# Why is the physical makecode arcade console so expensive?

**URL:** <https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550>\
**Category:** micro:bit\
**Tags:** graphics-and-math\
**Created:** [September 29, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550 "2025-09-29T16:57:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mekun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/mekun/32/25052_2.png) [@Mekun](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Mekun)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550/1 "2025-09-29T16:57:58Z")

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How do u get it? Is it difficult?

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**Author:** ![WoofWoof](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/woofwoof/32/32523_2.png) [@WoofWoof](https://forum.makecode.com/u/WoofWoof)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550/2 "2025-09-29T21:57:52Z")

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Makecode is built for many different devices! You can see all their names when clicking the 3 dots next to the download button while editing a project! Click those and then click “Choose Hardware” and you’ll get a list of all the supported devices. The “learn more” links take you to the product pages. I personally have an Adafruit PyGamer, which isn’t very cheap, (and is out of stock right now as I’m looking at it) but offers fairly reasonable performance.

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**Author:** ![randomuser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/randomuser/32/32505_2.png) [@randomuser](https://forum.makecode.com/u/randomuser)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550/3 "2025-10-06T20:54:39Z")

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I think the cheapest hardware might be the raspberry pi, but I’d suggest the meowbit or the pygamer for begineers!  
They’re sold on a ton of websites (and on different websites in different countries) so I’d suggest searching for where to buy them.

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**Author:** ![emory55](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/emory55/32/17766_2.png) [@emory55](https://forum.makecode.com/u/emory55)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550/4 "2025-10-22T21:33:08Z")

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I have 2 devices. One is from ElecFreaks called RETRO Arcade for EDU.

It feels nice, can connect to Leo and is a great little machine; however, it has space limitations, so some of your MakeCode projects may not be able to load on it.

If you get the Kitronic ARCADE for BBC:Microbit, it will not be as “pretty” or sturdy, but it does allow for larger Project files as it uses the BBC:Microbit to store your project.

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**Author:** ![MeatballDev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/meatballdev/32/28502_2.png) [@MeatballDev](https://forum.makecode.com/u/MeatballDev)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/why-is-the-physical-makecode-arcade-console-so-expensive/39550/5 "2025-10-23T04:36:53Z")

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for quality and affordability get the [Retro Arcade Console](https://shop.elecfreaks.com/products/elecfreaks-retro-makecode-arcade-for-education?srsltid=AfmBOooZKNVEtFCyEUYjju8UqmrgVnqB3TfFVmccI0s4ISF0w-tcx-Dm)