It was announced last month that Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games would be coming to the Nintendo Switch as part of the new Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Along with the announcement that classic games from two decades ago would be included in Nintendo’s hybrid console, the company also revealed Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis controllers for the Switch. A fan-favorite feature is now returning, according to the controller’s online listing.
Nintendo revealed the price and release date of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack during today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons direct. The announcement accompanied the news that some paid Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC (a series that began on the Nintendo 64) will be included in the Expansion Pack as well, increasing the value of the product. However, as fans flocked to Nintendo’s website searching for information on the Nintendo 64 controller, one specific feature was confirmed.
The Nintendo 64 controller for the Switch will include rumble functionality, eliminating the need for an old-school Rumble Pak. According to Nintendo’s official listing of the controller, rumble will be supported for games that use the feature, such as Star Fox 64.
The controller is designed to look and feel exactly like its predecessor from 1996, with the exception that the 1997 Rumble Pak feature is now built-in. In addition, the Nintendo 64 controller has new buttons for Switch support, as well as a USB C port and charging cable. The controller will be a true mash-up of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology.
Nintendo has always been on the cutting edge of controller development. Nintendo invented or popularized some key pieces of technology, such as the shoulder buttons on the SNES controller, the thumbstick on the Nintendo 64 controller, rumble via the Rumble Pak on the Nintendo 64 controller, and so on.
Nintendo’s dual and touch screen technology on the Nintendo DS arrived long before phones adopted the concept as a standard feature, and the Wii motion technology helped revolutionize gaming as a whole. It’s exciting to see Nintendo bring back the Nintendo 64 in its most powerful form for the Switch.
The Nintendo 64 controller (which will be available on October 25) and additional titles from the Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 are undoubtedly the highlights of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, but other features appear to be on the way as well.
The paid DLC Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise is also included with the Expansion Pack. More DLC and items of this nature may be included in the pack in the future. All of this explains why the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack may cost a little more than some expected.
