For those who love classic gaming, it’s no secret that the NES expansion port on the NES-001 model never officially got any use. However, if you’re eager to put that port to work, you’re in luck. RetroTime has unveiled a brand-new “NES Hub” that brings Bluetooth capabilities to the table, available for pre-order through 8BitMods.
The NES Hub transforms the old console by adding Bluetooth controller compatibility and enhanced audio features. Not only that, but it also introduces an add-on system. There’s a separate “SNES Add-on” that lets you use wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers with the NES, broadening your options considerably.
Slated for a December 2024 release, the NES Hub is priced at $57.28, with the SNES Add-on coming in at $26.03. If you’re planning to get both, you’re looking at a total of $83.31 before taxes for a complete expansion suite. With the NES Hub, you can connect up to four Bluetooth controllers at once. For those with a hacked NES capable of running Famicom games, this gadget also activates Expansion Audio mode for certain Famicom titles, offering more audio channels than traditional NES or Famicom games.
In case you’re not familiar, the Famicom, short for “Family Computer,” is the original name for the NES in Japan, known for its pioneering technology, including online capabilities for tasks like checking stock prices. This early dive into online functionalities was a Japan-exclusive experience, while gamers in the US had to wait until the likes of the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox for similar features.
Bluetooth support, on the other hand, didn’t become standard until the Seventh Generation consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which emerged around 2005. When you consider that the NES debuted back in October 1985—a full 14 years before Bluetooth existed—seeing it retrofitted with such modern tech is quite impressive. It closes the gap between original NES hardware gaming and emulation experiences on setups like the Nintendo Virtual Console or PCs.
Admittedly, this kind of tech upgrade will appeal to a very specific audience, and the cost reflects that niche appeal. But if you’re in the market for better NES controller options and you own a compatible NES-001 model, the NES Hub seems to be the ideal solution.
