ModRetro Launches $230 FPGA-Based Nintendo 64 Console With 4K Output

Hardware firm ModRetro has officially launched the M64, a $229.99 retro console engineered to run original Nintendo 64 cartridges at up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second on modern displays.

Co-founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, ModRetro originally formed as an online community dedicated to modding and vintage gaming before transitioning into commercial hardware production. The M64 enters a growing market for premium FPGA-based recreation hardware, serving as a direct competitor to high-end alternatives like the Analogue 3D.

Unlike standard software emulation, which translates legacy code on general-purpose hardware, the M64 relies on a custom 16nm AMD Artix UltraScale+ chip. This Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) reconfigures its logic gates to replicate the Nintendo 64’s original Silicon Graphics VR4300 CPU and Reality Coprocessor architecture at the circuit level, drastically minimizing latency and eliminating software incompatibilities.

The console maintains full backwards compatibility with original N64 game cartridges and four-player wired controller setups. To handle notoriously demanding N64 titles known for steep frame drops on original silicon, ModRetro built in hardware overclocking options. The system operates silently using a fanless thermal cooling design and includes a microSD card slot for internal storage and firmware updates.

For users seeking to pair the device with vintage displays, ModRetro is offering a dedicated CRT adapter. The physical console housing features a front-facing control dial, allowing players to navigate system settings and menus without a gamepad connected—a feature designed to accommodate specialized original peripherals, such as fishing rod controllers or arcade sticks.

ModRetro is selling the base console without a bundled gamepad to lower costs for retro enthusiasts who already own original hardware. Standard color variants include clear, purple, green, and AMD red.

Alongside the console, the company introduced the M64 Pro, an optional $89.99 controller equipped with an aluminum rear housing, a semi-transparent textured face, and Bluetooth SCI wireless connectivity for PC and Android compatibility. The gamepad utilizes Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks, an advanced magnetic sensor technology designed to eliminate stick drift—a widespread defect that plagued the original 1996 Nintendo 64 controller’s plastic gear mechanism.