Nintendo 64

Lore & Background

Nintendo began developing the N64 in 1993 in collaboration with Silicon Graphics. Named for its 64-bit CPU, the N64 features a coprocessor that processes graphics and sound separately, allowing for 3D graphics. The N64 controller was the first to include a thumbstick as a standard feature, and the console includes four controller ports for multiplayer games. Accessories include the Expansion Pak to boost system RAM from 4 to 8 MB, the Rumble Pak for force feedback, and the Controller Pak, a memory card. In Japan, Nintendo released the 64DD, a peripheral that adds internet connectivity and enables expanded, rewritable data storage via proprietary magnetic disks. It was a commercial failure and was never released internationally.

Reader's Guide

The N64 received acclaim for its hardware and technical innovations. The American news magazine Time declared it 1996's 'Machine of the Year'. Nintendo sold 32.93 million N64s; while it was a major success in North America, it underperformed in Japan and Europe. Nintendo's decision to use ROM cartridges rather than optical discs, citing reduced loading times and software piracy concerns, alienated third-party developers due to cost and storage constraints.

Many third parties opted to prioritize PlayStation development. This contributed to a relatively small library of 388 games and required Nintendo to rely on its major first-party franchises such as Mario and The Legend of Zelda, as well as games by second-party developers such as Rare. The N64 outsold the Saturn, but sold far less than the PlayStation. Nintendo discontinued the N64 in 2002, following the release of its successor, the GameCube.

Did You Know?

• The N64 was the last major cartridge-based home console until the Nintendo Switch in 2017.
• Several N64 games, such as Super Mario 64 (1996), GoldenEye 007 (1997), and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), have been listed by multiple sources as one of the best video games of all time.
• Nintendo has re-released many N64 games for its subsequent consoles via the Virtual Console and Nintendo Classics services.