8BitDo has simply introduced its first keyboard — a wi-fi, mechanical 87-key structure with hot-swappable switches and a design impressed by Nintendo’s basic Famicom and Nintendo Leisure System (NES) consoles. That is not shocking, contemplating the corporate is finest recognized for its recreation controllers and preventing sticks, lots of that are retro console-inspired.
The truth is, 8BitDo’s new gaming keyboard is so retro console-inspired that it comes with a novel accent: two comically-oversized, programmable “Tremendous Buttons,” which appear like the NES’s A/B buttons (and like each button-mashing kid’s dream).
Critically, they’re huge — 6.3 x 2.9 x 1.3 inches (160.2 x 74.6 x 32.3mm) — larger than the Famicom/NES controllers.
The keyboard’s $100 price ticket contains one set of Tremendous Buttons, that are wired and join by way of 3.5mm (no phrase on how lengthy the cable is, although it is a macropad and never a recreation controller, so it needs to be high-quality). 8BitDo can be promoting additional units of Tremendous Buttons for $20 every. The keyboard has 4 3.5mm inputs (labeled A, B, X, and Y, naturally), which suggests you’ll be able to join as much as 4 units (eight buttons).
There’s extra to this keyboard than simply Tremendous Buttons, in fact. It is a wi-fi mechanical keyboard with tri-mode connectivity (2.4GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth, and wired by way of USB-C), a compact TKL structure, and N-key rollover. It would not have backlighting (however neither did Nintendo’s consoles), and 8BitDo estimates it would get round 200 hours of battery life.
Construct-wise, it options an aluminum high plate and dye-sub PBT keycaps with “MDA-like” peak and weighs a reasonably normal 2.3 lbs (1050g). It has a hot-swappable PCB and comes with Kailh Field switches (White V2), and may be programmed by way of 8BitDo’s Final Software program V2 (it additionally seems to function on-the-fly macro recording, which can allow you to program keys and Tremendous Buttons with out utilizing software program).
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Just like the console(s) it is modeled after, minus the region-locking, the keyboard will are available in two colorways which are in any other case similar: a Japanese Famicom-inspired “Fami Version” and an American NES-inspired “N Version.” The Fami Version comes with darkish crimson Tremendous Buttons, which aren’t technically true to the unique controller’s black buttons, however I assume the darkish crimson seems nicer subsequent to the keyboard.
The retro styling carries all through the keyboard’s design, with rotary knobs for energy and quantity, management pad arrow key legends, and a basic crimson energy standing LED. The keyboard additionally seems to have two extra programmable A/B keys and three programmable buttons (media keys?) subsequent to the amount knob.
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The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard drops on September 20, 2023, and may be pre-ordered now (in each colours) for $99.99. Extra units of Tremendous Buttons may also be pre-ordered completely on 8BitDo’s web site for $19.99.