RetroTime has found a good use for the expansion port that Nintendo included in the bottom of the NES but was never used. Its NES Hub plugs into that port and adds Bluetooth connectivity, allowing up to four wireless controllers to be connected to the nearly 40-year-old console.
The NES Hub is currently available for pre-order via 8BitMods for $57.28 and is expected to ship starting in December 2024. Installation requires no soldering, hardware modifications, or even opening the NES. The NES Hub simply snaps into the expansion port and is designed to be neatly hidden within cutouts beneath the console. The most complicated part of the installation is connecting a small Bluetooth antenna and sticking it to the back of the console, which seems simple enough.
With support for up to four Bluetooth controllers, the NES Hub replicates the functionality of an accessory Nintendo released in 1990 called the NES Four Score that expanded connectivity to up to four wired gamepads. There were only about 25 NES games that supported four players at a time, but all of them will be compatible with this accessory.
The NES Hub also includes a special mode that “allows some Famicom games to use more audio channels for a better audio experience” while introducing three additional ports to which other peripherals can be connected. The first is a $26.03 add-on that allows Super Nintendo gamepadsand accessories designed for the Japanese Famicom to connect.
When connected to a PC via Bluetooth instead of a controller, the NES Hub offers a web-based setup tool through Google Chrome. You can remap controls and buttons and even switch to keyboard and mouse mode if you think that will somehow give you an advantage when playing. Super Mario Bros.
