Nintendo 64 reborn: Analogue brings back N64 with modern 4K twist

Analogue’s latest creation, the Analogue 3D, combines vintage vibes with cutting-edge tech.

A 4K revival of the iconic Nintendo 64. (Image: Analogue)

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Retro gaming enthusiasts were treated to an unexpected announcement this week. On Monday, Analogue, the console maker behind devices like the upgraded Nintendo Game Boy clone, Pocket, dropped a new offering: the Analogue 3D. And no, it’s not just another run-of-the-mill console – it’s a 4K resurrection of the beloved Nintendo 64.

First, let’s rewind a bit. The Nintendo 64 (N64), for those who missed out on its heyday, was a game-changer. Released in the mid-’90s, it was the last major home console to embrace cartridges as its primary storage format. Picture this: chunky gray cartridges with iconic labels like “Super Mario 64” and “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”

Fast forward to today, and Analogue has taken that nostalgia-laden magic and given it a modern spin. The Analogue 3D boasts 4K resolution and promises “incomprehensibly profound Original Display Modes.” This means while the device can crank out Super Mario 64 in glorious 4K, it also lets you toggle back to that CRT TV look.

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The Analogue 3D has got Bluetooth support but preserves support for the original gamepad with four original-style controller ports. This means you can give a second lease on life to your trusty wired N64 controllers if you’ve got them lying around.

Analogue also doesn’t mess around when it comes to replicating old-school vibes. Their consoles use custom chips that mimic vintage hardware – none of that soulless emulator nonsense here. So yes, you can blow into your original N64 cartridges and slide them into the Analogue 3D.

Now for some fine print: this console is all about love for the classics. It’ll play every N64 cartridge ever made, but it won’t touch copyrighted ROM files. There’s no support for OpenFPGA either.

Besides this, Analogue has teamed up with gaming peripheral maker 8BitDo to craft a wireless controller for this console, although it didn’t share any images of this.

But when can we get our hands on this beauty? The company remains tight-lipped about specifics but has given a launch date of some time in 2024.