As The Verge reports, the Retro Receiver is developed by Analogue, a company that specialises at bringing Nintendo NES hardware into the 21st century. The adapter isn’t just limited to the NES — it is compatible with any console that uses the NES controller port style.
The Retro Receiver is incredibly simple to use. It takes the place of a standard NES wired controller, connecting to the same port and protruding from the front of the console. Once plugged in, you can use many modern wireless controllers with an NES seamlessly, without games knowing the difference.
Compatible controllers include Sony’s DualShock gamepads for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, the wireless remote included with the Nintendo Wii, the Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller and 8Bitdo’s range of classically-designed gamepads.
“We partnered with 8bitdo to develop a wireless experience for your original NES, unlike anything done before,” said Analogue online. “The Retro Receiver is a Bluetooth receiver that you plug into your original NES. It allows you to play your NES wirelessly with any original NES model, the Analogue Nt and even other aftermarket NES systems.”
The adapter uses Bluetooth 2.1 to connect with controllers. It is powered directly from the NES’ controller port so no external connections are required. Multiple Retro Receivers can be used at one time to power multiplayer gaming. When using a modern controller, buttons that aren’t included on classic gamepads are automatically mapped to the turbo function.
Analogue has previously attracted media attention for making a limited edition version of the Nintendo NES built from 24-karat gold. The company built just 10 consoles to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of The Legend of Zelda, selling each for $5,000.
The new wireless adapter will give fans of retro games a new way to experience classic titles. Playing games from thirty years ago with a controller that’s only three years old could transform the gameplay, providing a very different feel to the original gamepads of the era.
The Retro Receiver can be bought online now to bring your classic games into the modern era of wireless control. The adapter retails for $19.99, less than the cost of a current-generation controller to use it with, and works out of the box without any setup.
