Analogue’s 4K Nintendo 64 Available for Preorder Next Week

Analogue, a company specializing in retro hardware emulation, has announced a delay in the launch of the Analogue 3D, its new console inspired by the Nintendo 64. To keep fans excited, the company has shared the first images of the console ahead of its release next year.

The Analogue 3D was initially introduced in October 2023, with plans for a 2024 release. However, the company revealed on Wednesday that it is now targeting a launch in the first quarter of 2025. Priced at $250, the console will be available in black and white, with preorders set to start at 8 a.m. PT on October 21 via the Analogue website. While it doesn’t come with a controller, Analogue has teamed up with 8BitDo to offer a separate Bluetooth N64 controller for $40.

Analogue has previously released various retro devices, including the Analogue Pocket for Game Boy games and the Analogue Duo for TurboGrafx, all of which utilize a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. This technology allows users to play games by emulating the original hardware directly on the chip, offering a smoother experience compared to traditional console emulators.

The development of the Analogue 3D has been challenging, with the company dedicating about four years to ensure there is no input lag or accuracy issues. Emulating the Nintendo 64 is known to be particularly difficult compared to other consoles, yet Analogue promises “100% compatibility” with existing N64 cartridges. They state, “For the first time, you can reexperience the N64 exactly as it was meant to be, without compromise,” according to their website.

Another challenge of emulating N64 games is that they often appear best on a CRT display. Although the Analogue 3D will support 4K video output, it will also feature Original Display Modes to mimic CRT visuals on modern televisions.

In a further update, Analogue has revealed that its operating system will now be tailored to specific products. For the Analogue 3D, this dedicated OS is dubbed 3DOS. Notably, 3DOS has been created from scratch for the new console while maintaining a similar structure to other OS formats, such as PocketOS for the Analogue Pocket. Users can expect easy access to firmware updates and the option to install additional software by simply connecting their console or controller.