{
  "id": 11272452,
  "title": "Nintendo 64 Turns 30: The Console That Taught Games to Think in 3D",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/nintendo-64-turns-30-the-console-that-taught-games-to-think-in-3d",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-01T19:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/01/nintendo-64-30th-anniversary/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nintendo 64 turned 30 in North America on September 29, marking three decades since the console helped redefine how players experienced 3D games and multiplayer at home. It launched in stores on the same date in 1996, costing US$199 - three months after its Japanese debut. Demand quickly outpaced supply, with many shoppers struggling to find a console or game upon launch. Nintendo sold nearly 33 million units worldwide before discontinuing the system in 2003.\n\nThe Nintendo 64's bold hardware choices set it apart from competitors. Instead of using compact discs, it employed cartridges, which loaded quickly and resisted scratches but held far less data than CDs. An early Nintendo 64 cartridge could store about 12 megabytes, compared to roughly 600 megabytes on a CD. This format choice, while more expensive to produce, allowed Nintendo greater control over manufacturing. The console featured an analog stick at the center of its unusual three-pronged controller, enabling precise movement required for 3D games. Four controller ports were built into each console, allowing multiple players to enjoy multiplayer games without additional accessories.\n\nNintendo's first-party games defined the console's legacy. Super Mario 64 sold about 11.9 million copies and became the platform's best-selling game, showcasing a familiar character navigating a fully 3D environment. Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Super Smash Bros. followed, selling millions of copies each and establishing the console as an influential 3D gaming platform. The Nintendo 64's combination of distinctive controller, four-player multiplayer support, and landmark 3D games continues to shape home console gaming 30 years later.",
  "summary": "The Nintendo 64 turned 30 in North America on Sept. 29, marking three decades since the console helped redefine how players experienced 3D games and multiplayer at home. The console launched in stores on Sept. 29, 1996, at US$199, three months after its Japanese debut. It arrived without a pack-in game, so buyers on launch […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}