Updates made to N40 version of the Ultimate 2 controller from 8BitDo Mostly cosmetic, they now feature a black and gray design with bright red buttons and a charging dock that matches the aesthetics of the NES console. The controller will also include four interchangeable joystick caps, and the handles will have release dates printed on the handles to match the release of famous Nintendo and 8BitDo products.
Features are the same as the original Ultimate 2, including TMR joysticks, Hall effect triggers, a ring of color-changing LEDs around the base of each joystick, reprogrammable bumper buttons, an additional pair of buttons on the back, and compatibility with Switch, Switch 2, and Windows devices. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller – N40 is available for pre-order starting today for $79.99 and comes with a retro 8BitDo receiver for wireless connection to the original NES, as well as a 2.4GHz adapter for a faster wireless connection for gaming. It will be released on November 15, 2025, but will be limited to 1,985 copies.
For new 8BitDo Retro 68 Keyboard N40updates are the opposite. Although the new version of the N40 is slightly more compact than 8BitDo's first mechanical keyboard, having a 68-key layout instead of 87, it is very similar to the original but includes some significant hardware upgrades. The entire keyboard, including the body, keycaps and buttons, is made from aluminum alloy, and 8BitDo switched from Kailh's clicky Box White V2 switches to the linear Box Ice Cream Pro Max switches. The Retro 68 also includes a much larger 6,500mAh battery, delivering up to 300 hours of battery life, as well as larger, original programmable Super Buttons that now connect wirelessly to the keyboard rather than being tethered by a 3.5mm cable.
The Retro 68 N40 keyboard is more than twice as heavy as the original, weighing a whopping 2,200 grams and significantly more expensive. The Retro 87 debuted for $99.99 in 2023, but the new Retro 68 will be available for pre-order starting today for $499.99 and is expected to ship sometime in January 2026.
8BitDo Retro Cube 2 Speaker N Edition also looks almost identical to 8BitDo's Retro Cube speaker, which has had an NES-themed design since it first launched in 2016. But the new version features dual stereo speakers with music and game modes, a built-in microphone, a larger 2,000mAh battery that offers up to 30 hours of playback on a full charge, and the ability to switch to a 2.4GHz connection instead of Bluetooth using the included dongle. Its USB port has been upgraded from Micro USB to USB-C, but the speaker can be charged simply by plugging it into the new wireless dock that comes included.
The original version was released almost a decade ago for $35, and the new Retro Cube 2 speaker is available for pre-order starting today for $49.99 and is expected to release on December 8, 2025.
