Retro gaming fans are likely aware that the NES expansion port, famously enough, never saw any official expansions. But if you’re still hanging onto the classic NES-001 model and have always wondered what that port could do, RetroTime has an exciting new option. They’ve debuted the “NES Hub,” a Bluetooth-enabled device now available for pre-order from 8BitMods.
The NES Hub is an add-on that breathes new life into the NES by supporting Bluetooth controllers and enhancing audio quality. A cool feature of the Hub is its modular system, including a separate “SNES Add-on” that lets you hook up wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to the NES.
Expect these nifty gadgets to ship by December 2024. The NES Hub itself will set you back $57.28, while the SNES Add-on costs $26.03. So, if you want the complete experience, you’re looking at a total spend of $83.31 before taxes. The NES Hub supports up to four simultaneous Bluetooth controller connections. Plus, if your NES is modified to handle Famicom games, the Hub can unlock Expansion Audio mode, bringing richer sound to specific Famicom titles compared to the usual NES and Famicom games.
For those not in the loop, the Famicom, short for “Family Computer,” is actually the original Japanese version of what we know as the Nintendo Entertainment System. It had some functionalities that might surprise folks today, like online access for tasks such as checking stock prices—a feature that Japanese gamers enjoyed way before such capabilities reached American shores through consoles like Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft’s Xbox.
Bluetooth support, now something we take for granted, didn’t become standard until the seventh generation of consoles that kicked off in 2005 with big names like the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. The NES, being a third-gen console launched in October 1985, came a full 14 years before Bluetooth’s debut. So, it’s quite the treat to finally see this feature integrated into the original NES, leveling the playing field between gaming on classic hardware and modern emulations on platforms like the Nintendo Virtual Console or PCs.
It must be said though, that diving into this very specific niche comes with a matching price tag. If expanding your NES’s controller capabilities is on your wishlist, and you own a compatible NES-001 model, the NES Hub looks to be your best bet.
