Game console maker 8BitDo has released a modkit to add Bluetooth to the original Nintendo 64 console. For example, the console must be able to handle Nintendo Switch and Android phones. The set comes with a rechargeable battery in the Rumble Pack.
The kit consists of a PCB which replaces the original PCB from the console. So users do not need to solder, 8BitDo says. The kit comes with a Rumble Pack, in which the company has integrated a 500mAh battery. With that battery, the wireless controller should last about eight hours. Charging is done with a USB-C cable and takes 1-2 hours. Rumble Pack has LED indicators to show battery status.
The kit costs $29.99, converted excluding VAT, i.e. €27.96. It appears that the manufacturer is only releasing the collection in a limited edition; At the time of writing, there are still 329 copies left. The company also released the Hall Effect joystick, which costs $20 and is supposed to offer a longer life and a better experience.
8BitDo often releases modkits for older consoles, such as the NES, SNES, first PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. The company also releases its own consoles. Nintendo brought Nintendo 64 games to its Switch Online subscription service in 2021, and then also released a wireless version of the Nintendo 64 console itself.