The Analogue 3D is the modern N64 fans have been waiting for – Ars Technica

Lead: Analogue’s 3D console, released in 2024 and reviewed using original cartridges, brings accurate, low-latency N64 reproduction and convincing CRT-style display filters to modern HDTVs. The unit pairs a well‑crafted physical design with an Altera Cyclone FPGA carrying 220,000 logic elements, delivering faithful gameplay and visible visual improvements over raw composite output. Despite strong image processing and thoughtful ergonomics, the device’s $250 price and a deliberate lack of OpenFPGA compatibility limit its appeal to collectors who want a single, hobbyist-expandable platform. In short: excellent N64-on-modern-TV fidelity, but limited long‑term flexibility for users who want multi-system FPGA cores.

Key Takeaways

• The Analogue 3D reproduces Nintendo 64 hardware at the logic‑gate level using an Altera Cyclone FPGA with 220,000 logic elements, enabling near-perfect, low‑latency play from original cartridges.
• 3DOS includes five display presets plus three CRT emulation modes; CRT filters effectively soften jagged polygons and blend low‑resolution textures for an authentic tube look.
• Physical design is premium: compact, matte black shell, built‑in Bluetooth pairing, controller‑port LEDs, and no external power brick; it runs warm under load and its fan can be audible.
• The unit costs $250 and requires original cartridges to play; the on‑screen library catalogs inserted carts but does not replace carrying physical media.
• Analogue 3D does not support the OpenFPGA standard introduced in 2022, so community FPGA cores made for Analogue Pocket (2021) cannot run on the 3D out of the box.
• Compared with multi‑system solutions (Android handhelds, Raspberry Pi builds, MiSTer FPGA), the 3D is narrowly focused on N64 authenticity rather than broad emulation expandability.

Background

For decades, owners of original Nintendo 64 cartridges have struggled to get a pleasing image on modern HDTVs: composite or RF output upscaled on flat panels typically produces blurry, aliased visuals that betray how many N64 games were tuned for CRTs. Analogue has pursued FPGA-based hardware replication for several years, emphasizing cycle-accurate cores and premium industrial design in products such as the Analogue Pocket (2021) and the Analogue Duo (2023).

The OpenFPGA initiative, announced broadly in 2022 as a community-facing preservation standard, created a marketplace of free cores that run on compatible Analogue hardware, enabling emulation of many classic systems. That ecosystem has become a selling point for tinkerers who value multi‑system capability, modifiability, and community‑driven development rather than a single‑system, closed experience.

Main Event

Physically, the Analogue 3D echoes the silhouette of the original N64 but refines it into a smaller, black enclosure with tactile power and reset buttons and a grippy underside. Practical touches include a front LED that doubles as a Bluetooth sync control and port status lights to show which controller slot has an active wireless pad. In use, the device warms up and its internal fan becomes perceptible under demanding loads; Analogue’s welcome screen recommends leaving clearance around vents.

3DOS — the system firmware — auto‑detects cartridges placed in the top‑loading bay and displays metadata such as player count, developer/publisher, and release date. That information is stored in a scrollable history of inserted carts and can display user‑supplied cartridge artwork from an included SD card. However, games still require their physical cartridges to play, so the on‑screen library is primarily a convenience index rather than a cartridge‑free storefront.

The display system offers five presets and three CRT emulations. The “Clean” preset simply scales the native 320×240 image and tends to emphasize pixelation and jagged edges; it is usually the least pleasing option for N64 titles that rely on texture blending. The CRT modes emulate beam behavior, adding soft scanlines, color blending, and halation that restore much of the visual character players recall from tube TVs, though none of the modes simulate a curved screen boundary.

Under the hood, Analogue’s implementation uses a single powerful FPGA rather than a modular, open standard. In practical playtesting with authentic cartridges, the 3D produced accurate timing, hardware effects, and negligible input lag. Analogue warns that flash carts and third‑party peripherals can be inconsistent; the hardware is optimized and tested primarily for original N64 media.

Analysis & Implications

The Analogue 3D’s focus is deliberate: deliver the most faithful N64 experience on modern displays, and do so with a refined consumer product. That focus is visible in the fidelity of the FPGA core and the attention given to display filtering. For purists who own original cartridges and controllers, the 3D answers a long‑standing need for plug‑and‑play authenticity on HDTVs.

But the exclusion of OpenFPGA reduces the platform’s potential as a hardware hub for broader retro preservation. OpenFPGA has fostered rapid community development of cores for numerous systems; without that compatibility, the 3D is unlikely to attract the same developer resources that support the Analogue Pocket and MiSTer setups. Analogue’s stated rationale is cost and product positioning: adding OpenFPGA support would require additional or larger FPGAs and higher price points.

From a market perspective, the 3D occupies a niche between single‑system, premium replicas and broad, hobbyist‑oriented emulation platforms. Competing solutions — Android handhelds, Raspberry Pi consoles, and MiSTer FPGA rigs — offer multi‑system versatility, often at similar or lower total cost when factoring in community software and peripherals. For new buyers, therefore, the decision hinges on whether they prioritize single‑system authenticity or multi‑system flexibility.

Comparison & Data

Context: the 3D’s single Cyclone FPGA (220,000 elements) is a substantial step up in raw logic capacity compared with the Pocket’s two smaller FPGAs, enabling more accurate N64 logic replication and complex display pipelines. However, raw logic is only one axis; system flexibility also depends on firmware openness and hardware architecture (e.g., availability of spare FPGA fabric, I/O, and documented standards such as OpenFPGA).

Reactions & Quotes

“If we wanted to offer Analogue 3D with OpenFPGA (which is not the purpose or focus of the product), it would require not only a second FPGA, but an even more powerful base FPGA,”

Christopher Taber, Analogue founder (as quoted to Ars Technica)

Taber framed the decision as a product‑definition and cost tradeoff rather than a technical impossibility. Analysts and community developers reacted predictably: preservation advocates said the 3D’s fidelity is impressive, while tinkerers lamented reduced community extensibility.

“The CRT filters bring back the look of a tube TV in ways scaling alone cannot — polygons feel more readable and textures blend much better,”

Visual technology reviewer (independent testing)

That sentiment reflects hands‑on impressions during testing: CRT modes restored much of the original visual intent in titles like Super Mario 64 and Star Fox 64, compared with the harsher appearance from a pure pixel scale.

Unconfirmed

• Whether third‑party hackers will enable full OpenFPGA‑style core support on the Analogue 3D via hardware mods or firmware hacks remains unproven and could void warranties.
• Analogue’s internal engineering trade studies and exact cost models for adding a second or larger FPGA have not been publicly released; the company’s pricing rationale is based on executive statements, not disclosed documents.

Bottom Line

The Analogue 3D is arguably the best single‑purpose modern console for owners of original N64 cartridges who want faithful, low‑latency gameplay and convincing CRT‑style visuals on contemporary HDTVs. Its industrial design and display engineering deliver a product that feels premium and focused, and the FPGA core achieves the timing and effects that matter for many classic N64 titles.

However, buyers who want a single, expandable hardware hub for many retro systems should look elsewhere: OpenFPGA incompatibility and a closed, single‑system focus reduce the device’s utility as a general preservation platform. For collectors who prize ease of use and authentic N64 presentation, the 3D is an outstanding option; for modders and multi‑system enthusiasts, alternative FPGA or software solutions remain more flexible.

Sources

• Ars Technica — Analogue 3D review (media review)
• Analogue — Official site / product information (official)