ModRetro officially confirmed in April 2026 that its M64 console will begin shipping on July 28, 2026, from its warehouse in Southern California. The announcement comes alongside the reveal of the console’s retail pricing, launch titles, and full feature list, and the retro gaming community has been paying close attention ever since.
The M64 is an FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo 64, developed by ModRetro, the American consumer electronics company founded by Palmer Luckey and Torin Herndon. Unlike software emulation, the console reconstructs the N64‘s original hardware logic at the chip level using an AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, which means original N64 cartridges plug directly into the console and run with hardware-accurate precision.
Flash cartridges like the EverDrive and Summercart64 are also compatible. The M64 runs a tweaked version of the open-source MiSTer N64 core, and its FPGA core will be open-sourced at launch, leaving the door open for community development going forward.
Hardware built around authenticity and modern convenience
Visually, the M64 stays very close to the original Nintendo 64, same gentle curves, cartridge slot on top, and four controller ports on the front. The console launches in a set of translucent color options including purple, green, and white, with red officially added to the lineup after community feedback. ModRetro founder Palmer Luckey has also confirmed that more than a dozen additional colors will follow via swappable body kits.
On the technical side, the feature list is substantial. The M64 boots directly into gameplay in five seconds with no loading screens or splash animations. It runs a completely fanless, silent thermal design and supports wireless over-the-air updates out of the box.
Video output is HDMI with 4K upscaling, and the console includes three USB-C ports and a microSD card slot. A special light pipe illuminates the inserted cartridge so the label art is visible in the dark. There is also a physical cartridge eject button, a small detail that will make sense the moment you use it.
The M64 is designed with repairability in mind, using no adhesives and built to be taken apart easily. The PSRAM architecture also allows for significantly higher overclocking headroom compared to competing FPGA consoles. For CRT enthusiasts, ModRetro is developing a dedicated adapter with automatic 240p/480i detection and support for composite, component, and S-Video outputs.
Post-launch, a firmware update will add a Transfer Pak-like function enabling data transfer between N64 and Game Boy cartridges, which unlocks bonus content in games like Pokémon Stadium exactly the way they were originally designed to work.
Pricing, the controller, and launch games
The M64 carries an early bird price of $199, a figure that deliberately matches the Nintendo 64’s original U.S. launch price from 1996, with a standard retail price of $229 after the early bird window closes. For comparison, the competing Analogue 3D, which also uses FPGA technology to play original N64 cartridges, currently retails at $269.99 following tariff-related price increases, giving the M64 a notable price advantage at launch.
The console ships alongside the M64 Pro Controller, ModRetro’s own take on the classic trident gamepad. The controller features swappable TMR analog joysticks, an aluminum backshell, Bluetooth connectivity, wired USB support, and compatibility with the original Nintendo 64.
Three battery configurations are included: a wired native option, a wireless rechargeable pack, and a swap-in AA battery pack. The controller is priced separately at $89.99.
Four launch titles will be available on July 28 alongside the hardware: Extreme-G Turbo Fusion, Xeno Crisis, Xibalba 64, and Buck Bumble. The return of Buck Bumble, originally developed by Argonaut Games and released on the N64 in 1998, is one of the most talked-about announcements, arriving as a physical release with a new cartridge, box, and manual.
In March 2026, reports emerged that ModRetro was seeking new investment at a valuation of approximately $1 billion. The company previously launched the Chromatic in 2024, an FPGA-based Game Boy and Game Boy Color handheld that sold through GameStop and drew strong reviews.
The M64 represents a considerably larger project, both in scope and financial ambition, and ModRetro has made it clear they are committed to supporting it with new games and firmware updates for years to come.
Are you already on the M64 waitlist, or are you still holding out for something else? Let us know in the comments, we want to hear where you stand on this one!