– 8BitDo released N64 30th anniversary special editions: Clear Blue Retro 87 Keyboard and Ultimate 2 Controller.
– The Retro 87 Keyboard features N64-inspired colors (yellow arrow keys, green/blue A/B, red Ctrl) and includes two matching wired Super Buttons.
– The Ultimate 2 Controller has a translucent blue top shell, colored ABXY buttons, white D-pad, and comes with a gray charging dock.
– Both products are currently available in China (keyboard ¥529, controller ¥269) and expected to launch internationally.
Celebrating Three Decades of Gaming Nostalgia
8BitDo is known to announce special editions of its gaming and PC accessories. Some of these special edition products are sometimes based on games while some are based on retro consoles and computers. However, its latest special edition products are based on the Nintendo N64 console which was released exactly 30 years ago.
New Colors for Old Favorites
The new products are new colors for the Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard and the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller both of which have been announced in China. Both products are available in a translucent blue color called Clear Blue which is one of the colors the Nintendo 64 console was released in.
According to 8BitDo, the new products have been released in celebration of the Nintendo 64’s 30th anniversary, so for the sake of clarity, we will refer to them as the Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard N64 Edition and the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller N64 Edition.
Keyboard Features and Design Details
The 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard N64 Edition features so many nods to the retro console. Apart from the translucent blue color, the keyboard has yellow arrow keys similar to the C-buttons on the gray original N64 controller and the Classic Grey 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller.
The keyboard also has two keys marked A and B which are in the same blue and green colors as the ones on the N64 controller while the left Ctrl key is red like the start button on the controller. The rest of the keys are clear blue like the keyboard while the knobs and buttons at the top are gray.
Technical Specifications and Pricing
The 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard N64 Edition comes with two Super Buttons in a matching color, however, unlike the wireless Super Buttons of the 8BitDo Retro 68 Keyboard AP50th Limited Edition, these are not wireless. The keyboard has an aluminum plate, hot-swappable PCB, and features 8BitDo Cloud Gray Linear Mechanical Switches that were co-developed with HUANO. It also has a dedicated button at the top right corner for calling up the Xbox Game Bar.
Other features of the keyboard are support for N-key rollover; Bluetooth, wired, and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity; customization (mapping and macro) using the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2; and compatibility with Windows and Android. The keyboard is available to buy in China for ¥529 (~$78/€69). It will also be available in other regions as it has appeared on Amazon, although it is currently said to be unavailable since it hasn’t yet been announced outside of China.
Controller Design and Variants
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless has been announced in multiple colors and editions based on video games such as the Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and the Honkai: Star Rail editions. However, this is the first version that is based on a game console.
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller N64 Edition features a translucent blue top shell, colored ABXY buttons, a translucent white D-pad, and grey thumbsticks. On the other hand, the bottom shell is a translucent white like the shoulder and trigger buttons, while the two back buttons are blue. The controller comes with a gray charging dock.
Controller Features and Availibility
Like the other versions of the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller, this too has the same features such as TMR thumbsticks, RGB rings, six-axis motion sensor, a 1000hz polling rate (wired and 2.4GHz modes), and support for Windows, Android, SteamOS, and Apple devices.
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller N64 Edition is priced at ¥269 (~$40/€35). Like the 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard N64 Edition, it is expected to be available outside China.