The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is on sale for only $25.53 (was $40) at Amazon. To get the full discount, you’ll need to click the coupon box on the store page. Only the white edition is available for this price; the black edition has remained close to full price since the controller’s July launch.
8BitDo designed its reimagined N64 controller in partnership with retro hardware manufacturer Analogue. Revealed last October alongside the Analogue 3D, the controller wound up launching before the system. But with Analogue 3D preorders finally shipping this week (starting November 18), now’s a great time to pick up the 8BitDo 64 if you haven’t already.
In addition to Analogue 3D, the 8BitDo 64 is compatible with Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Android, and PC. If you have trouble syncing the 8BitDo 64 to Switch 2, you may need to download a firmware update for the controller. If you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber, the 8BitDo 64 is a great and markedly cheaper alternative to the $55 N64 controller sold on the Nintendo Store. It’s also has vastly superior ergonomics.
$25.53 (was $40) with coupon
The 8BitDo 64 Controller is a wireless Bluetooth gamepad that sports all the buttons you’d expect from a device designed to play N64 games but reorganized into a contemporary form factor that resembles the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller series.
The reworked shape moves the joystick to the left side of controller. This is a Hall Effect joystick with a metal ring, so it should feel as smooth and precise as 8BitDo’s other controllers with the same tech. Hall Effect sensors eliminate the risk of stick drift, and metal rings hold up better over time.
8BitDo recreated the N64 control stick’s surface by adding three circular ridges. Thankfully, it has a rubberized stick cap instead of the original’s hard plastic surface. 8BitDo also included the octagonal stick gate, which Nintendo implemented on the N64 controller to mimic an eight-way D-pad. The actual D-pad on the new controller is in a new location, too, but it still sits in a recessed pocket.
The large A/B buttons and four C buttons match the N64 layout and are the same size/shape. The should buttons and triggers have been redesigned to match modern expectations. The shoulder buttons are labeled R and L, just like the N64 controller, while both of the top triggers are Z buttons. The N64’s Z button was on the back of the middle prong. The dual triggers will be helpful if you want to use the controller for games outside of the N64 library.
The N64’s big start button returns and is joined by three buttons found on many 8BitDo Switch controllers: minus (select), 8BitDo (home), and Turbo. Once you assign the turbo function to a button, pressing and holding it is registered as repeated taps.
You can fully remap the controls and make other adjustments using the 8BitDo Ultimate Software desktop or mobile app. It has two different input modes: S-Input (Switch) and D-Input. Though it has built-in rumble motors, vibration is limited to Analogue 3D and Switch.
What is Analogue 3D?
The Analogue 3D is the premium retro hardware manufacturer’s latest FPGA console. Unfortunately, preorders for the $250 console sold out last October, so interested retro gamers will want to keep an eye on potential restocks in the coming weeks/months.
The console lets you play your original N64 game cartridges with hardware-accurate emulation and 100% compatibility in up to 4K resolution. The console has four controller ports for real Nintendo 64 three-prong controllers or third-party wired controllers. It does not come with a controller, though, so you’ll want to grab an 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller or another controller or two.
If you want the traditional N64 controller form factor for the Analogue 3D, the Hyperkin Captain is a solid budget-friendly option and is available in multiple translucent color schemes.
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