Analogue, the company behind the modern takes on retro hardware with the Super Nt for the SNES, the Mega Sg for the SEGA Genesis, and the Pocket for the Game Boy, has announced its next modern take, this time on 64-bit era with the Analogue 3D for the Nintendo 64. It set to be released in 2024.
The Analogue 3D is touted as a reimagining of the Nintendo 64 and will have 100% compatibility with N64 cartridges in every region, USA, EU, and JP. Features include 4K resolution and Original Display Modes that feature reference-quality recreations of specific model CRTs and PVMs, wireless Bluetooth and 2.4g, and 4 original -style controller ports. Analogue has also confirmed a partnership with gaming peripheral maker 8BitDo for a wireless controller for the console.
Analogue noted that the 3D does not play copyrighted from files but plays legacy game cartridges via the cartridge slot and does not support open FPGA, software available on the Analogue Pocket that was designed to “preserve video game history.”
Analogue 3D is not designed using software emulation. The 3D uses the specialty hardware chip with FPGA, Field Programmable Gate Array Technology that lets it function like the original hardware. According to founder Christopher Taber, “This is one that nobody thought was possible.” Analogue 3D has been in development for the last three years.
Taber says that more details on the Analogue 3D including the hardware, price, release information, and additional features are coming.