Updates made to N40 version of 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2 controller It’s mostly cosmetic, but now features a black and gray design with bright red buttons and a charging dock that matches the aesthetics of the NES controller. The console will also include four interchangeable joystick caps while its grips are printed with dates that correlate with notable Nintendo and 8BitDo product launches.
Functionality is the same as the original version of the 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 8BitDo’s Retro Receiver to connect wirelessly to the original NES, and a 2.4GHz adapter provides a faster wireless connection for gaming. It will be released on November 15, 2025, but will be limited to only 1,985 units.
For new 8Bitdo Retro 68 Keyboard N40Updates are the opposite. Despite being slightly smaller than 8BitDo’s first mechanical keyboard since it featured a 68-key layout instead of 87, the new N40 looks very similar to the original but includes some significant hardware upgrades. The entire keyboard, including the casing, keycaps and buttons, is made of aluminum alloy, and 8BitDo switched from Kailh’s clicky Box White V2 switches to linear Box Ice Cream Pro Max switches. The Retro 68 also includes a much larger 6,500 mAh battery promoting up to 300 hours of use between charges, and comes with the original oversized programmable Super Buttons attachments that now connect wirelessly to the keyboard instead of being tethered to a 3.5mm cable.
The Retro 68 N40 keyboard weighs more than twice as much as the original, at 2,200g, and is much more expensive. The Retro 87 debuted at $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.
the 8bitdo retro cube 2 speaker n version It also looks almost identical to 8BitDo’s NES-themed Retro Cube speaker since it first launched in 2016. But the new version offers dual stereo speakers with music and game modes, a built-in microphone, a larger 2,000 mAh battery that delivers up to 30 hours of playtime on a full charge, and the option to switch to a 2.4 connection GHz instead of Bluetooth using an included dongle. Its USB port has been upgraded from Micro USB to USB-C, but the speaker can be charged simply by placing it on the new included wireless docking station.
The original launched nearly a decade ago for $35, while the new Retro Cube 2 speaker is available for pre-order starting today for $49.99 and is expected to be released on December 8, 2025.