Nintendo Switch could get classic N64 games — and a new controller

Nintendo Switch could get archetype N64 games — and a new controller

(Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

You could soon exist playing classic Nintendo 64 games on your Nintendo Switch thank you to a potential Nintendo Online upgrade. What'southward more there are rumors that Nintendo is currently working on a reimagined N64 controller for the Switch too.

That'southward according to claimed Nintendo insider NateDrake, who in his most recent podcast episode speculated that Nintendo Switch Online could mayhap add support for N64 games in the almost future. This tracks with a recent Eurogamer written report that claimed knowledge of "other retro platforms" potentially coming to the Switch. NateDrake has also previously claimed Game Boy games will come up to the Switch besides.

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We've been keen to see Nintendo bring more than retro games to the Switch, especially N64 games which can be tricky to get running on modern TVs unless you lot go down the somewhat greyness expanse of emulation. So NateDrake'south tip is skilful news... well almost.

The tipster claimed that Switch-based N64 retro gaming could come up at an additional price, with Nintendo potentially looking to increase the pricing for the subscription service to "$30 a year, $35 would be the ceiling," up from the electric current $19.99.

According to Nate Drake, N64 games could make their way on to the Nintendo Switch some time this fiscal year, pregnant that we could potentially be able to bask the updated service on the new Nintendo Switch OLED before March 31, 2022.

For obvious reasons, there'southward no confirmation as to what particular N64 games could exist available to play. But it's prophylactic to predict that if Nintendo follows through, nosotros may be to revisit 90's classics such every bit The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye 007.

And there could be an extra retro care for to continue with N64 games on the Switch. A recently submitted filing to the U.S. Federal Communications Committee too hints that Nintendo could be working on an upgraded version of the N64 controller, codenamed "HAC-043."

We take a practiced reason to believe that the new device volition be uniform with the Nintendo Switch, as evidence by the "HAC" part of the code-proper name. It appears that those iii letters are featured in all Nintendo Switch products right now, with the panel itself being referred to every bit "HAC-001."

Just last year, Nintendo released an official SNES controller that was codenamed "HAC-042," so it'south looking very likely that "HAC-043" could hateful that some other reimagined retro controller is on the horizon. There also could be a good chance that the controller may exist appear at the aforementioned fourth dimension as the addition of N64 games to Nintendo Switch Online.

There's not much known almost Nintendo'due south alleged new device. Video Games Chronicle reported that apparently Nintendo "has previously requested confidentiality when submitting new controller designs to the FCC."

What'southward interesting is that when Nintendo submitted the filing for the SNES controller back in 2019, it included a diagram that gave away the shape of the device. Notwithstanding, for this upcoming controller, Nintendo opted for a simpler rectangular diagram to accompany the filing presumably so as not to give too much abroad. Still, the diagram hints that that the device would feature an elongated thin logo on the front end, a defining feature of the archetype N64 controller.

At this stage, information technology's hard to predict whether N64 gaming could really be making its manner to the Nintendo Switch someday soon, if at all. If this is to happen, nosotros'll go along you updated on the latest news as soon as it arrives.

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Denise is a news writer at Tom's Guide covering all things tech, gaming software/hardware, streaming, and more. She regularly produces short-form news manufactures as well as long-grade content, including reviews, ownership guides, how-tos, and features. When she'due south non alive-streaming horror games on Twitch, she tin be found exploring East London while playing Pokemon Go. She's as well a part-time piano enthusiast and regularly experiments in the kitchen. You can accomplish her at denise.primbet@futurenet.com.