USB Dolphin unveiled - a USB adapter for GameCube
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 11:00 am
makeo has unveiled the USB Dolphin: https://store.makstech.io/products/usb-dolphin
there are two variants: the SP1, which resembles the original Broadband Adapter and connects to Serial Port 1 at the bottom of the system; and the Slot A/B, which resembles a memory card and plugs into a memory card slot.
the SP1 will provide a USB-A port, and support ethernet adapters for hardware-based emulation of the original Broadband Adapter, which will work natively even without Swiss. this is significant as all previous GameCube homebrew ethernet adapters up to this point (afaik) require launching the game via Swiss, meaning a homebrew entrypoint was required to use them. it is also advertised as being fast enough for game network streaming using Swiss.
the Slot A/B provides a USB-C port, and allows for memory card emulation via Swiss, as well as presenting a storage device as an SDXC card for homebrew compatibility.
both devices support connecting a USB mass storage device for use with Swiss, with speeds similar to SD Gecko 2.0 and SD2SP2 2.0. another very good option for using game backups!
there is also a GitHub repo where firmware updates will be made available: https://github.com/makeo/usb-dolphin
if you already have an SD2SP2, you can presumably use the USB Dolphin alongside it, which means you can have an SD card in SD2SP2 and either more storage or an ethernet adapter connected to a USB Dolphin SP1. that's probably what i'll do :)
i already have an SD Gecko 2.0 on the way, so i will probably not be getting the Slot A/B version. i can see it appealing to people, though.
there are two variants: the SP1, which resembles the original Broadband Adapter and connects to Serial Port 1 at the bottom of the system; and the Slot A/B, which resembles a memory card and plugs into a memory card slot.
the SP1 will provide a USB-A port, and support ethernet adapters for hardware-based emulation of the original Broadband Adapter, which will work natively even without Swiss. this is significant as all previous GameCube homebrew ethernet adapters up to this point (afaik) require launching the game via Swiss, meaning a homebrew entrypoint was required to use them. it is also advertised as being fast enough for game network streaming using Swiss.
the Slot A/B provides a USB-C port, and allows for memory card emulation via Swiss, as well as presenting a storage device as an SDXC card for homebrew compatibility.
both devices support connecting a USB mass storage device for use with Swiss, with speeds similar to SD Gecko 2.0 and SD2SP2 2.0. another very good option for using game backups!
there is also a GitHub repo where firmware updates will be made available: https://github.com/makeo/usb-dolphin
if you already have an SD2SP2, you can presumably use the USB Dolphin alongside it, which means you can have an SD card in SD2SP2 and either more storage or an ethernet adapter connected to a USB Dolphin SP1. that's probably what i'll do :)
i already have an SD Gecko 2.0 on the way, so i will probably not be getting the Slot A/B version. i can see it appealing to people, though.