Krikzz is working on a plug-and-play optical drive emulator for the PS1

Krikzz, the creator of the EverDrive flash carts, is developing an optical drive emulator (ODE) for the original PlayStation. An ODE replaces the console's disc drive and loads game images (ISOs) from a memory card, which avoids laser wear and scratched discs. The project was revealed by Krikzz in a post dated October 15, 2026, in which he says he is a little late to this market but intends to join it anyway.

The product is described as plug-and-play: it sits where the CD drive normally goes, which requires only a minor installation, and needs no soldering, so the modification stays reversible. A prototype has been shown installed in a PSOne. The USB-C port visible on the board is for development only and will not be a consumer feature.

A market that is already busy

The project is still in active development: no price, release date or availability window has been communicated. Krikzz arrives after the ArcStation, another PS1 ODE already on sale, and after MODE, an ODE for the Saturn and Dreamcast. Since this is a prototype, final compatibility and the supported console models remain to be confirmed. To follow progress, the safest place is the official Krikzz website.

Source: Time Extension