Heads up, 8Bitdo just dropped colorful replacement buttons for its N64 controller. Better still, they'll only set you back $4, so unless you care about the shell also being grey like Ninty's OG gamepad, you can now mod your existing Bluetooth pad yourself and dress it up like it's 1996.
Having already tried and failed to upgrade the black 8Bitdo N64 controller with buttons from an original pad, I'm pretty hyped to see parts that will actually fit. Unlike the salvaged bits from my spare 30-year-old retro console accessory, the new classic button set uses the right dimensions, not to mention it includes a thumb stick and D-pad that are the right shade of grey.
Bluetooth | $39.99 at Amazon
2.4Ghz Grey | $39.99 at Amazon
Button set | $3.99 at 8Bitdo
As an extra courtesy, 8Bitdo has also published a YouTube tutorial detailing how to mod the N64 controller with the new buttons. The teardown process isn't too painful, but you will need to use a spudger to unclip the shell, disconnect the rumble motors, and lift the main board out to insert the new parts. Not exactly what I'd call a challenging project, but that's perhaps compared to installing a $35 HDMI mod in my N64 that involved soldering directly to the console's graphics chip.
Sure, if you want a controller that isn't designed to match the Analogue 3D 4K console, you could just grab the new gray 8Bitdo N64 controller, since both the 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth models have the same buttons. But, making the replacement parts available for less than a cup of coffee means you won't have to begrudingly look at your black or grey version wishing it had a pop of authentic color, and you could add them to the Funtastic Limited Edition pads to make them look more like the OG versions.
My personal need, want, irrational desire to add colorful buttons to every 8Bitdo N64 controller has pretty much been satiated. However, for some purists out there, playing using a wireless controller with modern ergonomics and near-perfect stick accuracy isn't authentic enough, so some of you might want to just mod an original N64 controller with a hall-effect joystick instead. Having already done so, I can confirm it's worth grabbing at Amazon if you want to retain the '90s trident shape but tackle stick drift nonsense once and for all.
For those of you who still think that's not a pure enough N64 experience, I can only really suggest grabbing the real deal or something like the Hyperkin "Captain" since it sticks true to the original wired design for $19.99. I happen to be on a quest to test all the best modern controllers for retro consoles right now, so if I find something I believe to be a more authentic contender for Nintendo 64, I'll let you know.
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