As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2023

Registration No. 333-          

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PIXELWORKS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

16760 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Suite 101

Portland, OR 97224

(503) 601-4545

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Todd A. DeBonis

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pixelworks, Inc.

16760 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Suite 101

Portland, OR 97224

(503) 601-4545

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Christina F. Pearson, Esq.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

2550 Hanover St.

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 233-4500

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion; Dated November 15, 2023

PROSPECTUS

$25,000,000

Common Stock

This prospectus relates to shares of Pixelworks, Inc. common stock which may be offered and sold from time to time. The aggregate initial offering price of all common stock sold under this prospectus will not exceed $25,000,000. The common stock of Pixelworks, Inc. is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PXLW.” On November 14, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $1.23 per share.

Each time we sell shares of our common stock hereunder, we will attach a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of the offering, including the price at which we are offering the shares to the public. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in shares of our common stock.

The shares of our common stock may be offered directly by us, through agents designated from time to time by us or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any shares of our common stock, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the section entitled “About This Prospectus” for more information.

The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates is $65,526,926 based on 56,693,517 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 14, 2023, with 54,605,772 of such shares held by non-affiliates, and a price per share of $1.20, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 13, 2023. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell our common stock in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75,000,000. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have not offered or sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.

Investing in shares of our common stock involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, in documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus and included in or incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is November 15, 2023.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus does not extend to you.

This prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered shares of our common stock to which they relate.

We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus, including in any of the materials that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus prepared or authorized by us. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it as authorized by us. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such documents or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of such document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof or that the information incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell the shares of our common stock described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all the shares of our common stock sold under this prospectus will not exceed $25,000,000.

This prospectus provides certain general information about the shares of our common stock that we may offer hereunder. Each time we offer shares of our common stock hereunder, we will attach a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain the specific information about the terms of the offering. In each prospectus supplement, we will include the following information:

In addition, the prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will supersede this prospectus to the extent it contains information that is different from, or that conflicts with, the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read and consider all information contained in this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any accompanying prospectus supplement in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information contained in the documents identified under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

“PIXELWORKS,” “TrueCut Motion,” “MotionEngine” and the Pixelworks logo are our trademarks. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus may also contain trademarks and trade names that are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply relationships with, or endorsements or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Pixelworks” and similar terms refer to Pixelworks, Inc., an Oregon corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our principal executive offices are located at 16760 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97224 and our telephone number is (503) 601-4545. Our website address is https://www.pixelworks.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference herein, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in shares of our common stock involves risk. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider the risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as in any applicable prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act.

These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our common stock. You could lose all or part of your investment. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and may involve material risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and which may cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future offerings pursuant hereto, including the use of any net proceeds and plan of distribution related thereto, and statements with respect to our business and strategy, including consumer consumption patterns, changes in technology, demand, the application of our technologies, our intention to pursue an initial public offering in China with respect to our subsidiary, and the benefits and implications thereof. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from our forward-looking statements is included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: competitive factors, such as rival chip architectures, introduction or traction by competing designs, or pricing pressures; the success of our products in expanding markets; current global economic challenges; changes in the digital display and projection markets; seasonality in the consumer electronics market; our efforts to achieve profitability from operations; our limited financial resources; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; our international operations; our operations in China, including any changes to China’s political, economic or social conditions or changes in U.S.-China relations; our ability to implement our strategy to expand our operations in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC; our ability to access capital, customers and talent in China; our ability to seek an initial public offering in China and the other risks, uncertainties and factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision or update of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. If we do update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, you should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

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THE COMPANY

Pixelworks is a leading provider of high-performance and power-efficient visual processing semiconductor and software solutions that enable consistently high-quality and authentic viewing experiences in a wide variety of applications. We define our primary target markets as Mobile (smartphone and tablet), Home & Enterprise (projectors, personal video recorders, or PVR, and over-the-air, or OTA, streaming devices), and Cinema (creation, remastering, and delivery of digital video content). Previously we classified our primary target markets as Mobile, Projector, Video Delivery and Cinema, but have since aggregated the Projector and Video Delivery categories into one called “Home & Enterprise”.

Pixelworks has been a pioneer in visual processing technology for over 20 years. We were one of the first companies to commercially launch a video System on Chip, or SoC, capable of deinterlacing 1080i HDTV signals and one of the first companies with a commercial dual-channel 1080i deinterlacer integrated circuit. We launched one of the industry’s first single-chip SoCs for digital projection. We were the first company to integrate motion estimation / motion compensation technology, or MEMC, as a mobile-optimized solution for smartphones. In 2019, we introduced our Hollywood award-winning TrueCut Motion^™ video platform, the industry’s first motion grading technology that allows fine tuning of motion appearance in cinematic content.

Our core visual processing technology intelligently processes digital images and video from a variety of sources and optimizes the content for a superior viewing experience. Rapid growth in video and gaming consumption, combined with the move towards bright, high resolution, high frame rate and high refresh rate displays, especially in mobile, is increasing the demand for our solutions. Our technologies can be applied across a wide range of applications: cinema theaters, low-power mobile tablets, smartphones, streaming devices, and digital projectors for the home, school, or the workplace. Our products are designed and optimized for power, cost, bandwidth, viewer experience, and overall system performance, according to the requirements of the specific application. On occasion, we have also licensed our technology.

During the third quarter of 2021, we engaged in a strategic plan to re-align our Mobile and Home & Enterprise businesses to improve their focus on their Asia-centered customers and employee stakeholders. Our subsidiary, Pixelworks Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or PWSH, now operates these businesses as a full profit-and-loss center underneath Pixelworks.

PWSH is in the process of preparing to file an application for an initial public offering of PWSH shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Science Technology Innovation Board, known as the STAR Market, or the Listing. We believe that the Listing will have many benefits, including improved access to new capital markets and the funding of PWSH’s growth worldwide. The process of going public on the STAR Market is lengthy and includes several periods of review by various government agencies of the PRC such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange, or the SSE, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC. There is no guarantee that PWSH will be approved for a Listing at any point in the future. The CSRC and the SSE have recently tightened the standards for the STAR Market and are currently advising companies that are not yet profitable under China generally accepted accounting principles, or China GAAP, standards against filing an initial public offering application in the present environment. We believe this is in large part due to the current economic conditions in China and the recent performance of companies already listed on the STAR Market that were not profitable at the time of their initial public offering. PWSH is not currently profitable under China GAAP standards. The CSRC and the SSE may relax the standards, but there is no guarantee that this will happen in any particular time frame. We will continue to prepare our application so it is ready to file once the situation changes or PWSH achieves profitability under China GAAP standards. Any listing of PWSH on the STAR Market will not change the status of Pixelworks as a U.S. public company. We are neither a PRC operating company nor do we conduct our operations in China through the use of variable interest entities.

Pixelworks was founded in 1997 and is incorporated under the laws of the state of Oregon. Our executive offices are located at 16760 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97224, our telephone number is (503) 601-4545 and our website is www.pixelworks.com. We do not incorporate the information on, or accessible through, our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or accessible through, our website as part of this prospectus.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, increasing our working capital, financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead, repayment of indebtedness, future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities, and funding of capital expenditures and research and product development. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in marketable securities and short-term investments.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our capital stock. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” Our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The preferred stock is undesignated as to series, rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions.

Common Stock

We have one existing class of common stock. As of November 14, 2023, there were 56,693,517 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of our voting common stock are entitled to one vote per share for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of common shareholders. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

The holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to participate ratably in dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. To date, we have never declared a dividend and our board of directors does not have any plans to do so in the future. The holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on any matter to be voted upon by Pixelworks shareholders. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, do not provide for cumulative voting in connection with the election of directors. Accordingly, directors are elected by a plurality of the shares of common stock voting once a quorum is present. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after full payment of all debts and other liabilities and liquidation preferences of any other series of common stock and any preferred stock, the holders of shares of our existing common stock are entitled to share ratably in all remaining assets. Our common stock has no preemptive subscription or conversion rights.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PXLW.”

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. is the Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock.

Preferred Stock

As of November 14, 2023, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding. Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, our board of directors is authorized to issue from time to time, without further vote or action by the shareholders, up to an aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed on any wholly unissued series of preferred stock, including:

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The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock or adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

Anti-takeover Effects of Oregon Law and Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws and provisions of Oregon law may have the effect of delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition of us, making a merger or acquisition of us less desirable to a potential acquirer or preventing a change in our management, even if our shareholders consider the merger, acquisition or change in management favorable or if doing so would benefit our shareholders. In addition, these provisions could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. The following are examples of such provisions:

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the shares of common stock offered in the prospectus supplement.

The distribution of the shares of common stock may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies, including at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices. The shares of common stock may be sold through a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements, and cross or block trades. Additionally, the shares of our common stock may also be sold in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq Global Market or sales made to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange, or otherwise, in negotiated transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. In connection with the sale of the shares, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the shares to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the share distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions which underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

To comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be offered and sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to

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payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their respective affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, agent or dealer, the nature of any such relationship.

Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any shares of our common stock to any such person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Certain persons participating in the offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M. In addition, in connection with an offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while an offering is in progress. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriters have repurchased common stock sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions. These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Tonkon Torp LLP, Portland, Oregon.

EXPERTS

Armanino LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Armanino LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus is part of the registration statement. The registration statement also includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC’s website is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this website or any other website are inactive textual references only.

The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

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You may request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

Corporate Secretary

Pixelworks, Inc.

16760 SW Boones Ferry Rd., Suite 101

Portland, OR 97224

(503) 601-4545

We will not, however, send exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents.

Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and in each instance you are referred to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto.

We make available free of charge on our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. You may also obtain a free copy of these reports in the Investors section of our website, https://www.pixelworks.com.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

The following table sets forth all expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of our common stock being registered hereby.

As an Oregon corporation, the Company is subject to the Oregon Business Corporation Act, or the OBCA, and the exculpation from liability and indemnification provisions contained therein. Section 60.047(2) of the OBCA and Article V of the Company’s Sixth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, eliminates the liability of the Company’s directors to the Company or its shareholders, except for any liability related to breach of the duty of loyalty, actions or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, any unlawful distribution under O.R.S. 60.367, or any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 60.387 et seq. of the OBCA allows corporations to indemnify their directors and officers against liability where the director or officer has acted in good faith and with a reasonable belief that actions taken were in the best interests of the corporation or at least not adverse to the corporation’s best interests and, if in a criminal proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct in question was unlawful. Under the OBCA, corporations may not indemnify against liability in connection with a claim by or in the right of the corporation but may indemnify against the reasonable expenses associated with such claims. Corporations may not indemnify against breaches of the duty of loyalty. The OBCA mandates indemnifications against all reasonable expenses incurred in the successful defense of any claim made or threatened whether or not such claim was by or in the right of the corporation. Finally, a court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the director or officer met the good faith and reasonable belief standards of conduct set forth in the statute.

The OBCA also provides that the statutory indemnification provisions are not deemed exclusive of any other rights to which directors or officers may be entitled under a corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, general or specific action of the board of directors, vote of shareholders or otherwise.

Additionally, we have entered into indemnity agreements with certain of our officers and directors. The indemnity agreements require us to, among other things, indemnify the officer or director against all expenses incurred by such officer or director as a result of being named or threatened to be named as a party to any proceeding as a result of such officer or director’s service in such capacity, provided that such officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and in the case of a criminal proceeding, that such officer or director had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The indemnity agreements also require us to indemnify the officer

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or director to the fullest extent permitted by law, provided that no indemnification will be provided if such officer or director’s conduct constitutes a breach of the duty of loyalty to the Company or is an act or omission not in good faith or involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for purposes of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions described in Item 15, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, Pixelworks, Inc., certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Portland, State of Oregon, on November 15, 2023.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Todd A. DeBonis and Haley F. Aman, and each of them, with full power of substitution and full power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act for him or her in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any subsequent registration statement the Registrant may hereafter file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933 to register additional securities in connection with this registration statement, and to file this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated below and on the dates indicated.

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Exhibit 5.1

November 15, 2023

Pixelworks, Inc.

226 Airport Parkway, Suite 595

San Jose, California 95110

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Oregon counsel to Pixelworks, Inc., an Oregon corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) initially filed on November 15, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration by the Company under the Securities Act, and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, with an aggregate offering price of up to $25,000,000 (the “Shares”). This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Shares.

In so acting, we have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of such officers and representatives, as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or scanned copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to any facts material to our opinion, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers of the Company and others.

We have also assumed (i) the Registration Statement and any subsequent amendments (including post-effective amendments and prospectus supplements) will be effective and comply with all applicable laws; (ii) all Shares will be issued and sold in the manner specified in the Registration Statement and any

Tonkon Torp LLP     |     Advocates & Advisors     |     888 SW Fifth Ave.     |     Suite 1600     |     Portland OR 97204     |     tonkon.com

Pixelworks, Inc.

November 15, 2023

Page 2

applicable prospectus supplement in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Shares and will take all necessary corporate action to approve the terms of the offering of the Shares and related matters; (iv) purchase, underwriting or similar agreements with respect to any Shares offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (v) sufficient shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, remain available and not otherwise reserved for issuance; and (vi) certificates representing the Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or non-certificated Shares shall have been properly issued) in accordance with the definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration approved by the Board of Directors of the Company which shall be not less than the par value of the Shares.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered as authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company from time to time and, upon payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the corporate law of the State of Oregon. We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or Blue Sky laws. Our opinion is provided as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any change in any matter set forth herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Pixelworks, Inc. for the registration of common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 8, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in Pixelworks, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Armanino ^LLP

San Ramon, California

November 15, 2023

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

S-3

(Form Type)

Pixelworks, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

To the extent that, after the filing date hereof and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, the Registrant sells any Unsold Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement, the Registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this registration statement the updated number of Unsold Securities from the Prior Registration Statement to be included in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) and the updated amount of new securities to be registered on this registration statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement.