{
  "id": 10730905,
  "title": "The Nintendo 64 turns 30 today, and we're feeling old",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/the-nintendo-64-turns-30-today-and-were-feeling-old",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-29T16:38:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechSpot",
    "slug": "techspot",
    "url": "https://www.techspot.com/news/114033-nintendo-64-turns-30-today-feeling-old.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thirty years ago today, Nintendo marked the launch of its first 64-bit game console in North America, the Nintendo 64. This marked the third major home console release for Nintendo, coming at a crucial moment when competition had already shifted to disc-based games. Japan saw the console three months prior, and now it was time for North America to experience the 64-bit gaming revolution.\n\nThe hype machine had been at full throttle throughout the summer, and by fall, anticipation had reached a fever pitch. On September 29, 1996, Nintendo launched the N64 in stores at an introductory price of $199. Unlike previous consoles, the N64 did not come with a packaged game. On launch day, players faced a choice between Super Mario 64 or Pilotwings 64. Super Mario 64 emerged as the popular pick, though securing a copy proved to be quite a challenge on the first day.\n\nSuper Mario 64, however, proved to be a masterpiece. No game had yet to master 3D graphics as effectively as Nintendo did with this title, and it went on to become the platform's best-selling game. The success of the N64 continued with several other hit titles, such as GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Wave Race 64. The four-player local multiplayer mode in GoldenEye remains a highlight of the console's gaming legacy. Now, Nintendo's Switch 2 version of Ocarina of Time is set to release on November 5, 2023.\n\nDespite selling nearly 33 million units globally, the N64 ranked 18th in all-time sales. This number may seem modest when compared to other popular consoles like the PlayStation 2 or the original Nintendo Switch. However, the Nintendo 64 played a vital role in carrying Nintendo through a pivotal era in the company's history.",
  "summary": "Nintendo's new cartridge-based machine had landed in Japan three months earlier, and now it was time for North America to experience 64-bit console gaming. The hype machine had been in full swing all summer and by the time fall arrived, anticipation had reached a fever pitch. Read Entire Article",
  "key_points": [
    "Nintendo 64 launched 30 years ago today in North America",
    "Super Mario 64 became the platform's best-selling game",
    "N64 sold nearly 33 million units globally"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}