If you’re a fan of retro gaming, you probably know that the NES expansion port was never officially put to use. However, there’s good news for those with the NES-001 model who might have been hoping to make use of that mysterious port. RetroTime has just unveiled the “NES Hub,” a Bluetooth-compatible expansion now available for pre-order through 8BitMods.
The NES Hub brings a couple of modern twists to the classic NES system. Not only does it introduce Bluetooth controller support, but it also enhances audio capabilities. For those who want to expand their setup further, there’s an optional “SNES Add-on.” This add-on is designed to let you use wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers with your NES, offering even more flexibility.
Set to arrive in December 2024, the NES Hub is priced at $57.28, while the SNES Add-on will set you back $26.03. If you’re going all in on this NES expansion journey, expect to shell out $83.31 before taxes. With the NES Hub, you can connect up to four Bluetooth controllers to your console simultaneously. And if you’re one of the lucky owners of a modified NES that can run Famicom games, you can take advantage of the Expansion Audio mode in select Famicom titles, unlocking richer audio experiences.
To give a bit of context, the Famicom, short for “Family Computer,” is what the NES is known as in Japan. It was more than just a gaming console; it ventured into online territory long before its time, even letting users check stock prices. While Japanese gamers explored these capabilities early on, American gamers had to wait until systems like the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox came along.
Bluetooth support, something we now take for granted, wasn’t seen in consoles until the mid-2000s with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. Given that the NES launched in 1985, 14 years before Bluetooth made its debut in 1999, bringing Bluetooth to the NES is a delightful nod to modern technology. It allows gamers to enjoy the system in a way that’s closer to emulating NES games on a Virtual Console or PC.
Naturally, this product serves an incredibly niche market, and the price reflects that. But for those who are eager to enhance their NES gaming experience and have the compatible NES-001 model, the NES Hub seems like the perfect fit.
