Keychron Targets Gaming Mouse Market With Open-Source Firmware
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The upcoming ZGM project aims to bring the flexibility of mechanical keyboard customization to the mouse peripheral space.
Peripheral manufacturer Keychron has announced ZGM, an open-source firmware project for gaming mice, according to reporting from Digital Foundry. Scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2027, the firmware will debut on the G6 HE hybrid magnetic switch gaming mouse, which Digital Foundry notes is a competitor to the Logitech X2 SuperStrike.
Keychron describes ZGM as a mouse equivalent to the ZMK and QMK projects used for mechanical keyboards. These existing frameworks allow users to modify hardware without relying on manufacturer-preferred software, as the firmware is written directly to the device's internal memory. Digital Foundry reports that ZGM is designed to provide similar benefits in a market where open-source firmware is rare, featuring modular layers for buttons, lights, the scroll wheel, and sensors, as well as support for various microcontrollers and both wireless and wired connectivity.
While other companies like Wooting have released some work under permissive licenses, Digital Foundry suggests such efforts are unlikely from industry giants like Logitech or Razer. Keychron is releasing ZGM under the GNU General Public License and states the project is in its early setup phase, with the intention of shaping the development through public feedback. Keychron has previously released .step CAD files and firmware for its open-source keyboard efforts.