
Update: And the N64 pad is sold out in both the US and the UK now.
Fittingly, what with Nintendo dropping the pricing and release date details for Nintendo Switch Online's upcoming Expansion Pack, the new N64 and Sega Genesis controllers designed for Switch can now be pre-ordered.
Both are available for $49.99 each over at Nintendo's official website. Shipping begins on 25th October, and you're limited to ordering four controllers per Nintendo account. Remember – you'll have to be logged in to grab those pre-orders:
US
UK
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Naturally, the controllers will be ideal for playing the N64 and Genesis games available on the service, but they're definitely not cheap.
Will you be getting one of these? Perhaps both? Let us know in the usual place.
Comments 101
I ordered a few but haven't received a confirmation email yet... Here's hoping nothing went wrong.
Edit: Got the email, should be good!
I'd get the N64 one but not at 45 -50 quid.
Yikes. Everything about this is incredibly expensive. $30 additional yearly. $50 Genesis controller, with less functionality than the $20 SNES controller. I don’t have ACNH, so the DLC (while looks really nice) is totally useless to me. I hope more comes on the way fast, because I do want to justify a better reason to rent out these N64 games. Like at that price, throw in the new Big Brain Academy game or something.
I miss Satoru Iwata every day.
The N64 controller is basically a must have if you wanna play the games...but the Genesis controller? Nope.
I'm hope that PAL region will have 6-button controller, not this ugly 3-button thing. 3-button controller was more designed for the Sega Genesis(I mean, for North America/UK/Canada). 6-button controller was more designed for the Sega Mega Drive(Japan and PAL regions, even including Russia).
I got the retro bit Genesis/megadrive controller for £30 2.4ghz wireless and it’s great works with my switch and original megadrive so I think it’s better value but I will be getting the n64 controller it’s the only way to properly play n64 games even if the price is a bit steep
Best way to play 64 games but I won’t be getting it as that is too expensive for me.
I have these
Well here in California total came out to 62.39 for the N64 controller. Any other states beat that price?
You can buy 4 N64 controllers if you've got the money and the inclination. I went with 2.
Aaaaand preordered. Thanks NintendoLife!
Preordered mine!
As much as I’d love to throw my money at nintendo to get one of these, they don’t want it.
Snagged one. Thanks for the heads up NLife.
Honestly, brand new out of the box, N64 pads are lovely. Can't wait.
I don't know, if the joystick on that N64 controller doesn't start wearing out after a year it just won't feel the same.
I’ll wait for the n64 content to justify the ridiculous membership price. The nes and SNES ones never became hard to get.
@leo13 hahaha. For real. I reckon this will suffer don’t worry. They’ve managed to nail the drift on the new joycons.
@Sourcecode they do seem to want to see how bad a deal they can offer us and people still snap it all up.
Preordered. Thanks for the heads up! I'll be using these with switch online yeah, but after that I'll be happy to reuse them on the og hardware with some kind of bluetooth adapter I'm sure someone will make.
I put my order in, along with some My Nintendo goodies I've been waiting to redeem with my next order. The Nintendo store website seemed a little buggy to me, dunno if it was on my end or if it was related to high traffic on the site (both?). But I was able to place my order, so hopefully I'll see a confirmation email soon.
I know the controller was a tad pricy (along with the expansion pack) and that Genesis controller is a big nope for me at the same price considering it isn't even the 6-button kind, but I'm honestly willing to pay that price as long as it's built well, especially if the analog stick doesn't wear out fast like the original N64 controllers.
I'll only get it if compatible with controller/transfer paks.
@GamingBread Not necessarily. I used the Wii pro controller for the N64 games I had downloaded on that system, and it worked just fine. I'll admit there is a certain charm about using an original 64 controller tho.
Just had an email from Nintendo telling me it's £39.99.
Might think about it now.
@Xenobound94 It was buggy for me too, took a few tries. Must be demand.
Do you need the expansion pass to buy these? And must you be on a 12-month membership?
Ordered. I just hope I can use it for other games.
Retro-Bit already makes an officially licensed Genesis controller that works with the Switch. And PC. And the Sega Genesis. And has 6 buttons. And costs $15 less.
Got one N64 controller. Going to wait a bit on the genesis one considering that the SNES controller is only 29.99.
Snagged the 64 ones, but where's the UK Mega Drive controller pre-orders?
Ugly, prone to breaking and massively overpriced……ordered four of them
Can’t see the link to the U.K. Megadrive Controller anywhere. Is it not up yet?
@ActionNineNews $59.39 shipped to Missouri. Like most others I’m not seeing a confirmation email but my account lists the purchase with a conformation number, so 🤞🏻 It went through!
Got 2 N64 controllers. Here’s hoping they will eventually sell the games on the eShop.
I am not interested in the AC Expansion, and I have the MD collection.
Will be interesting to see if the N64 controller will work with Turok
The pricing is insane.
I can get 50 for an N64 bluetooth controller. With tax and shipping it's still over 60 bucks here in America. But the exact same pricing on a Genesis pad with far fewer buttons and plastic in general feels Wario-level greedy. Don't know how it was elsewhere in the world, but here in the US, the SNES and NES wireless Switch pads went on sale A LOT. So much that I felt uneasy about grabbing them for full price. If the Genesis pad gets a nifty discount in time, sure. But all of this cash on top of the insanely priced new online tier is a joke.
Forget the Animal Crossing perk, 50 extra bucks per year just for the addition of two emulators in light of how lackluster their support has been for the existing SNES and NES offerings is pathetic.
Sad news from Nintendo.
@electrolite77 Same, article is misleading.
@Sinton I haven’t bought the expansion pass yet and it let me buy the n64 controller. I’m just a standard annual member.
I'll buy the N64 controller and try to find the japonese mega drive, no way I'll buy the 3 buttons version (I already have the 8BitDo M30)
Gave in and pre-ordered.
Nostalgia eh !
@mystman12 Same. No confirmation email yet..
Grabbed the N64 controller.
I’ll wait until the new content kicks in but I will get 2 N64 controllers and one genesis.
The old dirty ninty wants to put his nasty hands in your pocket ha
Nintendo can pound sand.
The lack of UK Mega Drive controller is strange, especially considering how popular the SEGA system back then.
I don't see it though, I've already got a pretty suitable 6-button style 8bitdo controller.
I did however, need that N64 Controller.
N64 controllers already sold out in US.
I wanted an N64 one, and I think the price for the controller is fine, but hte price for the service isn't, so I guess I'll pass on both. I have an N64 anyway.
Looks like the N64 controllers just sold out in the US.
@RupeeClock
Nintendo UK @NintendoUK·9m
Pre-orders for the Nintendo 64 controller are now open for Nintendo Switch Online members! (Stay tuned for updates on pre-orders for the SEGA Mega Drive Control Pad.)
@sleepinglion yeah, but the SEGA likely includes licensing from SEGA to actually make the controllers themselves and use the SEGA branding.
Like the NES controllers in the UK store, I don't see them selling out quickly.
@Vyacheslav333 SEGA Mega Drive boxart, so nope.
@mystman12 I managed to snag one as well. No confirmation email but I do see the "Pending" charge on my card so I think we're good?
They show SOLD OUT now as of 9:30am PST, yikes. Hope ya'll were able to get one or some!
Went for 2 😊 only way to play n64 games! Looking forward to the games being added. Might play through Zelda on day one! Such a classic! 😊 ❤️
Ordered two of the N64 controllers here in the UK, in the hope of encouraging the missus to get into some of the library with me haha.
Aaaaand it's gone. Sold out already! Sigh
@ActionNineNews Only 49.99 here in NH if I were to buy it, but I won't. We don't have a sales tax. For the Genesis one that is.
Pre-ordered N64 only. Can't wait.
Imagine living to see the day that a Genesis controller has a Nintendo label on it...
I think I'll get the N64 because it is the more difficult controller to remap correctly to a normal controller in PC to use with emulators. If it can be used with a PC with some drivers or so. Also looks wonderful. I hope the analog stick is better than the original though.
Such a joke they put this up at a random time and it's gone after an hour in the U.S. I'll get the N64 online service...when I can get a controller.
Can't get this.
Can't find a PS5.
OLED sold out by me.
Time to boot up old reliable PS2 for the rest of the year. Thanks Nintendo! Thanks Sony!
Sold out in 15mins, 20mins later on ebay...because they put the limit of 4. Now I'm reminded why we hack Nintendo. And I would've paid for the upgrade if I got even ONE controller
goddamit nintendo is already sold out FU
How long has the SNES controller been unavailable for sale in Europe?
@Personausermike : Haha, it's already up on ebay?! I'll have to readjust my expectations on getting the N64 controller to 2023. They should have set a limit of 2, but typical Nintendo with attempted scarcity. Or set up a pre order system like Steam Deck.
Put an N64 controller in my cart, left the page for a minute and decided pretty quickly I'd better go ahead and order it. Glad I did, I'd really be kicking myself now
I'll have to wait for a restock. No surprise the 64 sold out in NA.
Hopefully the price goes down a bit. Remapping n64 games to an Xbox controller isn't perfect.
$50 to play N64 games on the Switch...and another $50 for the controller. lol
And yes I know it's not required, still funny...because you know, this whole thing is a joke.
Pre-ordered the N64 controller. Its my favorite all time console, so can't wait for this. Still have my N64 and 3 original controllers and a bunch of games. Every year I play through Goldeneye at least once and play bits of other games. Love it!
Too expensive. No thanks.
Can't pre-order Mega Drive controllers in the UK yet
Just ordered the N64 controller and stoked to hear that rumble is included. Want to play through Yoshi’s Story with it when it launches, but honestly waiting to play Banjo and Paper Mario for the first time.
Skipped on the Genesis for now. May get one when it’s discounted. I don’t think it’s worth the $50. For now though, I will be using the SNES controller (for that retro experience) to play Bloodlines, Hard Corps, and Phantasy Star.
This really helps...
Temporarily Sold Out
The 8bitdo M30 is a really good Sega alternative and it has more buttons. I thought about buying 2 N64 controllers instead of one, but I held out hoping they would release some other colors. Back in the day I had the Atomic Purple set.
One question!!!?
Will this controller work with every Switch game or is this only compatible with Switch Online emulator?
@Nintendo4Sonic One question!!!?
Will this controller work with every Switch game or is this only compatible with Switch Online emulator?
Same for me and from what I am reading it's only NSO only. If true really stinks to high heaven for anyone wanting to use on SSB games.
@SwitchForce yeah, that's a point I didn't find out so far. I'm not interested in the expansion pass. Nintendo are nuts, double the price for N64 emulation. I would use this controller for some regular Switch games. With Switch Online only, I absolutely don't need it.
@Joeynator3000 And still millions of people are happy to pay for it. So if it's a joke, Nintendo is the one that's laughing.
@SwitchForce According to the EU Nintendo site, it works like a Pro controller. So yeah, you can use it in other games (like the NES and SNES controllers before)
Just shut off the automatic renewal for the Nintendo Online. Played the SNES games a bunch when I first got it, but the cost of subscription plus the new cost for the N64/Genesis games seems too high. Thanks but no thanks Nintendo.
@Smeltos The upgrade isn't required, the original tiers remain available
Managed to preoreder the N64 pad in the UK. Its showing as out of stock now, lucky me. Waiting for the SEGA pad now.
@sanderev Yes, I realize that it's not required. The only way I really get to vote about Nintendo's policies is with my wallet, and I'm voting NO for their online service.
Fat lot of use my "register of interest" email was at 4.20pm UK, sold out long before I noticed it. Scalpers buying 4 each and sticking them on ebay, congratulations 👏!
@Smeltos That's up to you. But I don't think Nintendo really cares about that.
Got 3 64 controllers and 2 Mega Drive controllers for me and my brothers. 😄
Now I've just got to fork out for the Expansion Pass when it comes out. 😔
I actually think the 64 controller is worth the price considering the fact that it has extra buttons. Looks like you could use it for any switch game. The Genesis controller is a rip off. At most, I'd grab it for 20 bucks
@Sourcecode
Same here. The NSO expansion price is absurd and these controllers are absurdly overpriced as well, especially the 3-button Genesis controller.
Nintendo is really really going over the deep end here ffs!
$65 for one N64 controller here in Canada >___>. Plus tax and shipping. I think I'll find another option lol. I already have a 6 button wireless Genesis controller I use.
I agree with the controllers being too expensive. Here, the new controllers are $70 AUD, which, when you compare it to the $40 AUD the SNES and NES controllers go for, is a bit much.
On another note, I find it kinda amusing that the controller generally considered 'The worst" sold out almost immediately after being made available.
SEGA: Sega does what Nintendon'!
Nintendo: Hm, buy that company.
Still available at Nintendo Germany:
https://mynintendostore.nintendo.de/catalog/product/view/id/966
Price: 49,99 Euro
The price is more than fair I feel. Back in 1997 when I got my N64 the controllers were £29.99, which is £55 when adjusted for inflation. The new pads are wireless and feature built-in rumble too.
I bought 2.
Out of stock in the uk now
Go buy rather a Controller from 8Bitdo, Retrobit or the Brawlers.
They have a really good Quality and the Value for your Money is better, because you can actually use them on multiple Systems.
For Example:
I am using my SN30 Pro for the PC, Switch, Mister, Super Nintendo and rarely for my Smartphone
@Azuris Very true but I want to play N64 games just like I did in '96 and that's with the original controller, which I thought as brilliant in its day.
Far better than Playstation or Saturn pads, which were really not much of an advance on the Snes pad.
@BloodNinja I don't think it's possible. SegaSammy is a conglomerate that has holdings in much more than Video Games.
@NatiaAdamo Oh I’m sure, but I liked my joke still
The original three-button Sega controller is certainly iconic, but I've grown to prefer the six-button arcade controller regardless if a particular game uses the extra buttons or not.
@hypnotoad
That is actual an Argument i let count! Very!
If the Stick is made as the Original, put some Silicon in it, it helps to not wear out the Plastic.
Sorry, but the 8bitdo Genesis controller is superior as it actually has six buttons.
Not seeing the Mega Drive one in UK sold out, coming soon or otherwise.
Just no store entry, I am seeing the N64 one.
Anyone heard these coming back???
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