N64 on Switch: Reading the tea leaves on future game prospects

Enlarge / Get N(S) or get out. (credit: Nintendo / Sam Machkovech)

On Thursday, the latest Nintendo Direct presentation confirmed something most Nintendo fans had either suspected, hoped for, or predicted (based on a recent FCC "controller" tip): the N64 is finally back. Instead of a miniaturized N64, however, the company's first dedicated 3D-rendering console is returning as part of a software suite on Nintendo Switch.

And in classic Nintendo fashion, Thursday's announcement only told some of the story.

So far, we know that the initial selection of the Nintendo Switch Online "Expansion Pack" will include nine N64 games, ranging from classics like Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 to niche surprises like Winback: Covert Operations. These games will require an additional fee over NSO's standard $20/year rate, though Nintendo has not yet announced a price for this tier. The company also did confirm plans to roll out seven more N64 games at some point, particularly Rare's Banjo-Kazooie, which hasn't been seen on a Nintendo console since Microsoft bought the developer in 2002.

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