[LIGHTGUN] OpenFIRE ESP32 Firmware (Stable) - PICON-AS Battery-Powered Wireless

[Alessandro Satanassi]

🚀 Official Announcement: OpenFIRE ESP32 v6.2.0 Stable Released! 🚀

Hi everyone! I'm thrilled to announce the release of the stable version 6.2.0 of OpenFIRE for ESP32.

🎬 Before diving into the details, watch the PICON-AS lightgun and the new firmware in action in our gameplay showcase video:



Starting from the fantastic foundation of the original OpenFIRE project, I extended the code to bring the entire experience into the wireless world by leveraging the power of ESP32 microcontrollers, pairing it with an installation system that is simple and immediate for anyone.

All the original OpenFIRE features are fully supported, with the great advantage of being able to play without the clutter of cables. In addition to maintaining full compatibility, this port introduces the following extra features:

• Uncompromising Wireless (Zero Lag): Thanks to the native ESP-NOW protocol, the gun communicates with a small USB receiver (Dongle) ensuring ultra-low latency. You'll play totally wire-free, maintaining the same lightning-fast responsiveness of a direct connection. (If you prefer, the classic wired USB connection is still fully available).
  
• Refined Tracking: The aiming system has been perfected for the "square" IR LED configuration. Better handling of the gun's rotation and intelligent recovery in case of momentary loss of visibility of the IR sensors, combined with a new stabilization algorithm, will give you a crosshair that is even smoother, more precise, and stable.
  
• Wireless Pedals Support: For titles that require it, such as Time Crisis, this release natively supports the simultaneous use of one or two pedals in completely wireless mode.
  

🌐 Beginner-Proof Installation (Just a few mouse clicks)
Forget command lines or complicated software. Installing the firmware on your Lightgun, Dongle, or Pedal is now super easy. Thanks to the new Web Flasher, just connect your board to the PC via USB, open Chrome or Edge, select the ESP32 board, and click a button. The browser will automatically handle the entire process in a matter of seconds.

To configure and calibrate the gun, you can continue using the excellent universal OpenFIRE App (multilingual: English and Italian), which is fully compatible with the OpenFIRE ESP32 firmware. To make your life even easier, I created a web portal where you can directly download the most recent version of the pre-compiled App, ready to use for your operating system.

✨ All the useful links to get started right away:

• 📺 Video Showcase & Gameplay:
  
• Web Flasher (Install the firmware in a few clicks): https://alessandro-satanassi.github.io/OpenFIRE-ESP32-WebFlasher/?lang=en
  
• OpenFIRE ESP32 Tools (Download the OpenFIRE calibration and testing App): https://alessandro-satanassi.github.io/OpenFIRE-ESP32-Tools/?lang=en
  
• Source code and documentation (For the curious): https://github.com/alessandro-satanassi/OpenFIRE-Firmware-ESP32
  
• (Optional) Build your PICON-AS: Want an example of how to build a lightgun from scratch using this system? Here is the hardware documentation for the PICON-AS: https://alessandro-satanassi.github.io/OpenFIRE-PICON-AS-ESP32/
  

A huge thank you to all the testers who helped stabilize this release, and of course to the OpenFIRE Team for creating the solid base project.

It's time to cut the cords and discover the joy of arcade gaming in total freedom. Have fun! 🔫🎯