# Can a large 3D game run on a PICO custom build? **URL:** \ **Category:** Arcade\ **Tags:** game, extension\ **Created:** [June 2, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317 "2026-06-02T17:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/1 "2026-06-02T17:02:01Z")
Hello everyone! I’ve made a large 3D game, using the raycasting library ( [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mt57WJGPy08](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mt57WJGPy08) ). I’ve tried it on the Kittronic Max, but it’s not running. (my other game ( [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HSg23gQGkBA](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HSg23gQGkBA) ) runs fine!!!) This summer, I’m going to try to build a custom handheld, based on a PICO board. Do you know if it will be able to run the raycasting application? ---
**Author:** ![Brohann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/brohann/32/17380_2.png) [@Brohann](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Brohann)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/2 "2026-06-02T18:11:33Z")
I would guess that it would not be powerful enough to run the game at a playable fps. The reason it’s not working on your Kittronic Max probably has to do with the screen size. ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/3 "2026-06-02T18:21:42Z")
Thanks @Brohann - for the screen size, you mean the fact that the Kittronic has a bigger screen? or do you mean the custom size of the game shown in the video? Because if it’s the latter, I actually made a “handheld” version that uses the MakeCode Arcade native size, and that’s the one I’m unsuccessfully trying to run 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Brohann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/brohann/32/17380_2.png) [@Brohann](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Brohann)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/4 "2026-06-02T18:51:47Z")
I was referring to the custom size of the game. When you try to run it does it give an error or something? or does it just not run at all and show blank screen? ---
**Author:** ![AlexK](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/alexk/32/33339_2.png) [@AlexK](https://forum.makecode.com/u/AlexK)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/5 "2026-06-02T19:24:42Z")
Hi, Luxregina! When you say the device will be “based on a PICO board,” which board, specifically, are you planning to use? ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/6 "2026-06-02T19:24:57Z")
No error, the screen just stays black - like it’s not booting… ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/7 "2026-06-02T19:41:08Z")
Hi @AlexK I’ve purchased both a PICO 1 and 2, so I’ll experiment. I believe the board is RP2040 for the Pico 1. This will be my first foray into electronics, so I’m discovering it as I go… I also purchased a bunch of ESP32 for good measures… I’m taking a first time “electronics/soldering” workshop this summer, and my goal is to create a bunch of handhelds that run MakeCode Arcade… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AlexK](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/alexk/32/33339_2.png) [@AlexK](https://forum.makecode.com/u/AlexK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/8 "2026-06-03T01:15:55Z")
The simple version is that the Raspberry Pi Pico is not officially supported by the MakeCode Arcade platform. You _ **can** _ get it to work, though. > [@DIY Arcade Console with Rp2040 Pico](https://forum.makecode.com/t/diy-arcade-console-with-rp2040-pico/22969): > > Hi all: Recently, I saw some questions about how to running Arcade game on Pico, especially @Vegz78 . (BTW thanks for your great efforts on running Arcade game on RPi, it’s really valuable for me) Here is what I got after playing Pico with Arcade for a few days. Hope this helped. Good news: work with both Pico & PicoW works well with screen(ST7735 160x128) & btn & speaker bootloader in rom, very very safe UF2 format supported by bootloader naturally !!! Not require compile bootloader anymor… As for whether it will run “a large 3D game,” it might. The RP2350 (the processor for the Pico 2) has a little more horsepower than the Atmel chip used in the Kitronik Max (150 MHz vs. 120 MHz), but you might not see an appreciable difference. If you want a major boost in performance, you may be better off using one of the full Raspberry Pi platforms (_e.g._, something based on an RPi 4 or RPi 5). ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:11am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/9 "2026-06-03T03:11:35Z")
Thanks Alex! I’ve harvested some links, including some on this very forum… (for example, MakeTato \> [Maketato - A DIY, Pico-based handheld students can build](https://forum.makecode.com/t/maketato-a-diy-pico-based-handheld-students-can-build/30976) ) I expect to struggle!!! 🙂 but that will make eventual success that much sweeter! When I made the 3D game, I knew it was a Hail Mary, I won’t be too bothered if it runs slow, or doesn’t work at all, I knew I was doing something not “expected” with MakeCode… I just had fun with it 🙂 I’ve started making a new 2D game, much more in line with what’s expected from MakeCode. ![thePassengerRPG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/4/3/4343f09736ca7be9e8b985584a607bdc80068b4e.png) ---
**Author:** ![TheEarth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/theearth/32/34579_2.png) [@TheEarth](https://forum.makecode.com/u/TheEarth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/10 "2026-06-03T23:50:04Z")
nice tile art ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/11 "2026-06-04T00:28:26Z")
Thanks! It’s fun to be back at doing Pixel art! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![luxregina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luxregina/32/32544_2.png) [@luxregina](https://forum.makecode.com/u/luxregina)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/can-a-large-3d-game-run-on-a-pico-custom-build/44317/12 "2026-07-26T19:04:36Z")
By the way, I tried to run the large 3D game mentioned on the first post in my custom RP2040 setup and it doesn’t run ☹ - it shows an error screen when booting. I’ve also realized that the **RP2040** is actually less performant than the **Atmel SAMD51J19A** that powers the **Kitronic Arcade Max** : games that run just fine on the Kitronic are a little laggy on the RP2040 ☹ It’s actually documented in Microsoft’s gitHub \> [https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-arcade/issues/6398](https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-arcade/issues/6398) I just committed to the RP2040 ecosystem, so I’ll stick with that, but once I’m done with my project, I’ll explore alternatives… Oh, and for good measure, eventhough I posted it in another thread, here’s a picture of my build so far : ![midterm2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/9/5/95f59d2f5251f93203422cfb120adccd7374b543.png)