
Update [Wed 9th Oct, 2024 13:30 BST]: The NES Hub is now available to pre-order:
Original Story [Sun 17th Mar, 2024 16:05 GMT]: During the '80s and early '90s, it wasn't unusual for console makers to equip their machines with expansion ports.
With an eye on future developments, these ports (in theory) would allow accessories and bolt-on devices to augment the power of the base system; with the Super Famicom (Satellaview) and Mega Drive (Mega CD) this came to pass, but in the case of the NES, the 15-pin Expansion Port on its underbelly was never used during its lifespan.
It would presumably have allowed the console to connect the Famicom Disk System, but that particular add-on was never released outside of Japan.
Fast forward to the present day, and hacker and modder RetroTime is looking to make use of the port via the NES Hub, a new homebrew accessory which will offer a wide range of applications.
The NES Hub is a plug-and-play solution which will pave the way for things like 4-player Bluetooth support (making the Four Score accessory redundant), SNES controller support, Famicom accessory support and the ability to run various third-party devices and add-ons.
The most exciting development is the potential to integrate the Muramasa Disk System Cartridge and Disk EXP Adapter, a previous example of a device which makes use of the Expansion Port – in this case, to play Famicom Disk System games on the NES.
RetroTime is looking for more beta testers to continue the development of NES Hub and admits that it has only been tested on a PAL NES console so far. The price is also unknown and "depends a lot on the production cost of the connector."
Let us know if this is something you'd like for your NES by posting a comment below.
Comments 30
I was looking at the port on my NES and pondering the possibilities just yesterday! So timely, as usual 👍
@Damo Supposedly it was intended for a NES version of the Famicom Disk System (hence why the data lines for the auxiliary audio support are on that instead of the cartridge port on the Famicom) but it is said Nintendo was in plans with the Minnesota State Lottery in 1991 to make a modem accessory to sell digital scratch tickets of some kind (interactive but rigged, as you might imagine). Definitely before legalities of that online gambling were worked out.
Well this actually seems pretty cool. I wonder if a similar thing could be developed for other consoles with expansion ports, like the SNES. So maybe you could use wireless controllers for it without having to have a dongle sticking out of the controller ports for example.
Very cool, I like the sound of this. They should also make it able to take an sd card loaded with roms.
Let me know if I can help.
This is amazing. I just got my system and games cleaned up last month. Just found a big screen crt so I can play duck hunt too.
Just found out about nesmaker and working on making my own game too. Made some stuff in unity in the past but definitely excited to make something that will actually play on the old hardware.
This isn't the first use of that port. I own the Enio expansion board as do others, though it may no longer be for sell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfVia-SwRCg
Yeah! This looks awesome! Also could you imagine including a wifi port for fanmade games to have wifi functionality? Not sure if that would work or not with the hardware, probably not, but that would be so cool!
I wonder if it can also take a microphone for the Player II microphone on the Famicom controller…
I would love to try this out! As an electrical engineer who loves retro video games, this is really exciting to me 😁
How do I become a beta tester? I've still got my NES and it still works great!
These days, I mostly use my Retro USB AVS for playing NES games. I still get on my toaster NES from time to time to play Zapper games, so I'll keep an eye on this one.
This is FANTASTIC news for NES owners. I'll never own a physical unit again, but opening up new controller options and all the rest is brilliant for NES fans
Would be great for expansion to house more power, unabling the Nes to do more. Similar to the FX chip.
Would love to try it out, I have a couple NES Units sitting in my basement, would love to see how it would work out!
I have my original NTSC NES from when I was young. I would be happy to beta test it for you.
We're a small retro game store in New Hampshire, USA. We have a bunch of NES consoles laying around. I'd be happy to test these out.
Can't wait for a version of this for the Super NES Extension Port.
I wouldn't mind testing the peace I have a nes it's not pal bkuz I'm in the USA and it is regional unlocked so I would not mind being a beta tester
Not quite on topic but my friend bought a second hand ps2 back in the day. Every time we would move it to another room it sounded like something was broken off in it. Opened the back to look in it's expansion port only to find a crack pipe and a bag of strange off-white pebbles. And that has been my stash spot ever sence.
I will totally test this out for the nes! If you have one for the snes or sega genesis I’ll test it too! Anything in particular you want to know as I test? This is a great idea and the potential is huge. Would it allow a preloaded selection of games? I was curious about something like this. Good luck!
Hello! We would absolutely love to test this out, we love modding the NES as well as other consoles!
https://youtube.com/@The8bitBasement
Someone should do something with the snes expansion port too.
That would be AWSOME, and a huge win in the retro world if I had that it would be in my 12 console collection for sure. Also played to the fullest...
I would love to help in this use case, let me know. I am very interested in this application.
@-wc- As a kid I'd often flip the thing over and wonder what could be.
Great Work.
Now i want something similar for my beloved Super Nintendo, as a Satallaview is way too expansive and useless
So did I when I was a teenager but then my parents caught me and I had to go to therapy.
@axelhander You can play master system games on it, or so that was the common school yard rumor
which is to suggest I lived in the area where the 2 million Master systems were sold in the US.
If only it upgraded the output for HDMI, ah well
@PopetheRev28 omg could you imagine
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