Classic Nintendo Console Enhanced with Bluetooth and Audio Upgrades Using Unused Expansion Port

If you’re a fan of retro gaming, you might be aware that the NES’ expansion port has been somewhat of a mystery, with no official attachments ever released for it. However, for those who own the NES-001 model and have been curious about utilizing that elusive port, there’s good news. RetroTime has just unveiled a Bluetooth-enabled device called the “NES Hub,” now available for pre-order through 8BitMods.

The NES Hub breathes new life into the NES by bringing Bluetooth controller support and improved audio capabilities. It also includes its own complementary system, featuring an add-on named “SNES Add-on,” which allows you to connect wired SNES and 15-pin Famicom controllers to your classic console.

Mark your calendars because both the NES Hub and its SNES Add-on are anticipated to ship in December 2024. The NES Hub is priced at $57.28, while the SNES Add-on will set you back $26.03. If you’re aiming for the complete NES upgrade experience, you’re looking at a total of $83.31, excluding taxes. With this new hub, up to four Bluetooth controllers can connect to your NES simultaneously. For those with a modded NES capable of running Famicom games, the NES Hub also opens up an Expansion Audio mode for select Famicom titles that feature enhanced audio channels, enriching the gaming experience beyond typical NES or Famicom games.

For a bit of history, the Famicom—short for “Family Computer”—is the original Japanese incarnation of what’s known in the West as the Nintendo Entertainment System. In Japan, the Famicom offered features that reached beyond gaming, like accessing stock market data, showing just how early the Japanese console scene ventured into online functionalities, a stark contrast to their American counterparts who had to wait until consoles like the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox to see similar features.

Bluetooth technology, which didn’t make its way into the console world until the Seventh Generation with the likes of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii in 2005, was a whole 14 years away from existence when the NES launched in October 1985. Seeing such modern features being integrated into the actual NES hardware—rather than just through emulation on platforms like the Nintendo Virtual Console or PC—is indeed a fascinating development.

It’s worth noting that this gadget caters to a very niche market, and its pricing is reflective of that. However, if enhanced NES controller support is what you’re after, and you have the NES-001 model, the NES Hub appears to be a promising solution.