N64 Archives

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

7 Retro-Themed PC Gaming Gadgets Inspired By Iconic Consoles

Retro gaming enthusiasts can enhance their gaming experiences with modern gadgets that merge nostalgia with contemporary technology. The 8BitDo Retro R8 mouse, priced at .99, is designed to resemble the Nintendo Entertainment System and offers Bluetooth, RF Wireless, or wired USB connectivity with a polling rate of 8,000 hertz and a maximum sensor resolution of 26,000 DPI. It comes in three designs: NES, Commodore 64, and original Xbox, and includes a charging dock. The PromoType KeyBoy Advance keyboard, priced at , replicates the Game Boy Advance and requires DIY assembly. It features L and R buttons that are configurable extras and includes a power indicator and speaker grille. The 8BitDo M30 controller, priced at .99, is designed for the Sega Genesis with a six-button layout and compatibility with various devices including PC and Nintendo Switch. The Retro-Bit V2 Wireless Tribute 64 controller, retailing at .99, is optimized for Nintendo 64 games and features improved latency and a classic button layout, compatible with multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch. The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard, available for .99, features a design reminiscent of the NES, customizable A and B buttons, and supports both wired and wireless connectivity with key remapping options. The Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM02, priced at 9, is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7840HS processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD, suitable for retro and contemporary gaming, ideally paired with a CRT display. The 8BitDo Arcade Stick, priced at .99, features a design inspired by the NES, customizable macro options, and supports USB-C wired and wireless connections, allowing easy switching between PC and Nintendo Switch.

BetaBeacon

July 24, 2026

Red Magic Astra 2 Android Tablet Runs Cyberpunk 2077 Without Cloud Streaming

The Red Magic Astra 2 tablet is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. It features a 9-inch 2.4K OLED display with a 185 Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. The tablet includes a liquid cooling system to manage heat buildup during intensive use. It can emulate PC games locally, supports external peripherals, and offers customization options for a complete gaming experience. The tablet excels in delivering high-performance gaming but may experience thermal throttling during extended sessions.

Winsage

May 29, 2026

You can run Windows on a Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 can run Windows CE, a lightweight operating system that requires minimal resources. The IVM Workpad Z50, which has a CPU similar to the N64, can also support Windows CE. This operating system requires just 1MB of RAM, matching the N64's specifications. Throaty Mumbo has documented the process of running Windows CE on the N64 on his YouTube channel and provided instructions on GitHub for implementation.

Winsage

May 17, 2026

Running Windows CE On The Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 is being used as a platform to run Windows CE, a versatile operating system that can function on devices with minimal resources. The N64, equipped with a MIPS CPU and 1 MB of RAM, meets the basic requirements for this project initiated by developer Throaty Mumbo, who was inspired by an IBM Workpad Z50 laptop that also runs Windows CE. Throaty is creating a board-specific configuration for Windows CE 2.11 using the Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 Platform Builder SDK. The project is available on GitHub, allowing users to load applications onto an SD card and run them within the Windows GUI on the N64, demonstrating a smooth experience despite the console's limitations.

AppWizard

April 20, 2026

Polymega Remix lets you play original SNES, N64, and PlayStation games on a Windows 11 PC

The Polymega Remix is a 9 USB device from Playmaji that allows users to play retro games on a Windows 11 PC. It connects to laptops, PCs, or gaming handhelds and features a built-in CD/DVD optical drive that also acts as a cartridge reader. The device supports CD-based consoles such as the Original PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Neo Geo CD, TurboGrafx-CD, and Sega CD add-on for the Sega Genesis. Cartridge support is available through separate modules for consoles including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, and Atari 2600. The Polymega Remix has completed mass production and is set to begin shipping in May 2026.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

This wildly ambitious modpack transforms the third-person, N64 exclusive Duke Nukem: Zero Hour into a ‘jank ’90s FPS’ for your PC

A dedicated team has created a modpack called Duke Nukem: Zero Hour Overclocked, which transforms the classic Nintendo 64 game Duke Nukem: Zero Hour from a third-person experience into a first-person shooter. The modpack includes various enhancements, such as adjustments to camera and aiming behavior, remapping of movement animations, an optional crouch toggle, and viewmodel recoil effects. The project has received positive attention from industry veterans, including Scott Miller, who praised the first-person conversion. The modpack is available for download, but players need to obtain a copy of the Duke Nukem: Zero Hour N64 ROM to use it.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

It Is Easier Than Ever To Find All Native PC Ports Of Retro Games, Thanks To N64RecompLauncher

In recent months, retro game recompilations from the Nintendo 64 have gained attention, particularly due to their decompilation into native PC ports, offering benefits like enhanced frame rates and mod support. The N64RecompLauncher, developed by SirDiabo and available on GitHub, helps users track and download these recompilations. It supports various platforms, including Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Xbox 360 titles. Installation is straightforward, especially for Steam Deck users, but requires legally obtained game copies. While the launcher can be cumbersome in game mode, using touch navigation improves the experience. The tool is seen as an efficient way to manage and stay updated on new releases in retro gaming.

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

WWE NXT Champ Joe Hendry (and Steam Deck fan) tells us his favorite game — and the surreal experience of being included in WWE 2K26

WWE Superstar and NXT Champion Joe Hendry made a surprise appearance at Wrestlemania 41 as the TNA Champion, accepting an open challenge from Randy Orton. He is featured as the pre-order bonus character for WWE 2K26. The game introduces a MyRise campaign story mode and new match types, including the Inferno fire match. Hendry owns a Steam Deck, PC, Xbox, and PS5, and has a passion for city-building games and classic titles like Warcraft 3 and Final Fantasy 7. WWE 2K26 is set to launch on March 13, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

This week’s new PC games are a treasure trove of the scary, eerie and occult, plus a charming Star Trek game

A diverse array of new PC game releases includes: - Book Smugglers: A point-and-click adventure set in 19th century Tsarist Lithuania focused on forbidden literature. - Stormbridge: A combination of tower defense and city-building elements. - Dobbel Dungeon: A turn-based tactics game using dice rolls in an ogre-battling setting. - Astrobotanica: An early access puzzle and survival game featuring an extraterrestrial botanist on prehistoric Earth. - Alien Morgue: A game where players conduct autopsies on extraterrestrial beings. - Under The Island: A top-down dungeon puzzler with six distinct biomes. - Ritual Party: A multiplayer experience blending humor and horror. - Placid Plastic Deck: A Quiet Quest: A card-battler with a suspicious premise. - Beyond The Doors: A surveillance simulation involving mysterious requests. - Roach Post: A roguelite puzzler using cockroaches to assemble postage stamps. - Forgotlings: An action-adventure game set in a world of sentient objects. - Blank: A platforming experience in a cavernous origami world. - Kill The Witch: An early access 2D action platformer featuring a witch with a baseball bat. - The Killing Stone: A cursed board game set in the Arctic. - Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown: A strategy management game based on the TV series. - FUR Squadron Phoenix: A space simulation game with vibrant gameplay mechanics. - PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse: A mystery horror novel about ghastly fishwomen. - Demon Tides: A platformer inspired by the N64-to-Gamecube era. - Styx: Blades Of Greed: An open-world goblin stealth game. - Love Eternal: An introspective horror platformer. - Key Fairy: A hand-drawn, pacifist bullet-hell game. - Nightsoil: A game exploring turd collection in an emotive context. - Ys X: Proud Nordics: An updated entry in the Ys series with bumpslash combat mechanics. - Horripilant: An incremental dungeon clicker with grotesque creatures.

BetaBeacon

January 27, 2026

Forget emulators, native ports of PS2 games may be closer than ever

A new tool called PS2Recomp has gained significant attention for statically recompiling PS2 games into modern C++ code to create native PC ports with better performance than traditional emulators.