AI Firm Unveils $200 Retro Console for Mario Kart 64 & More
â–¼ Summary
– Palmer Luckey teased the M64, a retro gaming console running Mario Kart 64 on a CRT, priced at $200 for early buyers.
– The M64 is described as the most efficient and accurate reimplementation of the original Nintendo 64 hardware, with final design and preorders pending legal checks.
– The console is expected to launch this holiday season, following ModRetro’s $200 Chromatic handheld, which replicated the Game Boy Color.
– The M64 will match the original 1996 N64 price of $200, contrasting with the $250 Analogue 3D, another N64-inspired console launching soon.
– Nintendo could capitalize on N64 nostalgia by releasing its own classic version, offering a cheaper alternative to premium FPGA-based consoles.
Retro gaming enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as a new $200 console promises authentic Nintendo 64 gameplay, including classics like Mario Kart 64. The upcoming M64 device, developed by Palmer Luckey’s ModRetro, aims to deliver a faithful recreation of the original hardware experience without breaking the bank.
A recent teaser shared by Luckey, best known for cofounding Oculus Rift, revealed the console running Mario Kart 64 on a CRT screen, though its final design remains under wraps. The brief clip hints at a holiday season launch, with preorders expected soon pending legal approvals. Luckey emphasized the M64’s accuracy, calling it “the most efficient and accurate reimplementation of the original by far.”
This isn’t ModRetro’s first foray into retro hardware. Last year, the company released the Chromatic, a premium reimagining of the Game Boy Color that earned praise for its build quality despite its $200 price tag. The M64 follows a similar approach, targeting purists who value authenticity over budget emulation options. Interestingly, the console’s $200 launch price mirrors the N64’s original 1996 cost, a nod Luckey humorously attributed to “inflation not being nostalgic.”
Competition in the retro gaming space is heating up, with Analogue’s long-awaited Analogue 3D, another FPGA-based N64 clone, set to debut next month at $250. While both devices cater to nostalgia, the M64’s lower price could appeal to casual fans looking to relive childhood memories without splurging on pricier alternatives.
Nintendo, meanwhile, remains silent on whether it will revisit its own N64 Classic Mini, a move many fans have eagerly anticipated. For now, the M64 and Analogue 3D offer compelling options for those craving a genuine slice of gaming history. Whether Nintendo joins the race or not, the resurgence of classic consoles proves that retro gaming is far from a passing trend.
(Source: kotaku)
