RetroTime found a good use for the expansion port that Nintendo included on the bottom of the NES but never used. Its NES Hub connects to 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 as early as December 2024. Installation requires no soldering, no hardware modifications, and no opening of the NES. The NES Hub simply snaps into the expansion port and is designed to remain perfectly hidden in the recesses under the console. The most complicated part of the installation is connecting a small Bluetooth antenna and attaching it to the back of the console, which seems pretty simple.
With support for up to four Bluetooth controllers, the NES Hub replicates the functionality of an accessory released by Nintendo in 1990 called the NES Four Score, which expands connectivity to up to four wired gamepads. There were only about 25 NES games that actually supported four players simultaneously, but all are compatible with this accessory.
The NES Hub also features a special mode that “allows some Famicom games to utilize more audio channels for a better audio experience,” while also introducing three additional ports to which other peripherals can be connected. The first is a $26.03 add-on that connects Super Nintendo gamepads and accessories for the Japanese Famicom.
When connected to a PC via Bluetooth instead of a controller, the NES Hub provides a web-based configuration tool via Google Chrome. You can remap controls and keys and even switch to keyboard and mouse mode if you think that will give you an advantage while gaming Super Mario Bros.