The FPGA-based retro console scene gains a notable entry with the ModRetro M64, which runs hardware-level Nintendo 64 logic on an AMD Artix UltraScale+ chip rather than software emulation. The core itself traces back to the N64 MiSTer project by Robert Peip (FPGAzumSpass), who worked directly with ModRetro engineers on the improved implementation, and ModRetro says it is adapting that codebase to take advantage of the UltraScale+ fabric and 6-input LUT architecture before pushing improvements back upstream after launch.
The 16nm FPGA pairs with four parallel PSRAM chips instead of DDR memory, a choice ModRetro attributes to lower and more deterministic latency for cycle-accurate N64 behavior. The console exposes a physical cartridge slot, four front-facing original-style controller ports compatible with Rumble and Transfer Paks, HDMI out with scanline and CRT shader profiles, a microSD slot for firmware and potential homebrew, three USB-C ports for accessories, and Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth for updates and wireless gamepads. A separate CRT AV adapter is in development and will auto-detect 240p and 480i signals to feed composite, component, and S-Video into period-correct displays.
ModRetro has committed to open-sourcing both the M64's hardware design files and the FPGA core source after launch, following the same approach it took with the Chromatic handheld's FPGA design files. ModRetro's head of marketing Walter Lee has described the M64's goal as being the cheapest generalized device for open-source FPGA activity, and the company has already ported a separate MiSTer core to the hardware as a proof of concept, establishing a baseline for community developers to build on once design files are available. ModRetro positions itself as contributing to rather than competing with the MiSTer project, meaning accuracy improvements can propagate between both platforms.
The bundled M64 Pro controller revives the original Trident grip but swaps the failure-prone potentiometer joystick for a Thumbstick Magnetic Resonance (TMR) module to eliminate drift, wraps the underside in ceramic-coated aluminum, and accepts either disposable AA cells or a rechargeable pack. It connects over Bluetooth or USB-C and works alongside original N64 pads, Nintendo Switch Online N64 controllers, and 8BitDo gamepads. The translucent shell is held together without adhesives so owners can open and service the unit.
The M64 ships on 2026-07-28 at $230 (€210) with one controller, and additional Pro controllers cost $90 (€85). ModRetro will also release new commercial titles on physical N64 cartridges, including Xeno Crisis, Extreme-G: Turbo Fusion, and Buck Bumble. Pre-order interest is collected on ModRetro's product page, with additional technical background on the AMD developer blog.
