A Game Boy modder has created a GBA cartridge that can transform your old Game Boy Advance into a Nintendo Switch controller.
There are heaps ofSwitch controllersout there, frombiggeroptions to classic throwbacks. Now, a modder has even created a way to use the original Game Boy Advance as aNintendo Switchcontroller.
Modder insideGadgets shared a new video on their YouTube channel, showcasing a Game Boy Advance being used to play the Nintendo Switch. The video showcases them playingSuper Mario Wonderwith a GBA, instead of the Switch Lite.
insideGadgets was able to use the Game Boy Advance as a Switch controller thanks to a custom GBA cartridge, named a ‘GBA Bluetooth TX cart.’ Originally reported byTime Extension, the cart looks almost identical to a typical GBA cartridge. However, instead of running a game, it lets you use your GBA as a wireless controller on the Switch or any device with Zero 2 support.
The GBA Bluetooth TX cart works similarly to an 8BitDo Zero 2 controller and can be used on a Switch, PC, Raspberry Pi, or Android. The GBA buttons can even be re-mapped to your liking, by just using the options provided by the cart.
With theNintendo Switch Onlineservice now having a selection of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games, having access to the original hardware’s button layout seems like a match made in retro-heaven. However, unlike the budget-friendly 8BitDo Zero 2 controller, the unique GBA cart doesn’t come cheap.
The Bluetooth GBA cart, listed as ‘coming soon’ on the insideGadgets website, will set you back $89. Its high price point is equivalent to around four of the 8BitDo Zero 2 controllers, priced at $20 each. According to insideGadgets, as posted on their X/Twitter page, the high price point is due to “the complexity” of how the cart is made.
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If you have a few Game Boy Advance consoles or a Game Boy Micro, the custom-made GBA cart could become a fun weekend project. You can sign up to be notified on theinsideGadgets websitewhen the GBA Bluetooth TX cart will be in stock.
Rosalie Newcombe was a Senior Tech Writer on Dexerto’s UK team. Rosalie is an expert on all things handhelds, and has been picking them up since the original Game Boy, all the way up to the Steam Deck. They have covered hardware for PCGamesN and Custom PC.
