The ModRetro M64 Is a Gorgeous Modern N64 with a Big Caveat

Nintendo N64 consoles are now well into the retrogaming collector realm, which means they’re getting pricey. Game cartridges — especially desirable or rare carts — are also expensive. But emulation comes with a lot of headaches and disadvantages. So it is easy to get swept up by ModRetro’s teasers for their upcoming M64 console. But that comes with one surprisingly big caveat.

ModRetro just started teasing the M64, which is an FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo N64. Using an FPGA is dramatically different than emulating a game with software. An FPGA is, in essence, reproducing the actual, physical circuitry of the original hardware. That means games run perfectly, just like they would on an actual N64.

The M64 teasers, which are mostly visual renders at this time, are clearly a response to the release of the Analogue 3D, which is a similar FPGA-based N64 recreation. There are some key technical differences and the FPGA build in particular is going to be important (there are rumors the ModRetro M64 will run on MiSTer and will have other console cores available). But right now, we don’t have any firm details.

What we do know is that ModRetro’s founder, Palmer Luckey, is a controversial figure and that might dissuade many potential buyers. Luckey rose to prominence after inventing the Rift VR headset and founding Oculus. After being fired from Facebook following its acquisition of Oculus, Luckey launched Anduril Industries. Gizmodo's article explains why that can be seen as problematic.

But also, the M64 in Atomic Purple looks really cool.