Analogue Announces N64 FPGA Console For 2024

v1605@lemmy.world to RetroGaming@lemmy.world – 102 points – 3D
analogue.co

Looks cool with 4k upscaling support. We'll have to see about price, since we have the Mister and the upcoming Mars to compare it to.

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Given it’s very niche and doesn’t play ROMs, I guess $200.

FPGAs can get pretty expensive. I'd say $300+

Dunno about that. Last time I checked it would depend also on the volume. How much would cost this FPGA alone around 1000 units.

Couldn't you just use an everdrive cartridge? Those can hold roms and even the actual N64 can use it.

So in theory an everdrive should (there was an issue with the pocket and some GB X7 due to a signal spike not present on the original Gameboy hardware). The main issue is that it's a pretty large additional expense if you want a seamless experience (the x5 requires pressing the reset button to save). Say when this comes out it's $350 with tax and shipping, which is pretty generous I think. You now have to spend an additional $200 for the cart to play roms. Now the choices in this price range are:

  1. Analogue: $550
  2. Mister: $615 (price of a fully configured kit with aluminum shell, can be priced cheaper if full diy)
  3. Mars: $699
  4. N64 + HDMI Mod: $620ish (eBay price $120 for a good condition console with expansion and controller, $200 for the mod, another $100 to install it if not diy).

I see this appealing to N64 enthusiasts that don't already have a HDMI mod (current mods aren't cheap and require soldering to install) or people that really want to play their old carts for that nostalgia hit.

Didn’t know about that. Any way, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this device.

Agreed, even with the eventual "jailbreak" it would have to be priced around that. I think it will be more expensive since the N64 core is pretty large and it is supposed to support 4k.