Accessory maker 8BitDo has unveiled its second new product in two weeks. After introducing a latch gaming controller for Android phones, the company now has a new version of its retro mechanical keyboard that adds a numeric keypad and new shortcuts. And yes, the $120 accessory still includes those Super Buttons that are about to be crushed.
Like its predecessor, the 8BitDo Retro 108 mechanical keyboard is inspired by Nintendo's NES and Famicom consoles. The two variants match almost perfectly with the colors of these 80s gaming machines: white, dark gray and black for the NES-inspired flavor and white and crimson for the Famicom one. Fittingly, the latter has Japanese markings below the English characters.
The keyboard is 22 percent wider than the standard version to accommodate the integrated numeric keypad and other extras. The extended area also includes Windows shortcuts, Calculator buttons, Feature Lock, and Screen Lock.
Otherwise, the new keyboard retains the characteristics of the original 87 keys. That includes using it in wired or wireless modes (including Bluetooth or 2.4G wireless), custom key mapping via 8BitDo latest software V2 (Windows only), N-key replacement and hot-swappable keys.
The new model includes the same pair of super buttons that you'll get with the smaller variant. These programmable macro keys look like giant versions of the A and B buttons on the NES and Famicom. They connect to the keyboard directly via a 3.5mm jack and you can connect up to four games together. You can also order Super Buttons (in red, blue or yellow) to amazon;elmt:;cpos:4;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=b6e9f69b-e082-4d51-a47f-c586c73b767c&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FtYXpvbi5jb20vOEJpdERvLVN1cGVyLUJ1dHRvbi1SZWQtbWFjL2RwL0IwRDZOTjRNUVg_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYjZlOWY2OWItZTA4Mi00ZDUxLWE0N2YtYzU4NmM3M2I3NjdjIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FtYXpvbi5jb20vOEJpdERvLVN1cGVyLUJ1dHRvbi1SZWQtbWFjL2RwL0IwRDZOTjRNUVgiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAcInSapZuvdS6Wu9-19-VspxzziBhS1XJpub8W66acdj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2F8BitDo-Super-Button-Red-mac%2Fdp%2FB0D6NN4MQX” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:$30.24 apiece;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:4;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>$30.24 each.
Officially, 8BitDo says that the keyboard is only compatible with Windows and Android, probably because its customization software is only available for the former. But you can still use it with macOS; you would simply miss out on the ability to customize your keys and macros and receive software updates.
The 8BitDo Retro 108 mechanical keyboard will be available in NES and Famicom variants on December 12. Can amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=b6e9f69b-e082-4d51-a47f-c586c73b767c&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FtYXpvbi5jb20vZHAvQjBES1hINVdDRD90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJiNmU5ZjY5Yi1lMDgyLTRkNTEtYTQ3Zi1jNTg2YzczYjc2N2MiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERLWEg1V0NEIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAASlL0hr_-COYbC2pYKXcOfWYIcCYDXbZYTpb-KuoCjVP&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DKXH5WCD” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:pre-order it now for $120 through amazon;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>Pre-order now for $120 via amazon.
