ModRetro M64 and Analogue 3D: FPGA Nintendo 64 Clones Usher In New Era of Retro Gaming

ModRetro M64 and Analogue 3D: FPGA Nintendo 64 Clones Usher In New Era of Retro Gaming The landscape of retro gaming is experiencing a pivotal moment with two highly anticipated FPGA-based Nintendo 64 consoles set to hit the market: the ModRetro M64 and the Analogue 3D.

These dedicated hardware clones promise to deliver a new level of accuracy and accessibility for N64 enthusiasts long reliant on software emulation or aging original hardware.

With both systems targeting fans seeking an authentic, low-latency experience, their development represents a milestone for the retro gaming community—and for open-source innovation on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop. A collaborative push for open-source N64 emulation ModRetro, a company founded by Palmer Luckey and supported by a team of renowned engineers and developers, has made transparency and community contribution a central part of its mission.

CEO Torin Herndon recently clarified the company’s vision following an interview with The Memory Core, stating that ModRetro is a contributor to the popular MiSTer FPGA project rather than a competitor.

According to Herndon, the upcoming M64 aims to serve as a high-performance alternative to the DE10 Nano board—the current heart of the MiSTer FPGA community—while remaining compatible with existing cores.

Herndon emphasized, “we are directly committing code to MiSTer,” underlining ModRetro’s ongoing support for collaboration and open development. Rival approaches: ModRetro vs.

Analogue The latest report from The Memory Core highlights that ModRetro and Analogue are taking markedly different approaches as they seek to deliver the most accurate FPGA Nintendo 64 experience.

The M64 is built on Robert Peip's (FPGAzumSpass) open-source MiSTer FPGA N64 core, ensuring accessibility and flexibility for developers and hobbyists alike.

In contrast, Analogue’s forthcoming Analogue 3D will utilize Murray Aickin (Mazamars312)'s UltraFP64—recognized as the world’s first full FPGA N64 recreation—but will remain closed-source and restrict the addition of further cores. Walter Lee, ModRetro’s Head of Marketing, told The Memory Core that the company's “objective is to make the M64 platform the cheapest generalized device for open-source activity in this space.” By leveraging a powerful AMD FPGA and high-speed, low-latency memory, ModRetro aims to address key performance bottlenecks currently facing the MiSTer FPGA platform.

The system’s collaborative engineering process, combining internal expertise with Robert Peip’s mastery of Nintendo’s legacy architecture, has been described as “an engineering match made in heaven.” Technical innovation, pricing, and future prospects The M64 is confirmed to utilize an AMD FPGA, whereas the Analogue 3D will be built on Intel's Cyclone 10GX.

ModRetro plans to launch the M64 at an appealing $199 price point for early adopters, with standard pricing expected to align with the Analogue 3D.

This commitment to affordability and openness could shape the ongoing evolution of FPGA-based retro gaming and may influence the future trajectory of the MiSTer FPGA project as well as broader retro gaming technologies on current platforms. With both systems poised to deliver robust, hardware-accurate Nintendo 64 gaming, retro enthusiasts will soon have a new generation of options for experiencing classic titles.

The continued dedication to open-source development from ModRetro sets an important standard in a market so often defined by proprietary constraints, ensuring a brighter, more accessible future for the preservation and enjoyment of gaming history.

Nintendo Nintendo 64 N64 MiSTer Analogue FPGA MiSTer FPGA ModRetro Analogue 3D M64 ModRetro M64 DE10 Nano AMD FPGAzumSpass Robert Peip Murray Aickin Mazamars312 Palmer Luckey The Memory Core UltraFP64 Walter Lee Torin Herndon