Torin, the CEO of ModRetro, provided an update regarding the company’s intriguing M64 FPGA Nintendo 64-compatible console. They’ll soon be moving into mass production of four colorways.

The main takeaway from the update is new information on the PCBA, boot time, controller latency, and other nifty features like a light pipe to uplight a cartridge to see the label art. If you’re ordering, you can take the colorway survey. What follows is the full message:

Hey it’s Torin, CEO of ModRetro. It’s about time we send out an M64 update, so let’s jump right in. Early production is almost done. Soon we’re moving into mass production, with some of those early production units going out to reviewers to take them for a test drive. With that in mind, we need your help: Please take a look at the attached images of our three four colorways (we’ve officially decided to also offer red at launch!) and take this survey on which one you’ll be ordering. This will help us ensure you get the color you want, as we start shipping in a few months.

Now, more about M64. It contains one of the most special PCBAs in any consumer hardware that we know of. Black pre-preg and a clear soldermask with gold traces. See image below. There is a reason you never see this – it’s expensive and takes forever, but the result is truly beautiful. M64 will boot into gameplay in 4-5 seconds and contains an ultra low latency bluetooth device which pairs with our wired/wireless ultimate trident controller, which will come shortly after M64. M64 is full of mechanical easter eggs. A hot pink hidden latch under the cartridge flaps can optionally keep them open all the time. An easy eject mechanism allows you to eject the cartridge without pulling the console off the ground. A special light pipe will uplight the cartridge so you can see your game art in the dark. As you have come to expect from us, we will be continually working at a rapid pace on firmware after the device ships, and will tell you what’s in the pipeline as we go.

We’ll be sharing more information about M64 soon. Get excited. Dust off those cartridges. More to come. – Torin P.S. Here’s a link to that survey again – it shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes to complete and will help us make sure we make enough of every color.