The Nintendo Entertainment System’s (NES) unused expansion port finally has a purpose thanks to RetroTime, which has made a mod that brings Bluetooth connectivity to the console.
Dubbed the ‘NES Hub,’ the mod doesn’t require any extensive work to use. No soldering, hardware modifications — you don’t even need to open the NES up. Instead, the NES Hub just snaps into the expansion port and fits neatly in the cutout on the bottom of the NES.
Per The Verge, the hardest part of the installation is connecting a small Bluetooth antenna to the back of the console, and that only involves sticking it on with a bit of adhesive.
The NES Hub supports up to four Bluetooth controllers, meaning it should work with the roughly 25 NES games that support four players simultaneously.
Along with wireless controller support, the NES Hub has a special mode that enables some Famicom games to use additional audio channels. It also adds three additional ports so users can connect extra accessories, like a $26 USD (about $35.66 CAD) add-on that allows the use of Super Nintendo Gamepads.
If you connect the NES Hub to a PC via Bluetooth, you can access a web-based configuration tool to remap controls and buttons and even enable a keyboard and mouse mode.
8BitMods is selling the RetroTime NES Hub for $57.28 USD (roughly $78.56 CAD). It’s available for pre-order now and ships in December 2024.
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