Hardware Hacker Runs Classic Text Adventure Zork Directly on Steam Controller Hardware

Valve's Steam Controller has become the latest subject of an impressive DIY hardware project. Creator Owen Feldman has successfully managed to get the classic text adventure game Zork running directly on the controller's internal processor. The project, documented on Feldman's blog and shared via Hackaday, involved bypassing the device's normal functions to run an operating system and emulate an entirely different processor.

To achieve this feat, Feldman utilized an internal tool discovered within a Steam hardware updater folder to flash the controller's firmware. However, the process was not without risk; Feldman managed to temporarily brick the controller during these initial steps before successfully recovering the device. Once recovered, a custom Rust-based program was deployed to emulate an Intel 8080 CPU, allowing the CP/M-80 operating system to run directly on the Steam Controller's internal hardware.

Because the Steam Controller lacks a native keyboard or screen, Feldman utilized the built-in USB connection to handle I/O streaming. A floppy disk copy of Zork was then loaded via an external drive, connecting the controller to an array of external add-on devices. Feldman described the creation of the custom emulator as "1514 lines of pain," but the final setup resulted in a fully playable game experience powered by the controller's own processor.

Despite the success, Feldman warns other hardware enthusiasts that this flashing method is highly risky. Bricking the device remains a distinct possibility during the firmware modification process, making this particular experiment a hazardous venture for those trying to preserve their controllers.