For those who love the nostalgia of retro gaming, the NES expansion port has long been a bit of a mystery—official expansions were never released for it. However, if you have the NES-001 model and you’re looking to make use of that neglected port, there’s exciting news. RetroTime has unveiled the “NES Hub,” a Bluetooth-enabled device now available for pre-order through 8BitMods.
This innovative expansion broadens the horizons of your NES by adding Bluetooth controller support and enhancing audio capabilities. The NES Hub even has its own add-ons, like the “SNES Add-on,” which allows vintage enthusiasts to connect wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to their favorite classic console.
Get ready to enhance your gaming experience when the NES Hub and its SNES Add-on hit the market in December 2024. Pricing for this retro revival is set at $57.28 for the NES Hub and $26.03 for the SNES Add-on, totaling $83.31 before any taxes kick in. With the NES Hub, you can simultaneously connect up to four Bluetooth controllers—a real treat if you’ve got a modified NES that’s capable of running Famicom games. This nifty hub enables what’s called Expansion Audio mode, delivering richer sound for select Famicom games that boast more audio channels than your standard NES or Famicom offerings.
For those who might not be so familiar with it, the Famicom—short for “Family Computer”—was the original name for what we know as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in Japan. While the NES kept things simple stateside, the Famicom had features that pushed the limits, including online connectivity that allowed users to check stock prices, long before online gaming features were popular in the West. American gamers wouldn’t see that level of tech until consoles like the Sega Dreamcast and the Xbox came along.
Interestingly, Bluetooth capability didn’t become a staple feature in consoles until the Seventh Generation, which kicked off in 2005 with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. By contrast, the NES belongs to the third generation of consoles, having debuted in October 1985, a hefty 14 years before Bluetooth even hit the scene. Bringing such a modern feature to the classic NES hardware is a delightful surprise, bridging the gap between the nostalgia of old-school gaming and the convenience of today’s technology.
This kind of niche offering comes with a price tag that reflects its unique appeal. But for those dead set on upgrading their NES controller setup, the NES Hub emerges as the top solution for those with a compatible NES-001 model.
