Retro gaming fans, here’s a tidbit you might find intriguing—did you know that the NES never had any official expansions for its mysterious expansion port? However, if you’ve got the NES-001 model and have been itching to use that port, RetroTime has got something exciting lined up for you. They’re offering the NES Hub, a Bluetooth-enabled gadget, now available for pre-order through 8BitMods.
This NES Hub is more than just a retro novelty. It allows you to use Bluetooth controllers and enhances the audio capabilities of your NES. What’s more, it comes with an add-on system. One such addition is the SNES Add-on, letting you connect wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to your beloved console.
Expect these cool upgrades to start shipping in December 2024. If you’re wondering about costs, the NES Hub is priced at $57.28, while the SNES Add-on comes in at $26.03. So, for both, you’re looking at spending a total of $83.31 before taxes. This investment opens up the possibility to connect up to four Bluetooth controllers at the same time. Plus, if your NES is modded to play Famicom games, the Hub can activate the Expansion Audio mode, offering richer sound experiences for certain Famicom games.
To break it down a bit, the Famicom, short for Family Computer, is what the NES is called in Japan. Interestingly, it had some unique capabilities, including rudimentary online connectivity long before it became mainstream in gaming. Japanese gamers could even check stock prices using this setup. American gamers didn’t taste such online features until much later, with consoles like the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox leading the way.
Bluetooth, as we know it now, didn’t become a standard feature in gaming consoles until the mid-2000s, arriving with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. The NES, which debuted in 1985, came long before Bluetooth technology made its mark in 1999. So, seeing this feature come alive on the original NES hardware is like bridging a gap between eras, offering an authentic experience closer to modern gameplay emulation on platforms like Nintendo Virtual Console or a PC.
Granted, this is a niche enhancement, sporting a price tag that reflects its specialized appeal. But if you’re seeking enhanced NES controller support and own a compatible NES-001 model, the NES Hub seems perfectly suited to fulfill that retro-modern hybrid gaming desire.
