Now you can use Modern Bluetooth Controllers with your retro computer

Ricardo Quesada has launched an interesting product: The Unijoysticle™ 2, an adapter that allows the use of modern game controllers, like the ones used on an Xbox One or PS4, on your retro computer

It supports multiple controllers (for one or two players), and there is also a new “enhanced mode” that allows you to control the two joysticks from one gamepad and more, which can be useful when playing games like Commando or 1942 so you can throw grenades/roll by pressing Button B.

Ricardo explains that the device was designed for the Commodore 64/128 but it will work on any computer that complies with the Atari DB9 pinout, including the Amiga and Atari 8-bits or ST.

The project is all open source (hardware and software) so you can build your own, but Ricardo sells a kit for US$ 30 + shipping. He also is willing to trade the kit in exchange for other retro products. It is just a matter to contact him and ask.

Although I don’t have one, and therefore couldn’t try myself, the principle is very interesting, and the fact that the project is open source, it makes easier for the community to jump in and offer improvements or bug fixes, if needed.

Quesada’s contact information and all about the Unijoysticle™ 2 can be found following the link below.

Link: Retro Moe

Author: Paulo Garcia

5 thoughts on “Now you can use Modern Bluetooth Controllers with your retro computer

  1. Isn’t bluetooth too slow for gaming? I tried to play a drum app on Android and transfer the sound via bluetooth to home stereo. The sound was too late, impossible to play.

  2. (Author here).
    Bluetooth should not bring any noticeable latency. All the big consoles are using it: PS4, Xbox, Nintendo switch.

    In particular, the Unijoysticle 2 is using an ESP32 clocked at 160Mhz (it could be clocked at 240Mhz, but didn’t have the reason to do it since at 160Mhz it was fast enough). And it uses the Blue Kitchen bluetooth stack which is pretty fast, and as soon as the device receives a bluetooth packet it sends it to the c64 from the “main loop”.

    We did some performance tests and we didn’t notice any latency.

    That being said, nothing will beat the speed of a connected wire without any micro-controller in the middle.

    In particular, for the C64, if the event arrives with less than 16ms you are good since that is the time it takes to render a frame.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *