The Analogue3D Is a Retro Gamer's Dream

"Brace yourself, millennials-the Nintendo 64 turns 30 in 2026. The console you spent countless hours huddled around as a kid is now old enough to be crippled by student debt and burdened with existential despair, just like you! If that reminder of the cruel and ceaseless march of time makes you want to retreat into a nostalgic bubble when life was easier and, say, play some N64 games, unfortunately, that's been pretty tricky in recent years."

"Emulation poses problems, not least over questionable legality-but the N64 has been a notoriously difficult platform for emulators to crack without lag or visual glitches, partly down to the way many developers used custom microcode to maximize performance on the original hardware. And, even if you still have a vintage N64 console and a stack of game cartridges, they're not designed for modern TVs, in terms of connectivity or resolution."

"Enter, then, the Analogue3D, the latest console from the makers of the Analogue Pocket. Like its portable predecessor, this is a field programmable gate array ( FPGA) piece of kit that perfectly mimics the original console, allowing you to play authentic game carts without emulation. It goes beyond being a third-party remake though-it runs those games better than ever thanks to a baked-in virtualized Expansion Pak and the ability to overclock, beautifully presenting games with a host of display options,"

The Nintendo 64 faces limited official digital availability and challenging emulation due to custom microcode and performance quirks. Vintage N64 hardware has poor compatibility with modern TVs and resolutions. The Analogue3D uses FPGA to accurately mimic original N64 hardware and play authentic cartridges without software emulation. The system includes a virtualized Expansion Pak and overclocking, broad display options, and 4K output for improved visuals. The Analogue3D supports original accessories and wide controller compatibility, and it features an elegant physical design. Some system-level features remain pending, and controllers are sold separately.

Read at WIRED