ModRetro recreated the N64 controller for its M64 console | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.ModRetro recreated the N64 controller for its M64 consoleComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsModRetro recreated the N64 controller for its M64 consoleThe company revealed the design of its upcoming Nintendo 64 clone, but its features and performance are still unknown.The company revealed the design of its upcoming Nintendo 64 clone, but its features and performance are still unknown.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiNov 28, 2025, 5:00 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: ModRetroAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Following the launch of the Chromatic Game Boy last December, ModRetro revealed its next console will be an upgraded remake of the Nintendo 64. Like the recently released Analogue 3D, it will play N64 games in 4K through the use of an FPGA. ModRetro — the company founded by the controversial figure Palmer Luckey who’s also behind a defense contractor that makes military tech — has been teasing details about the console on social media over the past few months, but today it finally revealed the console’s design, and an accompanying remake of the N64’s unique three-pronged controller.Similar to the recently-launched Analogue 3D, the M64’s design is inspired by Nintendo’s original hardware with a gently curved top panel, cartridge slot on top, and four ports on the front compatible with the N64’s original wired gamepads. On the front corner of the top panel you’ll find a power button, while the other corner features a dial labeled “Menu.” Aside from presumably navigating on-screen menus we don’t yet know if the dial will have additional functionality. On the back of the M64 is an HDMI port, three USB-C ports, and a microSD card slot.PreviousNext1/7Image: ModRetroThe new images of the M64 show the console with a translucent housing in green, purple, and white color options, as well as three color-matched controllers. The Analogue 3D is also compatible with the Nintendo 64’s original gamepads, but the company worked with 8BitDo to create a modernized version with a similar button layout and thumbstick design. ModRetro has instead gone for authenticity. The M64’s controllers look nearly identical to the original with a three pronged design featuring the thumbstick on top of the middle grip and a trigger button beneath it.PreviousNext1/6Image: ModRetroIn a post on X earlier this week, Luckey also announced that while the M64 was priced at $199 (the same launch price as the N64 in 1996) for those who signed up for the waitlist on ModRetro’s website after the M64 was announced, the introductory pricing is being extended to everyone — at least for now.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsMost PopularMost PopularThe VPN panic is only getting startedYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeWhy can’t ChatGPT tell time?The 148 best Black Friday deals we’ve found so far — a ton of tech is over half offThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in NewsSora and Nano Banana Pro throttled amid soaring demandEpic CEO Tim Sweeney says Steam should drop its ‘Made with AI’ tagsWatch how Apple made its new puppet-packed holiday adA humanoid robot-shaped bubble is forming, China warnsKuxiu’s solid-state power bank now has more capacity and faster wireless chargingAround 500 million PCs are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, says DellSora and Nano Banana Pro throttled amid soaring demandRobert Hart1:00 PM UTCEpic CEO Tim Sweeney says Steam should drop its ‘Made with AI’ tagsDominic Preston12:39 PM UTCWatch how Apple made its new puppet-packed holiday adAndrew LiszewskiNov 27A humanoid robot-shaped bubble is forming, China warnsRobert HartNov 27Kuxiu’s solid-state power bank now has more capacity and faster wireless chargingAndrew LiszewskiNov 27Around 500 million PCs are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, says DellTom WarrenNov 27Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesAn hour agoThe 154 best Black Friday deals we’ve found so far — a ton of tech is over half offTwo hours agoThe dark side of optimizing your metabolism1:00 PM UTCRivian’s software-powered e-bike won me over with its adaptability12:00 PM UTCI’ve covered Black Friday deals for ten years, ask me anything1:00 PM UTCThe US dodged a bullet this Atlantic hurricane seasonNov 27Why can’t ChatGPT tell time?The VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2025 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

ModRetro has announced the recreation of the Nintendo 64 controller for its M64 console, a project mirroring the approach taken by Analogue 3D. The console’s design, as revealed by the company, is heavily inspired by the original Nintendo 64 hardware, featuring a gently curved top panel, a cartridge slot positioned at the top, and four ports at the front compatible with the original N64’s wired gamepads. A power button is integrated into the top panel’s corner, while the other corner houses a dial labeled “Menu,” the function of which remains currently undefined. The M64 incorporates an HDMI port, three USB-C ports, and a microSD card slot.

The controllers themselves are remarkably faithful reproductions of the original N64’s three-pronged design, with the thumbstick situated atop the middle grip and a trigger button beneath it. This design choice reflects a commitment to authenticity, differentiating ModRetro's approach from 8BitDo's more modernized interpretation, which was utilized for the Analogue 3D console. The M64's pricing has been extended to all waitlist subscribers, initially set at $199, aligning with the original Nintendo 64’s launch price in 1996. This extended pricing strategy suggests a foundational commitment to accessibility and a broadening of potential market reach for this retro console.

The development of the M64 is being spearheaded by Palmer Luckey, the controversial figure behind Oculus VR, currently operating under the ModRetro banner. This association introduces a complex layer to the project's narrative, given Luckey's previous ventures and controversies. The console’s functionality, particularly concerning the “Menu” dial’s potential use, remains a key unknown. The project’s success hinges not only on its technical ability to faithfully recreate the N64 experience, but also on ModRetro’s ability to navigate the ethical considerations surrounding Luckey’s history and the broader implications of replicating a beloved console with potential for 4K output and improved performance. The company’s intentions and marketing strategy going forward will shape its position within the burgeoning market for retro gaming consoles.