8BitDo has a wireless mod kit and receiver for the GameCube controller, if you’re missing the nub

8BitDo has expanded its range of wireless mod kits and receivers to include units for Nintendo’s GameCube. These allow you to make any regular GameCube controller wireless. Or you can connect a third-party controller to the GameCube wirelessly, if you’re into that sort of thing.

8BitDo has this sort of thing for a lot of consoles. Essentially the mod kits are controller guts that you transplant into a normal wired GameCube controller, gut for gut. The new guts have Bluetooth built into them, which means you can then connect the controller to your PC or, I dunno, other things that people connect Bluetooth controllers to. You could also connect it to a PS1 receiver to play PS1 games, if you’re really perverse.

Transplanting is a solderless process. I’d say it’s “easy”, but have you ever taken apart a GameCube controller? It’s not as bad as, say, a Dualsense, but it can be a pain to put the thing back together. It’s easy, but it takes some patience, I should probably say.

If you pull it off, you’ll not only get a fancy new Bluetooth controller, but you’ll also get Hall Effect joysticks and a “trigger pack” thrown in. I honestly don’t know what the “trigger pack” is. It could just be what they call the triggers that come with it. They don’t say if they’re different in any way. I guess if it stops them making that sound like your M1 Garand is having to reload every time you fully depress it, that’s a pretty good selling point. I’m guessing you’ve played enough World War II FPS games to get the reference.

The receiver, on the other hand, simply plugs into the GameCube controller port. Just like a Wavebird receiver. Except you can connect most Bluetooth controllers to it. Like an arcade stick. Or a wireless modded PS1 controller, if you’re really perverted. You don’t need the GameCube mod kit to use the receiver, is what I mean.

I’m not sure I’ll bite. I have a couple of Wavebirds and I mostly use the GameCube controllers that they re-released for Super Smash Bros. Wii U. They have ridiculously long cords so I can stash them in the next room if I need them. I do have a couple of GCN controllers that could use some replacement guts though. My Spice controller has seen better days.

The 8BitDo GCN Wireless Receiver is available now. No, wait, it’s sold out. Well, it will be available as soon as they’re back in stock. The GCN Mod Kit, on the other hand, is available for pre-order and will ship on September 25th.