Name: Nintendo 64
Brand: Nintendo

03

Overview

A 64-bit home console released by Nintendo in 1996. It used the NEC VR4300 CPU and the Reality Coprocessor for graphics. It retained ROM cartridges rather than adopting optical discs.

Name in North America: Nintendo 64
Name in Europe: Nintendo 64

04

Industrial Design

Industrial design

The standard colour was charcoal grey, with multiple colour variants released later.

Nintendo 64 Controller Pak memory card — Nintendo 64 Controller Pak

A Nintendo 64 Game Pak cartridge — Nintendo 64 Game Pak (cartridge)

05

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications

Model number: NUS-001
CPU: NEC VR4300 (MIPS R4300i-based) 93.75 MHz
Memory: 4 MB RDRAM (expandable to 8 MB with Expansion Pak)
Graphics: Reality Coprocessor (RCP) 62.5 MHz
Display: 256×224 to 640×480
Bits (period term): 64-bit
Generation (Wikipedia): 5th generation

Values are from the sources below. Where sources differ, see the notes under Sources.

06

Controller

A three-pronged M-shaped controller with an analog Control Stick (3D Stick) as standard, a Z trigger on the back, four C buttons, a D-pad, A/B and L/R buttons, and an expansion slot for the Controller Pak on the underside.

07

Media Format

Media format

ROM cartridge (4–64 MB)

ROM cartridge
A software medium housing ROM chips on a circuit board inside a plastic shell. The Famicom used this format from its 1983 launch; Nintendo's Western packaging called them 'Game Paks'.

08

Launch & Context

Launch & historical context

Release (Japan): 23 Jun 1996[2]
Release (North America): 29 Sep 1996[1]
Release (Europe): 1 Mar 1997[1]
Release (Australia): 1 Mar 1997[1]
Launch price (Japan): ¥25,000[2]
Launch price (North America): $199.99[1]
Units: 32.93 million(sold, as reported · worldwide · Life-to-date in Nintendo IR data through FY3/2025)[3]

After several delays, it launched in Japan on 23 June 1996 at ¥25,000, with Super Mario 64 as its key launch title.

09

Notable Games

Notable games

10

Gallery

Nintendo 64 with controller
Nintendo 64 controller
Nintendo 64 controller plug
Nintendo 64 Controller Pak
Nintendo 64 Game Pak (cartridge)

11

Timeline

12

Related Consoles

Related consoles

About Nintendo →

13

Sources

[1]
Nintendo 64
Wikipedia (English)
ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
[2]
NINTENDO64
Wikipedia (日本語)
ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
[3]
Consolidated Sales Transition by Region (historical data)
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
[4]
任天堂の歴史
任天堂
ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26

Notes on conflicting sources

nameJa follows Nintendo's corporate history page ('NINTENDO64'); JA Wikipedia gives the reading ニンテンドウ64. JP price tax treatment not stated; JA Wikipedia records cuts to ¥16,800 (March 1997) and ¥14,000 (July 1998). Memory: EN 4 MB/8 MB, JA 4.5 MB/9 MB (RDRAM counted with 9-bit bytes). CPU: EN 'NEC VR4300', JA 'MIPS R4300i'. Nintendo IR Japan figure 5.54 million.

14

Image Credits

Image credits

Nintendo 64 with controller
Nintendo 64 console with controller
PhotoEvan-Amos
Wikimedia Commons·Public domain
Nintendo 64 controller
Nintendo 64 controller with its three-grip layout
PhotoEvan-Amos
Wikimedia Commons·Public domain
Nintendo 64 controller plug
Nintendo 64 controller plug
PhotoEvan-Amos
Wikimedia Commons·Public domain
Nintendo 64 Controller Pak
Nintendo 64 Controller Pak memory card
PhotoEvan-Amos
Wikimedia Commons·Public domain
Nintendo 64 Game Pak (cartridge)
A Nintendo 64 Game Pak cartridge
PhotoEvan-Amos
Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

Super Mario 64

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time