8BitDo introduces NES-themed collection to mark 40 years of the iconic console

Recap: 8BitDo has introduced a new collection celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System. The original NES (known as the Family Computer, or Famicom for short, in Japan) launched in New York City on October 18, 1985. Nintendo eventually expanded availability to Los Angeles the following February before a full-scale North American launch in September 1986.

Nintendo took a cautious approach with the console's launch, and rightfully so. The video game crash of 1983 was fresh on everyone's mind and the industry's future was still very much uncertain. In fact, that's one of the reasons Nintendo named the console an entertainment system and not a gaming platform – so consumers wouldn't perceive it as just another video game machine destined for failure. Remarkably, the gamble paid off.

The NES40 collection consists of the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth – N40 Edition controller, the Retro 68 Keyboard – N40 ...