8bitdo has a new retro-inspired Bluetooth controller for the Switch you can preorder now

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Back in June at E3 the popular retro-inspired controller maker, 8bitdo announced it was making a couple of new controllers and today you can preorder them at Amazon. The latest controller is meant to look like the SNES gamepad from the 90’s but now with more buttons and it features USB-C connectivity and Bluetooth. It provides a nice throwback to the consoles of yester-year and makes a great gift for those of us still hooked into the nostalgia of those days. 

The two new controllers won’t begin shipping until December 10th which may make it difficult to make that holiday deadline, but if you can preorder them now you’ll at least have a printable receipt good for a stocking stuffer. The controllers come in SNES and Super Famicom color options plus they have rumble feedback and modern motion controls. You can use them on Mac, Windows, Android, Steam as well as the Nintendo Switch.

You can use the new USB-C connection for charging and a wired USB connection on the Switch. They even have a screenshot button for easy shortcuts depending on what platform you use your controller with. The controllers also have a 480mAh rechargeable battery that is reported to last for up to 18 hours of playtime.

– The one controller to rule them all

We set out to design a fully featured retro controller to play 30 years of video games. With inspiration from the classics. Designed with the utmost attention to detail. We paid extra attention to the most critical characteristics like the d-pad, to make sure it feels exactly like you remember it.

8Bitdo also has an attachable smartphone clip for the controllers. With it, you can use each one to play iOS and Android titles with ease. Since touch controls on mobile games aren’t always the best, being able to use these new controllers to play games in a more traditional way is key. The clip is compatible with “nearly all smartphones” and costs $8 sold separately.

Charging the controller from empty to full will take between 1 to 2 hours, but the controllers can be used either by plugging it with a USB cable, which also charges it at the same time, or wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.0. Compatibility shouldn’t be an issue with these controllers either. 8bitdo is the forerunner for these type controllers so you know there will always be firmware updates to add for compatibility on more devices as they come out. Again, you can preorder now for $50 and get your own retro inspired controller from Amazon.

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