Using your earbuds to stream music or take calls is second nature, but holding one up to shoot digital ducks on your computer display is completely new. Independent developer Dividivan recently created BipBop, a free Mac app that turns a single AirPod into a motion-sensing controller for retro arcade games.
Turning earbud motion sensors into a game controller
The app relies on the built-in gyroscope inside Apple‘s wireless earbuds, which usually tracks head movements for spatial audio. By holding an earbud in your hand and aiming it at your Mac display, those internal sensors turn your wrist movements into an on-screen crosshair in real time.
To fire shots while playing, you tap the plastic shell near the AirPod microphone. The software picks up the acoustic tap as an instant trigger press, though you can also squeeze the physical force sensor on the earbud stem if you prefer tactile feedback. Dividivan clarified on Reddit that the input system operates without added software lag, though players must turn off Automatic Ear Detection in macOS settings before starting.
Minigames and hardware requirements
The BipBop app is completely free to download and works offline. It doesn’t require account setup or personal payment details. The software comes loaded with 30 casual retro minigames, including Duck Hunt-style shooting galleries, mini golf, bowling, wave racing, and arcade basketball shooting challenges (via Digital Trends).
Running these games requires an M1 or newer Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later, paired with AirPods that feature head-tracking sensors. Anyone hoping to dual-wield two AirPods at the same time is out of luck. This is because macOS automatically merges both earbud signals into a single input stream.
Installing early software builds on Mac
BipBop is an early 0.8.7 software release that Apple has not officially notarized yet. So, macOS security will display a warning when you first launch the app. The developer recommends selecting the Open Anyway option inside macOS System Settings rather than lowering your Mac’s overall security protections.
Dividivan originally put the project together by speaking voice prompts into an AI coding assistant, sharing a 28-second demo video on X on October 18, 2026. The short clip racked up over 126,000 views in just two days, proving how much tech fans love seeing everyday gadgets used in unexpected ways.
