8BitDo Announces Pre-Orders for Nintendo Themed Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Peripheral and accessory manufacturer 8BitDo has opened pre-orders for their new Nintendo themed 'Retro Mechanical Keyboard' and accompanying 'Dual Super Buttons'. The keyboard comes in two themes: the "N Edition" and "Fami Edition". The "N Edition" features the classic NES colors of red, gray, and white, while the "Fami Edition" features the colors of the Famicom - maroon, black, and white. The "Fami Edition" also includes both English and Japanese characters on the keycaps. Both editions have a 87-key layout with a power LED on the top right and two dials at the top left for volume control and connectivity.

The keyboard offers multiple connectivity options including Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, and USB wired. It also has the ability to connect up to four sets of Super Buttons via the rear 3.5 mm jacks.

Beneath the themed PBT keycaps are Kailh BOX V2 White switches, which are attached to a hot-swappable PCB. The Super Buttons feature heavy Gateron Green switches for a more tactile feel. The keyboard supports n-key rollover and the keys can be remapped using 8BitDo's Ultimate Software V2. The Super Buttons can be customized on the fly without the need for software. The software requires a minimum of Windows 10 1903 or Android 9.0.

The Retro Mechanical Keyboard has a 2,000mAh battery inside, which 8BitDo claims offers 200 hours of usable life on a single charge. The keyboard is priced at $100 USD and comes with the Dual Super Buttons. Additional Dual Super Buttons can be purchased for $20 USD. 8BitDo aims to ship the first orders by August 10th, with an expected shipping date of September 20th.