ModRetro M64: The FPGA N64-Compatible Console Launches July 28 at $230

ModRetro has confirmed the launch date for its highly anticipated M64 console: July 28, 2026, priced at $229.99 with one controller included. Built around a 16nm AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, the M64 recreates the Nintendo 64's hardware at the transistor level rather than through software emulation, ensuring maximum compatibility and accuracy. The console reads original N64 cartridges and offers HDMI output with upscaling up to 4K, CRT and scanline filters, and a five-second boot time.

Design-wise, the M64 sports a fully translucent shell in true late-'90s fashion, available in purple, green, and white.

The console features four front-facing N64 controller ports, three USB-C ports, Wi-Fi for updates, and Bluetooth with ModRetro's low-latency "SCI" protocol. The included M64 Pro controller features a TMR magnetic thumbstick that eliminates drift, a ceramic-coated aluminum shell, and wireless connectivity. ModRetro has also pledged to share improved FPGA core code as open source after launch, benefiting the preservation community. Three physical N64 cartridge games will accompany the launch: Xeno Crisis, Extreme-G: Turbo Fusion, and Buck Bumble. Pre-orders are available on the official ModRetro website.

Source: CNX Software

Image credit: “ModRetro Logo” by Pubmixwiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (logo centred on an added background).