For many gamers, there is nothing more satisfying than picking up a controller, aiming at a target, and blasting the ducks darting around in Duck Hunt. However, few people would likely imagine that the AirPods normally used for listening to music could actually transform into a game controller.
An overseas developer turned AirPods into a miniature gun-shaped controller for gaming.
Recently, a developer active on X under the name Dividivan modified Apple AirPods into a miniature gun-shaped controller, allowing players to aim and shoot using the earphones’ own sensors. This experimental project, originally just a personal hobby, gradually developed into something called BipBop A free gaming platform where users can experience up to 30 retro-style mini-games via AirPods.
The entire concept originated from the game Duck Hunt. On October 18, 2026, Dividivan shared a demo video only 28 seconds long on X, and within just two days it attracted more than 126,000 views, drawing attention from many gamers and tech enthusiasts. Even more interestingly, the developer said the game was completed with AI assistance—that is, using voice prompts to generate code and then further building an actually runnable work. The controls are quite intuitive. Players only need to pair a pair of AirPods with a Mac computer equipped with an Apple Silicon chip, then hold the earbuds in their hand and aim at the screen as if holding a light gun. As the earbuds rotate, the game tracks their orientation in sync, allowing players to freely control the crosshair position.
🦆🔫 He convertido un AirPod en un mando para jugar al Duck Hunt. Lo giras para apuntar y das un toque en el micrófono para disparar. Sin tocar el ordenador, full vibecodeado por voz al mientras dormía a la bebé 😅 https://t.co/uilZmN7ibx
— Iván Coronado (@Dividivan) October 18, 2026
As for why AirPods can achieve this function, the key lies in their built-in gyroscope sensor. Originally, this technology was mainly used for spatial audio and head tracking, adjusting the direction of sound by detecting the user’s head movement. Now, developers have further used the same hardware capability to turn head-tracking technology into a game aiming system, giving the earphones a completely new use in virtual shooting games. The shooting mechanism is equally ingenious. Players can lightly tap near the AirPods microphone, and the system converts it into a shooting command through sound recognition. In addition, players can also operate it by pressing directly on the earbud itself, though in actual use, most players may find the tapping action more natural and convenient.
Regarding the latency issue, Dividivan, in a reply to a user on Reddit, stated that the system’s default shooting delay setting is “0.” Although Bluetooth transmission itself will inevitably introduce some latency, the game does not add any extra processing time, so the overall response remains quite immediate.
However, anyone fantasizing about holding two AirPods at once in Duck Hunt for a “dual-wielding” style of play will likely be disappointed. The developer points out that because Apple’s system merges the signals from both earbuds, it is currently impossible to use two AirPods simultaneously as independent controllers. To try related features further, you would first need to turn off AirPods’ automatic ear detection.
In addition to Duck Hunt, the BipBop platform also includes 30 casual games such as bowling, mini golf, basketball shooting, and surfing. Most appealing is that the entire platform is completely free, requires no credit card information or account registration, and supports offline operation, making the barrier to use quite low. Of course, this project is still experimental. The current version of BipBop is 0.8.7 and has not yet passed Apple’s official notarization process, so macOS may display a security warning and block the program from launching. The developer recommends users launch the program via the system’s “Open Anyway” option rather than lowering overall security settings directly.
Overall, BipBop reveals another hidden possibility for AirPods and proves that creativity often comes from reimagining existing devices. Although it is still a fun technical experiment, for players who like to try new things, turning earbuds into a game controller is undoubtedly a fresh and highly entertaining experience. However, while enjoying the fun of this virtual shooting range, don’t forget to maintain your Mac’s security protection and avoid sacrificing device safety just to try something new.
Source: KOCPC Chinese