Fariha Bhatti 
Analogue is bringing back the Nintendo 64 with Analogue 3D, which promises the most authentic N64 experience yet, with upscaling to 4K.
Known for transforming classic gaming consoles into modern-day collectibles, Analogue has built a reputation for modernizing retro gaming hardware. After rolling out consoles that resurrected the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis, Analogue is now looking at the Nintendo 64, a console that redefined multiplayer gaming in the 1990s. Analogue’s take on the N64 is dubbed Analogue 3D and supports retro controllers that have been gathering cobwebs in the basement.
On the surface, it might appear as an N64 upscaling machine, but Analogue promises that it’s much more than that.
Analogue 3D will let players play their N64 cartridges, with their N64 controllers, all in 4K
The company has confirmed that Analogue 3D will be released sometime in 2025. On the pre-order page, the description says that fans will get their orders in Q1 of 2025. It will retail at $249.99.
The Analogue 3D was announced in 2023, but it has been in development for over three years, according to the company. Unlike previous products Analogue has released, the N64 was trickier to emulate and required extensive re-engineering to replicate faithfully.
It’s not really an exaggeration on Analogue’s part, especially considering even Nintendo itself had a tough time emulating it. Even Nintendo’s own official emulation, through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, has notable performance issues.
Analogue, however, has been able to bring its product close to N64, thanks to technology that mimics the original hardware. That ensures 100% compatibility with the N64 game library and allows it to function exactly like the original console, with upgrades to justify its existence in 2024. That means players who never tossed out their old cartridges should be good to dust them off and use them again.
This is particularly great as the catalogue of N64 games available on Switch is still quite limited. The service has classics like Mario 64 and Perfect Dark, but there are plenty of third-party releases and even first-party releases that aren’t available. Even classics like Donkey Kong 64 and Ogre Battle 64 aren’t included.
The replica offers more than just upscaling. It delivers lag-free upscaling, starting with higher-quality video directly from the chipset itself. To address image issues with modern displays, Analogue3D includes a native upscaler that produces a digital 4K signal with CRT-style artifacts. The system can run games at 4K, far surpassing the N64’s original resolution.
It also supports Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, and four controller ports. While Nintendo 64 controllers were notoriously fragile, even in their heyday, there are plenty of faithful imitations that offer both wired and wireless play.
