Analogue has officially announced the Super Nt Plus and Mega Sg Plus, updated versions of its popular FPGA-based retro gaming consoles. The new models feature a reworked industrial design and introduce built-in wireless connectivity for controllers and accessories, addressing a common request from the retro gaming community.
Like their predecessors, the Super Nt Plus and Mega Sg Plus use field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to play original Nintendo Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis cartridges. This hardware approach aims to recreate the exact functionality of the original 16-bit consoles without relying on software emulation, which can sometimes introduce input lag or graphical inaccuracies.
Modern Ports and Wireless Connectivity
The most significant hardware changes in the new consoles involve connectivity. Both the Super Nt Plus and Mega Sg Plus now include a USB-C port for power, allowing users to charge the devices with the same cables used for modern smartphones and tablets. An additional USB-A port has been added to accommodate other peripherals, such as flash drives or adapters.
Wireless functionality is also integrated directly into the hardware. The consoles support both Bluetooth and a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection for gamepads. This eliminates the need for the separate dongles that were previously required for wireless controllers, simplifying the setup for users with limited HDMI or USB ports on their televisions.
Analogue confirmed that wired controllers remain fully supported. Users can also power on the consoles remotely using the connected gamepad as the primary controller. Additionally, the new firmware allows for hot-swapping game cartridges. Players can now remove a cartridge and insert a new one without having to fully power down the system or navigate through a menu to quit the current game.
Pricing and Availability
While the new consoles offer modern conveniences, they do not support 4K output. The original Super Nt and Mega Sg already output at 1080p, and the Plus versions maintain this resolution. For those seeking 4K upscaling for retro titles, Analogue’s separate Analogue 3D console, which supports Nintendo 64 games, remains the company’s high-resolution option.
The Super Nt Plus and Mega Sg Plus will be available for preorder starting on October 19th at 9AM PT/11AM ET. Both consoles are priced at $219.99. Shipping is expected to begin in December of this year.
Source: The Verge
