and you'll have to use a smaller label like that DS-Xtreme pictured above.

Granted someone might be be able to source a version of the USB-C port that won't require a notch out of the top shell but don't hold your breath on that one. The space constraints is why micro-USB was chosen.

Jayro · Dec 30, 2025

Apache Thunder said:
Do note there will be sacrifices if you go with a USB-C design. There's a reason the original run uses micro-USB. There are some efforts being made into making a USB-C variant. If you really want one of those I suppose you can just wait for that to come out.

But as for what you'll miss out on if you insist on getting a USB-C version, be prepared to use a smaller label:
View attachment 548167

DS-Xtreme is a good example of this. The older USB port they used on it required a massive notch on both sides of the shell while the DSpico used the slightly newer micro-USB port so they can more or less use a normal top shell on it. But that's not possible with the USB-C version so most likely you'll end up with a huge notch cut out for it on both sides of the shell and you'll have to use a smaller label like that DS-Xtreme pictured above.

Granted someone might be be able to source a version of the USB-C port that won't require a notch out of the top shell but don't hold your breath on that one. The space constraints is why micro-USB was chosen.

I'm perfectly okay waiting and using a smaller label. I've just been phasing out outdated tech from my house and don't need any legacy ports and cables laying around.

SylverReZ · Jan 1, 2026

I've ordered a DSPico in white from Woodbeyond for $17 USD on AliExpress. The item is sold out but I will post some photos to show you with how its packaged and the quality to give you an idea. It's said that the shells are 3D printed and not injection molded-I'm okay with waiting two weeks for it to arrive.

Ghost · Jan 1, 2026

SylverReZ said:
I've ordered a DSPico in white from Woodbeyond for $17 USD on AliExpress. The item is sold out but I will post some photos to show you with how its packaged and the quality to give you an idea. It's said that the shells are 3D printed and not injection molded-I'm okay with waiting two weeks for it to arrive.

View attachment 548759

Link?

SylverReZ · Jan 1, 2026

Ghostx0 said:
Link?

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIvE4HO

Here you go. If there's any more on Woodbeyond's store, I'd say go for it.

Hunter · Jan 1, 2026

SylverReZ said:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIvE4HO

Here you go. If there's any more on Woodbeyond's store, I'd say go for it.

awesome find, shame they are out of stock I would have purchased one.

toledot · Jan 1, 2026

yeah. At this point i see the purpose of quality cards. I ordered one from aliexpress that was an ace3ds+ clone and it worked on my 3ds but not on my ds. then I got one for free with a dsi purchase that was a blc2k but it also wasn't read in my ds. i noticed both of them were thin pcbs. adding thickness near the back of the pcb contacts didn't make it any better. so at this point i'm willing to get this thing just to see if it will run on my ds. the slot 1 loads my games without fail every time so i know its not dirty. thanks for linking it. i'm going to get it when i see it in stock.

k66 · Jan 2, 2026

SylverReZ said:
I've ordered a DSPico in white from Woodbeyond for $17 USD

DIY only costs $4

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