M64 Brings Classic Cartridges Forward

ModRetro is bringing its preservation-first hardware philosophy to Nintendo 64 games with the M64, a modern console built to play original cartridges while keeping the feel of classic gameplay intact.

The idea is simple: great games should be preserved, playable, and experienced with respect for how they were originally made. M64 combines modern hardware design with a community-minded FPGA core approach, giving players a new way to revisit one of gaming's most beloved console generations.

The M64 launches in July, and ModRetro.com is the place for fans to explore the console, follow the latest updates, and get ready for release.

AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGAs bring cost-optimized performance per watt in a production-proven 16nm architecture, helping ModRetro pursue a fanless, quiet console design with the headroom needed for ongoing core development

Why ModRetro chose AMD::

• Efficient LUT architecture that helps engineers fit more logic into the device.
• Fast FPGA fabric designed for high clock speeds and performance per watt.
• AMD Vivado™ Design Suite and AMD IP resources that help the team focus engineering time on accuracy, features, and polish.
• A proven FPGA and adaptive computing lineage from the same AMD brand gamers know from modern console and PC hardware.

M64 is designed as an integrated ecosystem: console, controller, games, updates, and community core development all moving together. It is not just a new shell for old cartridges; it is a platform built around preservation, accuracy, and long-term support.

Players can look for:

• Original cartridge support through a modern FPGA-based console.
• Fast boot to gameplay, with ModRetro targeting roughly five seconds.
• Wireless OTA updates available out of the box.
• Fanless thermal design for quiet play.
• 4K upscaling work and game-specific video filter defaults for ModRetro-published titles.
• An FPGA core planned to be open-sourced at launch, with continued development after release.
• Thoughtful hardware touches, including a cart eject button, LED cartridge uplighting, and a design made to come apart without adhesives.

M64 is not about adding more for the sake of more. It is about giving classic games a stable, modern home while preserving the way they play. ModRetro plans to contribute FPGA core code back to the community so testers and developers can keep pushing toward greater accuracy over time. That matters because preservation is a long game. With AMD FPGA technology as its foundation, M64 gives ModRetro a platform built for launch, updates, and years of refinement.