Well, here is the latest (and I think) somewhat terse, dispatch from Analogue regarding the Analogue 3D console. The company put out a brief update on October 17 stating that the console “remains on target to ship in Q4 of this year.”
For those of us who have followed the company’s hardware launches—and are more than a little invested in the idea of a premium, modern way to play N64 cartridges—this update is a massive relief, but it’s still lacking real substance.
The elephant in the room: Delays and reputation
Let’s be honest: Analogue’s reputation has taken a real beating with this project. The company is famous for its gorgeous, high-fidelity consoles like the Pocket and the Mega Sg, but they are equally famous for significant, repeated delays.
Some of those seemed unavoidable, thanks to shipping and supply chain challenges in the first few years of the decade. Others… not so much.
To their credit, they are sticking to the Q4 window (which is October through December), but after the repeated shuffles of past products, a one-line assurance doesn’t exactly instill full confidence.
The biggest issue right now isn’t the date; it’s the vacuum of information. We are two weeks into Q4, and no one has seen any substantial video of the Analogue 3D actually running games. For a piece of hardware that promises FPGA-level accuracy and upscaling for a demanding library like the N64, radio silence on the gameplay front is not helping the reputation issue.
Analogue 3D: “No change in price”
The second point in their update, “There is no change in price or added cost for all open preorders,” is genuinely confusing and, frankly, a little insulting to some who have been waiting patiently.
In what scenario would pre-existing orders suddenly face an added cost? When a hardware launch is delayed, the standard industry expectation is that the price is locked for early supporters.
Mentioning this point as an assurance after a long, drawn-out delay history just feels like a subtle dig. It suggests they had even considered raising the price, which would have been unthinkable.
The rest of the logistics
The rest of the update is pure logistics:
- They will send out an email one week before shipping to allow pre-order customers to change their shipping address (standard procedure, but necessary).
- You can cancel your preorder at any time for a full refund by visiting their support page. Given the long wait, I imagine a few people might take them up on that offer.
In summary, the Analogue 3D is still supposed to arrive this year, but until we see a single frame of gameplay running on that beautiful console, I’m not holding my breath.
We appreciate the patience, but we’re demanding proof, Analogue!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
