8BitDo Reveals NES 40th Anniversary Ultimate 2 Controller Bundle

Exactly 40 years ago today, the Nintendo Entertainment System hit store shelves in New York City. The October 18, 1985 launch of the NES in the US revitalized home console gaming in North America. To commemorate the console’s pivotal role in gaming history, 8BitDo is releasing a new collection of NES-inspired gear over the next few months. The NES40 Collection features three products: a limited-edition Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller bundle, a compact wireless gaming speaker, and an ultra-premium 68-key mechanical keyboard made of aluminum alloy.

Preorders for the NES40 Collection open today. The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller bundle is limited to 1,985 units, and the N40 Edition wireless keyboard is limited edition, too. The new Retro Cube 2 Speaker is joining 8BitDo’s everyday lineup as the first wireless speaker from the manufacturer in a decade.

$80 | Limited to 1,985 units | Releases November 15

The N40 Edition of the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller retails for $80, which is just $10 more than the MSRP of the standard white, black, and yellow editions. Considering the bundle comes with several notable extras, the N40 Edition is honestly a bargain. You’ll get an exclusive transparent black 8BitDo Retro Receiver for real NES consoles. The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth and other 8BitDo Bluetooth controllers can sync wirelessly to original hardware with the adapter. A solid black version of the Retro Receiver, for reference, carries a $25 MSRP. The bundle also includes a travel case, which 8BitDo normally sells separately for $20. Inside the box, you’ll find four custom joystick caps, including a pair emblazoned with “NES” and “40,” and an 8BitBot keychain.

Though themed around Nintendo Entertainment System with its red face buttons, multiple tones of gray, and special-edition dock matching the design of the console, the N40 is a celebration of 40 years of Nintendo hardware. The handles are decorated with the dates of Nintendo home console and portable device launches around the world. The only exception here is the June 15, 2025 date on the right side of the controller, as this represents the date 8BitDo created the N40. The NES launch date is emblazoned in red, while the rest are in black. Most of the dates reference console launches in North America or global releases, but there are a couple tied to hardware launches in Europe and Japan. From top to bottom on each side, Here’s what each date references:

Left handle: Wii U (NA), NES (NA), Nintendo 64 (NA), Nintendo Switch (WW), Switch OLED (WW), SNES (NA), Wii (NA), GameCube (NA).

Right handle: Game Boy (NA), Virtual Boy (NA), Switch Lite (WW), 3DS (EU), DS (NA), Game Boy Color (JP), Game Boy Advance (NA).

Outside of the additional accessories, the N40 is the same flagship controller 8BitDo launched earlier this year. The Ultimate 2 supports 2.4GHz Wireless connections on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC. It also has Bluetooth support for Switch 1/2, Android, Apple, and SteamOS. It can run for up to 25 hours on a full charge and has a 1,000MHz polling rate. It’s fitted with high-end TMR electromagnetic joysticks, two remappable back buttons, and an extra pair of claw shoulder buttons. It also has two trigger modes: Hall Effect linear and non-linear microswitch buttons (rapid-fire mode). Other features include 6-axis motion controls, two rumble motors, a Turbo button, and RGB lighting rings. Control customizations can be made with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software 2, and you can save up to three custom profiles that can be cycled through on the fly.

Read our dedicated story on the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth for more details. In short: It’s the best pro-style controller for the price for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC.

$50 | Releases December 12

The Retro Cube 2 is a dual stereo speaker with a retro gaming flair. At roughly 3.5 inches on each side and weighing just a pound, the Retro Cube 2 is a small, lightweight speaker with a budget-friendly price point and some nice features.

The red speakers resemble the Super Buttons on 8BitDo’s range of mechanical keyboards, including the new limited-edition Retro 68 and the manufacturer’s original 87-key N Edition.

The Retro Cube 2 connects to your devices via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wireless, or USB- wired. It has two audio modes, one geared toward gaming and another for music, and a built-in microphone. The NES-style D-pad isn’t just for show; the D-pad controls the volume, play/pause, and is used to sync your devices.

It comes with a wireless charging dock that also has room for the USB-C cord. And just like with the charging dock on the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth and Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad, the dock has a built-in wireless extender for 2.4GHz audio.

The Retro Cube 2 has a 2,000mAh rechargeable battery with up to 30 hours of playback on a full charge. Charging time is 3-5 hours, but if you keep it on the dock, you’ll struggle to run out of battery.

$500 | Releases January 2026 in highly limited quantities

The N40 Edition 8BitDo keyboard is the manufacturer’s first 68-key model. Generally, keyboards with 68 keys are called 65% keyboards. So far, 8BitDo’s mechanical keyboards have been tenkeyless 87-key models and full-size 108-key editions.

Unlike the vast majority of 8BitDo products, the Retro 68 is expensive. At $500, it’s by far the priciest product in 8BitDo’s catalog. For reference, 8BitDo wireless keyboards typically sell for around $100. So, why does the N40 Edition cost so much more? Every component is made of aluminum alloy, from the frame to the keycaps to the first pair of wireless Super Buttons. The large microswitch buttons can be reprogrammed on the fly without using 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2.

The custom gasket-mounted N40 Edition uses Kailh Box Ice Cream Pro Max Linear Switches with six custom dampeners and RGB backlighting. Like other 8BitDo keyboards, the N40 Edition has a hot-swappable PCB–though it’s hard to imagine wanting to switch out the aluminum alloy components.

The Retro 68 supports Bluetooth LE, 2.4GHz Wireless, and wired connections on Windows and Android. It can run for up to 300 hours on a full charge. The limited-edition bundle also comes with a protective pouch and certificate of authenticity.

The Retro 68 would pair perfectly with 8BitDo’s NES-inspired mouse. The first wave of preorders for the keyboard also include the Retro R8 Wireless Mouse, which launched earlier this year for $50.

8BitDo Ultimate 2 & Keyboard Deals

If you like the look of the N40 Edition and don’t want to spend $500, the good news is the 8BitDo N Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard is only $90 at Amazon. The full-size model is $108 right now.

It’s also worth noting that Amazon has some nice deals on standard edition versions of the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller. You can get the white Ultimate 2 Bluetooth for $60 (was $70), while the black and yellow editions are $63 each.

And if you don’t need Nintendo Switch 1/2 support, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 2.4GHz edition for PC and mobile has received even more substantial discounts. The white version is only $47.54 (was $60), the purple is $49.19, and the black is $50.39. You can also save 20% on the Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Edition. On October 23, 8BitDo is launching an eye-catching edition of the Ultimate 2 themed around Honkai: Star Rail.

Coincidentally, the Ultimate 2 N40 isn’t the first 40th anniversary controller 8BitDo has designed this year. In August, 8BitDo partnered with Xbox to release the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition Ultimate 3-Mode Controller. The beautiful Royal blue controller includes a matching charging dock and is 8BitDo’s first-ever wireless gamepad for Xbox. The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is currently on sale for the first time at Amazon.

Sign up for GameSpot’s Weekly Deals Newsletter: