Classic Nintendo Console Upgraded: Add-On Brings Bluetooth and Enhanced Audio via Unused Expansion Port

For fans of classic gaming, it’s no secret that the NES’ expansion port never saw any official use back in the day. However, if you happen to have an NES-001 model and are itching to put that port to work, you’re in luck. RetroTime has unveiled the “NES Hub,” a nifty Bluetooth-enabled device that you can now pre-order from 8BitMods.

What exactly does the NES Hub bring to the table? For starters, it allows you to connect Bluetooth controllers and significantly enhances the audio capabilities of your beloved NES. Additionally, this device boasts its own add-on system. There’s even a separate “SNES Add-on” that lets you hook up wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to your old-school console.

Mark your calendars, because both the NES Hub and its SNES Add-on are slated for a December 2024 release. The NES Hub is priced at $57.28, while the SNES Add-on costs $26.03, totaling $83.31 before any taxes if you’re going for the full experience. With the NES Hub, you can connect up to four Bluetooth controllers at once. And, if your NES is modified to play Famicom games, the Hub enables Expansion Audio mode, breathing new life into select Famicom games by supporting additional audio channels.

For those not in the know, the “Famicom,” or Family Computer, is the original name of the NES in Japan. It wasn’t just for gaming; it could connect to the internet for functions like checking stock prices. Japanese gamers were early explorers of online functionality, long before their American counterparts, who didn’t experience similar features until the days of the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft’s Xbox.

Bluetooth, on the other hand, didn’t become commonplace until the seventh generation of consoles, which began in 2005 with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo’s very own Wii. The NES, a third-generation console, hit the scene in October 1985, which was a full 14 years before Bluetooth made its debut. So, seeing this technology integrated into an original NES and creating a more authentic experience relative to emulation is quite a treat.

It’s worth mentioning that this kind of enhancement is very niche, and the cost reflects that special focus. But if you’re seeking a way to improve your NES’ controller capabilities and own an NES-001 model, the NES Hub seems like a solid investment.

For those who are serious about their retro gaming, the chance to upgrade their systems with modern capabilities is one you won’t want to miss.