Nintendo 64 Natively on PC: The Emulation-Free Revolution

Get ready for news that will make any fan of classic games jump out of their chair. Recently, the gaming community achieved an impressive feat: running games from Nintendo 64 natively on PC, without the need for emulation. That's right, no emulators or workarounds. The secret? Decompilation and reverse engineering​.

Decompilation: The Magic Behind the Deed

This feat was possible thanks to reverse engineering efforts. Instead of relying on emulators to imitate the Nintendo 64's hardware, developers were able to decompile and recreate the games' code to run directly on the PC's hardware. This not only allows for much better performance, but also opens up a world of possibilities for graphical and gameplay improvements.

So the Switch N64 controller works on PC out of the box. The right C button defaults to select but can easily be changed through Steam. Launching the new Zelda Majora's Mask port through Steam means I can play the game perfectly with the N64 controller pic.twitter.com/Suj69gjviA

—Carl (@AVGN82) May 13, 2024

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What does that mean?

Imagine playing Super Mario 64 in 4K, 60 FPS, with keyboard and mouse support, and even in ultrawide. Or, relive the nostalgia of Perfect Dark, now running smooth as silk on your gaming PC. Furthermore, these native ports allow for virtually unlimited customization. Modders are already working on 4K textures, ray tracing, and more.

It's Not Just Super Mario 64

Conclusion: The Future of Classics

This achievement shows the power of the gaming community and reverse engineering. It's not just about nostalgia, it's about bringing these incredible games to a new generation of gamers, with the quality and performance they deserve. So, prepare your PC and keep an eye on the news, because the Nintendo 64 classics are coming back with a bang, and this time, without emulation.