Pixel Arcade Display | ILI9488 + ESP32 = Cheap Clear Logo Marquee

[izzishor]

Pixel Arcade Display | ILI9488 + ESP32 = Cheap Clear Logo Marquee

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# Pixel Arcade Display
Who said it was impossible?!

Shows the Clear Logo and Platform you select in LaunchBox on a small
ILI9488 screen driven by an ESP32. 
Updates instantly. 

The plugin hands the logo's file path to a tiny local proxy, which reads it off disk and streams it to the ESP32.

LaunchBox plugin  ──>  arcade-imgproxy.exe  ──>  ESP32 + ILI9488 screen
 (sends logo path)             (reads file, RGB565)              (displays it)
 

1. Wiring (ILI9488 → ESP32 NodeMCU-32S)
 

Display | ESP32 - W I R I N G
-----------------------------
VCC     | 3.3V    
GND    | GND  
CS        |  GPIO21
RESET  | GPIO4 
DC        | GPIO27
MOSI    | GPIO23
CLK       | GPIO18
LED/BL | GPIO32 and 

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2. PC side (LaunchBox)

Everything lives in one folder: `LaunchBox\Plugins\PixelArcade\`

Put PixelArcade folder from LaunchBox Plugin in the Plugins folder of LaunchBox:

- `PixelArcade.dll`  (the plugin)
- `arcade-imgproxy.exe`  (the image proxy)
- `config.ini`  (shared settings)
- `default.png`  (shown when nothing is selected — drop in any 480x320 image)
- `install-service.bat` / `uninstall-service.bat`  (optional auto-start)

**Edit `config.ini`** if needed. Defaults work when the proxy runs on the
same PC as LaunchBox. 

Run `arcade-imgproxy.exe` — or right-click `install-service.bat` →
**Run as administrator** to auto-start it hidden at every boot.

Restart LaunchBox so it loads the plugin.

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3. ESP32 side (ESPHome)

Put `pixel-arcade.yaml` and `arcade_image.h` in the same ESPHome folder.

Edit the **`substitutions`** block at the top of `pixel-arcade.yaml`:

- `wifi_ssid`, `wifi_password` — your WiFi
- `device_ip`, `gateway_ip` — the static IP you want + your router IP
- `proxy_host` — the **IP:port of the PC** running the proxy
  (e.g. `192.168.1.60:8090`)

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Done

Select a game in LaunchBox → its logo appears. Deselect / exit → default image.

Sources included (`arcade-imgproxy.go`, `PixelArcadePlugin.cs`). Do whatever
you want with it.
 

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• Submitter
  izzishor
• Submitted
  06/11/2026
• Category
  Third-party Apps and Plugins