Keychron has announced 'ZGM,' the first open-source firmware for gaming mice, with an official release scheduled for 2027.



Keychron, a manufacturer of keyboards and mice, has announced ZGM , an open-source firmware for gaming mice. Based on the Zephyr RTOS real-time operating system, ZGM aims to enable low-latency input processing and flexible customization tailored to the hardware. The official release is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

ZGM Firmware — Zephyr Gaming Mouse
https://zgm.gg/



GitHub - Keychron/zgm: Open source gaming mouse firmware built on Zephyr RTOS. Low latency, full customization, extensible driver model. · GitHub
https://github.com/Keychron/zgm

Gaming mice are equipped with firmware that handles tasks such as processing movement data read from the sensor, detecting button presses, debounce processing to prevent double-clicking, and controlling the scroll wheel and lighting. However, manufacturers generally do not release the source code for the firmware of typical gaming mice, making it difficult for users to check the internal processes or modify their operation.

Meanwhile, in the field of mechanical keyboards, open-source firmware such as QMK and ZMK are widely used. Users and developers can freely change key layouts and macros, and the community can add features to support new keyboards and components. Keychron explains that they developed ZGM to extend this open development culture to gaming mice.



ZGM is planned to feature low-latency input processing that prioritizes response speed and consistency, as well as a design that allows for the modification of the operation of buttons, sensors, scroll wheels, and lighting. Furthermore, it will adopt a modular structure that implements the processing of each component as an independent driver, making it easier to support products with different sensors and microcontrollers.

Regarding communication methods, both wired USB and wireless connections are envisioned, and battery management and power-saving functions necessary for wireless mice are also planned. The firmware will be released under the GPL-3.0 license, allowing for source code review, modification, redistribution, and the development of custom derivative versions.



The Zephyr RTOS, which forms the basis of ZGM, is an open-source real-time OS that broadly supports microcontrollers and peripherals. Keychron states that the device management functions and highly scalable build system of Zephyr RTOS enable the creation of firmware that can be maintained long-term while supporting multiple hardware devices.

The development roadmap outlines plans to implement the basic firmware structure, followed by HID processing to send button and scroll operations to the PC, mouse sensor integration, wired USB connectivity, and mechanisms to absorb hardware-specific differences. Subsequently, the plan is to establish a verification environment to measure latency and stability, and then expand support to include lighting, wireless communication, and product-specific customization features.



The first product to feature ZGM is Keychron's wireless gaming mouse, the 'G6 HE.' According to Keychron, the G6 HE uses a combination of optical and magnetic switches, and supports ZGM's customization and low-latency processing.

However, at the time of writing, the GitHub repository is in its early stages, with only the project's basic policies, development rules, and roadmap publicly available. The actual firmware source code, compatible boards, build methods, and procedures for writing to mice are still being prepared and are not yet ready to be immediately implemented in existing mice.

Keychron has indicated its intention to accept feedback and technical contributions from developers and users by disclosing its plans from an early stage, rather than keeping its development process secret until completion. If ZGM grows into a platform usable by multiple manufacturers and a wide range of products, it could change the way gaming mice are developed and customized, which has traditionally relied on manufacturers' proprietary, undisclosed software.



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