We have had our hands on the ModRetro M64 for a few days now, testing it, seeing what's new, and chatting with ModRetro's team to understand what updates are coming when the product ships, and what updates are coming after the launch of the console.
Our prototype unit was a little bare bones (for now), but ModRetro has informed us of a wide range of updates coming to the M64:
- Overlcocking
- Save States - this requires an extremely hardened core to be stable, which means ModRetro needs to see what happens to software in the hands of thousands of people so that they can fix the early bugs/glitches before offering the feature of save states. Obviously, they would hate to launch it early with bugs, and gamers love precious save states.
- Built-In Controller Pak
- Chromatic Video Passthrough
- Chromatic Transfer Pak
- In-Game Notifications
- Console LED Colour Customisation
- Wider Third-Party Bluetooth Controller Support
- Wider HDMI Input Compatibility
- EverDrive-64 X5 and X7 Compatibility
- Summercart 64 Compatibility
- In-Menu Sound Effects
- Video Processing, Effects, Filters
- Cart Hot Swap & Reset Option Toggles
- Translucent Video Settings
- Brightness Settings For Cartridge Light
- Physical M64 to CRT Adapter
This information was shared with us on a piece of card included with our prototype unit, and one feature that really intrigues me is the fact that you will be able to play GAME BOY and GAME BOY colour games on the M64 using your ModRetro Chromatic handheld.
This will be available using a video passthrough, likely using one of the 3x USB-C ports on the back of the M64 connected to your Chromatic.
This will simply act as a passthrough to your modern TV or display, allowing you to use the Chromatic on your M64, as if it were the SuperBoy Adapter for the SNES, back in the day.
Not only that, you will be able to use the Chromatic as a "GAME BOY" Transfer Pak, allowing you to transfer data between both M64 and Chromatic, or more so, Nintendo 64 games and GAME BOY games, again, like the original accessory for the N64 controller.
It is unknown whether or not this feature will release with the M64 when this ships later in the year, or if it will come after the release, because it's very evident that ModRetro's team is going full hog trying to get as many features ready for the release as possible... and there are a lot of features!
That said, ModRetro is taking full advantage of the fact that they already have a Chromatic in their arsenal, and it's likely that many of their M64 customers will have one too.
Making all of these compatible features between both consoles is going to make ModRetro gamers very happy, and we're very excited to get hands-on with them all once these updates drop.
