Those who have a passion for retro gaming are probably well aware that the expansion port on the NES was never officially utilized. However, if you’re the proud owner of the NES-001 model and have been itching to put that port to use, RetroTime has some exciting news. They’ve launched a Bluetooth-enabled device known as the “NES Hub,” now available for pre-order through 8BitMods.
This NES Hub breathes new life into the classic NES by offering Bluetooth controller compatibility and enhanced audio features. In addition, it sports its own add-on system. For instance, with the separate “SNES Add-on,” you can hook up wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to this vintage console.
Eager fans can expect the NES Hub and its SNES Add-on to start shipping by December 2024. The hub itself is priced at $57.28, and if you’re looking to get the SNES Add-on as well, that’s an additional $26.03. So for the full retro expansion bundle, you’re looking at a price tag of $83.31 before taxes. With the NES Hub, you can connect up to four Bluetooth controllers to the console at the same time. Plus, if you’re working with a modified NES that plays Famicom games, the hub even unlocks Expansion Audio mode for certain Famicom titles, letting them utilize more audio channels than the standard games.
For those who may not know, the Famicom, short for “Family Computer,” is essentially what the Nintendo Entertainment System was called in Japan. Not only did this name reflect its purpose, but it also highlighted its ability to connect to the Internet for non-gaming uses like checking stock prices—pretty advanced for its time. While Japanese gamers had been experimenting with online gaming features from the outset, American gamers wouldn’t experience anything similar until consoles like the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox came along.
Fast forward a bit, and Bluetooth technology didn’t really start appearing in gaming consoles until the Seventh Generation, around 2005, with the launch of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. The NES itself, as a third-generation console released in October 1985, beat Bluetooth’s 1999 rollout by a significant 14 years. So, witnessing Bluetooth finally integrate into the original NES, leveling the playing field between hardware-based NES gaming and emulating the experience on modern platforms, is quite the sight.
It’s important to note that this product is highly specialized, and accordingly, its cost reflects that niche appeal. For gamers on the hunt for better NES controller support, the NES Hub seems to be the perfect solution, provided you own the NES-001 model that supports it.
