Simon Willison reported on a new experiment called Chirp Pong, a two-player competitive game built in static HTML. The project relies on the web microphone API to transmit game state data between two nearby phones using audio chirps. Developed with Claude Opus 5.5 Extra in Claude Code, the experiment adds graphical and gameplay twists to a traditional pong format.
Audio-Based Local Networking
Using audio frequencies and device microphones for data transmission in a browser-based game is an unconventional approach to local multiplayer networking. Rather than relying on traditional Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections, the game encodes state information into audible or near-audible noises picked up by the receiving phone’s microphone. This experiment demonstrates the feasibility of browser-only, acoustic local communication for interactive software.
Unknowns and Future Feasibility
The announcement did not specify what specific graphical and gameplay twists were implemented beyond making the experience more intertwine and fun than standard pong. It also remains unclear how robust the audio networking is against background noise, or how well it functions across different smartphone microphone and speaker hardware models. Future updates may clarify its technical limitations and broader applicability.
The experiment shows that static HTML applications can leverage device hardware APIs for creative local multiplayer mechanics.
Lead image: Matheus Bertelli / Pexels
