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You can use an original Super Nintendo or Super Famicom controller as a wired USB gamepad by installing a small ATmega32U4-based board inside its shell. The board reads the controller’s existing serial button data and presents the button presses to a computer as USB HID input. The documented build requires soldering and trimming internal supports to make room; it is not a plug-in adapter.
How the SNES-to-USB conversion works
The controller already scans its buttons and exposes their states serially. In the documented conversion, an ATmega32U4 board takes over the console-side signaling: it pulses the controller’s latch line, clocks through the serial data, and reads the button states. The board then maps those states to a USB gamepad interface using the Arduino HID Project library.
This keeps the controller’s original electronics in place. The microcontroller is installed inside the controller and connects to its existing cable conductors; the USB connection comes from the board.
Parts and practical requirements
- A small ATmega32U4-based development board with USB HID support. Hackaday identifies the project board as an Arduino Pro Micro, while the primary write-up does not give a specific seller or retail model. Check the board’s dimensions, voltage, pinout, and USB support before choosing a compatible board.
- An original SNES or Super Famicom controller with wiring that matches the documented pinout. Verify your controller’s connections before applying power; the source describes one controller and does not establish that every revision is wired identically.
- Soldering supplies for attaching the controller wires to the board.
- Arduino IDE and the Arduino HID Project library for the firmware approach described by the author.
The board alone is not a complete adapter: this build also requires wiring, firmware, soldering, and an internal fit modification.
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- The SNES Controller Adapter allows you to connect up to two SNES Controllers to your Switch/Switch 2 System or PC Windows.
- With two SNES Controller Adapters, up to four SNES controllers can be used at the same time.
- Supports PC Xinput and Dinput.
- Supports Turbo/Auto Fire/Hold functions. The Left Stick and D-Pad can be switched.
Wire the controller to the board
The primary project write-up gives this pin assignment for the controller connector:
| Controller pin | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | +5 V |
| 2 | Data clock |
| 3 | Data latch |
| 4 | Serial data |
| 5 | Not wired |
| 6 | Not wired |
| 7 | Ground |
For the controller described, the author connected white to VCC, brown to GND, yellow to board pin 14, orange to pin 15, and red to pin 16. Confirm the wire functions on your own controller rather than relying on color alone.
Rank #2
- Type: PS2 To PS3/PC Controller Converter, connect to your PS3 or PC USB Ports.
- Function: Adapter to use your PS2 controller on PS3 console or PC/Laptop, fully compatible with the console and control.
- Use: Converts PS2 or PS1 vibration controller to play with PS3 games on PS3 system, without requiring any external power or driver to operate. Easy to set up and use.
- Compatible With: All original and third party for PS2 Controller (wired and wireless), supports most of for P3 games and for P2 or P1 vibration controllers, can be directly used with PC computer.
- Application: Support wired For PS1/For PS2 hand lever and wireless For PS1/For PS2 hand lever. Applied on PC/For PS3.
Load firmware that scans buttons and sends HID input
The firmware sequence in the write-up begins with a 12-microsecond latch pulse, waits, reads the serial data line, and clocks through the button states. It samples 16 positions in this order: B, Y, Select, Start, Up, Down, Left, Right, A, X, L, R, followed by four positions with no corresponding button.
The author’s loop includes a 16 ms delay and notes that the full scan plus delay makes its update rate slightly faster than 60 Hz. These are details of that implementation, not universal timing requirements for every board or controller.
Rank #3
- Compatible with NES Classic Edition Controllers and Wii U/Wii
- Compatible with SNES Controllers to play the games on NES Classic Edition and Wii U/ Wii system
- No extra driver required, plug-n-play
- Built in Turbo
- The D-pad and the left stick can be exchanged
On the USB side, the author uses the Arduino HID Project library to initialize a gamepad interface, map the SNES buttons to HID buttons and the D-pad, and send updated input state to the computer. Follow the project’s code and library setup for the complete implementation: Building a USB SNES Controller.
Make room inside the controller shell
Fitting the board and the cable inside the original enclosure was tight. The documented build removed some supports from the rear cover to create space. Plan for an irreversible physical modification rather than assuming the board will fit without trimming; the write-up does not describe a reversible installation.
Rank #4
- DUAL PORT ADAPTORS: Includes 2 adapters with dedicated port for nes controllers and dedicated port for snes/Super Famicom controllers, allowing you to use your controllers
- SNAC TECHNOLOGY INCLUDED: Integrated SNAC module with USB 3.0 male connector offering a native connection with very low latency, ideal for games requiring precision and perfect timing
- FULL COMPATIBILITY: Works with Terasic DE10-Nano card, MiSTer IO card and SNAC compatible cores (NES, SNES and others depending on configurations), immediate system recognition
- PLUG-AND-PLAY INSTALLATION: Simple driverless setup required, sturdy and durable construction for heavy use, providing a true feel to vintage consoles
- AUTHENTIC RETROGAMING EXPERIENCE: No noticeable latency thanks to SNAC connection, allows players to use their true Nintendo controllers for a premium gaming experience
What the author tested—and what remains unknown
The author reports that a computer recognized the finished device as a HID gamepad, that button presses worked, and that he played a race of Super Mario Kart. This is a report of his own build, not a cross-platform compatibility test. The write-up does not list tested operating systems, games, controller revisions, latency measurements, or long-term reliability results.
Hackaday’s coverage also describes the embedded Pro Micro approach and notes an external Nintendo-socket-to-USB box as another way to retain the original controller cable: Arduino Provides No Fuss SNES-To-USB Conversion. The available sources do not compare the embedded build and external adapter for cost, complexity, latency, or durability.
Quick Recap
Choose this project or an alternative
- Choose the embedded conversion if you want to use your original controller over USB and are comfortable soldering and modifying its enclosure.
- Consider an external adapter if retaining the controller’s cable and avoiding an internal shell modification matter more. The cited coverage mentions this option but does not provide a tested design or comparative performance figures.
- Choose a ready-made SNES-style USB pad if you want to avoid modifying original hardware. Pimoroni’s listing for a classic SNES-inspired USB controller says that retailer no longer stocks it; availability can change, so check the maker’s current listing before relying on it: Classic SNES inspired USB Controller.
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