Nintendo Shares Video Detailing New N64 Features For Switch Online

Oh my gosh, FINALLY

Pretty neat with the Rewind feature for N64 classics also!

Give me pokemon gen 1 and 2 on VC and let us plug them into stadium 1 and 2 and I'll be the happiest man ever.

It’s rewind time

**puts hand up**
Why does the CRT filter need a Switch2?

The CRT filter looks great! Will definitely be using it. Unfiltered N64 really... doesn't look nice on modern TVs.

Now can Nintendo PLEASE give us an option to turn those god awful borders black!

The rewind feature is gonna be pretty useful when playing Majora's Mask...

This is going to make shooter playable finally. Was hoping they're never added rewind but oh well.

Article suggests all these features are coming to Switch, but as the video points out, the rewind and CRT features are Switch 2 exclusive.
I'm glad the controller remapping is coming to Switch, though, that'll be nice.

By the way the classic console apps should have their names changed from Nintendo Switch Online to Nintendo Classics this week and the Switch Online app to Nintendo Switch app. They said it was happening at the end of May.

I wonder if there will be any other changes to the console apps or if it's just the name

Won’t be re-subbing to NSO for the emulators but that’s nice they are adding more options. More options is definitely a good philosophy for Nintendo

I just got the expansion last month and was baffled by the lack of rewind. Maybe I’ll actually play some of these games now. Also, button mapping will make it so you can use the stick instead of the d-pad so Kirby 64 will be playable! 🥳

@Jayenkai don’t know how Nintendo’s shader looks, but detailed CRT shaders are fairly processor intensive

hopefully they bring controller remapping to other NSO apps

Unfortunately for me, I only have NSO not NSO+ so a bummer...I might future get the N64 controller but if that only work on NSO+ N64 games then that's a pooper....

Nice features, but emulators could do all this and much more in computers of 20 years ago. There is no reason for locking anything to Switch 2.

@NinChocolate Don’t they already have CRT filters for the other Switch Online apps? This is just holding back features for the sake of encouraging you to upgrade rather than hardware limitations.

Also these features are nice, but for the Game Boy, could we get Super Game Boy filters?

Come on… really? Rewind is only available for Switch 2? 🙄🙄🙄

@Yoshi3 Nintendo said before Switch 1 couldn't handle rewind on N64. Ram issue maybe? Sure the CRT filter wouldn't be a problem though.

Nintendo catching up on controller remapping features much of the industry has been on-board with for several decades.

Remapping controls shouldn't be a new feature. That's something Nintendo should've been doing in everything since the Wii Virtual Console.
Even in 2006, it was already a standard in all but the most primitive of those fan emulators Nintendo keeps berating.

Thanks, Nintendo for in 2025 adding a feature out of 1997!

Yeah, I’ll turn the nostalgic blurriness on sometimes. I hope it won’t look TOO bad on a large, high-quality TV. Still so glad I own the N64 controller!

Rewind will be useful not only for the slides in Mario 64 but also for tricky jumps in Banjo-Kazooie like the propellers in Rusty Bucket Bay.

@Sylamp I am going to do an educated guess here. They will all get it.

Not wanting to sound ungrateful, as the re-map option for N64 games is absolutely essential.... but why on earth wasn't remapping included at launch of the app?!

This is going to be a gamechanger for Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. I have the presets at system level on Switch but it’s such a faff I rarely bother. This is going to change that!

@RupeeClock The most basic "rewind" feature of 20+ year old ZSNES versions was implemented by making frequent auto savestates. Something like every 10 frames for the last 10 seconds. Then pushing the button repeatedly just loads them in order of most recent.
It just takes a whole lot of memory to keep a history.

The button mapping will be a nice feature for games with the weirdest controls (turok comes to mind).

Dave Perry will love that rewind feature.

@Jayenkai because shaders are very GPU intensive to process at good framerates

Great. Now let us disable the garbage persistent UI

@RupeeClock reasonable, except I had this feature on my bitboy which had a lot less ram and still managed this. Therefore, this is Nintendo feature stockpiling to play the long subscription game for all its NSO. It was even shown that GameCube an emulator was being tested for the switch 1, which we know had enough hardware as the shield had the same hardware and that’s capable as well. Also this will eventually be an excuse to increase the price of NSO, which I’m still awaiting

Wonderful. I really wanted to know about my brand new 2025 console's for a console that was released when I was a teenager.

@RenanKJ There was no N64 emulator in 2005 that could rewind gameplay, trust me. Rewind essentially works by creating a save state every second (or every few seconds), which has been prohibitively taxing for N64 games until fairly recently. Only a few emulators nowadays it, and it's not exactly seamless and polished as it most certainly will be in this version.

Why was the CRT filter not being possible on Switch 1??

Also, they still can't fix the resolution to TRULY be 4:3?

I'll use the rewind feature a lot, but not the CRT filter, games did look bad with it back in the day.

YESSSSSS

So happy about the CRT filter. It looks like it's more than just scanlines. Maybe closer to my wish of a CRT Royale type filter? (difficult to tell from the video)

That'll be enabled 100%

Who's using Shaders for fullscreen effects like that?
Nah, you'd just split the image up into RGB textures (three camera, same scene, different colour filter) and blend them together, slightly offset, onto a large sphere to give it curvature..
Add a fourth texture for scanlines and bob's your uncle.

For me, DK64 wasn't playable on the Wii U VC without remapping the controls, so if that game gets added, it's good to know that this feature will be available for it.

Looking forward to these new benefits, good to see the N64 getting some love.

Would be awesome to see the Sega Saturn added to this service at some point. Or how about something more obscure like 32x or 3DO?

Oh my gosh, why didn't they have those control viewers from the beginning!! I'm so glad they're adding them. Another reason to be excited for S2!

This is very cool.
Now all that's left is adjust stick sensitivity. It feels quite high on other controllers.

@montrayjak
Honestly I'm not a fan of crt filters but I've discovered the one on snes NSO recently and I find it wonderful.

So the basic features any emulation app has been doing for 10+ years, minus upscaling and mods. Got it. 🤣

"Remapping controls", friggin finally, I can't play n64 games using joycons or pro controller, the n64 C button should be mapped to switch second analogue stick rather than switch button from the beginning.

Now I can finally play n64 games on switch without buying the switch n64 controller.

Nso is peaking! Next thing we see is DK64 and more. I really believe it.

I was never kind and took that thing back once I was finished.

@sethfranum it’s also. Nice mario kart controller

@sethfranum
It theoretically works on every game, but since you lose a bunch of buttons or they are inconveniently placed, it doesn't really work on many games.
Maybe this will change on Switch 2 with changing button mapping, but the C-buttons are mapped to the right stick and I'm not sure if you can change that. 🤔

@wiiware
I'm pretty sure the C-buttons ARE mapped to the right analogstick.

Adding a rewind feature will do nothing but make things even easier for gamers who're already as lazy and as haphazard as can be when playing their games. That kind of feature takes away the challenge these games had when we were young and playing them in the afternoon and on weekends. I'll never understand why this company wishes to coddle their fans like this.

These are the stupidest things to keep exclusive to a console. Why?! Just why?! As stupid as GameCube games being exclusive to Switch 2 is, at least that is somewhat excusable. But this?! This is just dumb.

@N8tiveT3ch You should practice being kind more; it'll do wonders for you in the long run, I do believe.

@Zufolobelisk You see, these weird creatures exist. They’re called 4 year olds, and for some reason, they just can’t comprehend how to blj. Freaks, I tell you.

@Zufolobelisk baby steps

@Jayenkai why bother splitting up the colors with that method? You're basically describing a gaussian blur (+ some geometry) shader, which isn't ideal. In that case, you could just lower the output resolution to your TV.

CRT shaders get into how each subpixel blooms, how they fade and how they might affect each other. The perfect shader would know your display's subpixel layout and match them up, but that would require knowledge that the Switch just doesn't have access to. I've manually set it up on my 4K OLED TV with my Steam Deck, and it looked so good I felt like if I tapped on the TV I would get that "Thunk!" sound.

Here's a good resource if you're curious. The ones that stand out to me the most are Chrono Trigger, Sonic, and Conker.
https://thingsiplay.game.blog/2022/03/08/crt-shader-showcase-for-retroarch/

@axelhander what bothers me about it is we could remap N64 controls on the WiiU. That’s what made it playable. I’m a sucker, so I got the N64 controller when it finally became available, but it’s unplayable without them. I’m glad they got to it, but I think it was to force us to buy the controller.

@StewdaMegaManNerd A great deal of the people on this very website were four-years-old when they played Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time for the first time, though. They were able to get through them--not all of them, of course--and there was obviously no rewind feature on the SNES.

@StewdaMegaManNerd It is probably because the original Switch will essentially be obsolete come the fifth of June.

Cool. Was there any mention of improved performance on Switch 2? F-Zero X stutters on Switch 1.

I’ve never wanted a rewind feature while playing on emulator but I HAVE often wanted a fast forward feature, which the Switch 2 should be capable of, especially for RPGs. I find the lack of fast forward a bit curious and I hope they consider implementing it as the Gamecube library expands.

@HHappyGoose88 You emulation? Seriously? Why bother with faulty stuff from amateurs, when you can get it from the very company that made the games, instead?

@swoose A fast-forward feature? In this day and age, where people's attention spans are only getting shorter? Bad idea.

@Zufolobelisk And how many others likely rage-quit due to not being able to figure stuff out? At the end of the day, why should people care about how people play games? People using the rewind feature in Mario 64 isn’t going to kill you. Sure, if they started acting like they legitimately beat the game, then I’d be annoyed, but at the end of the day, video games are simply meant to be played, not involved in freaking wars (which is why It’s glad I wasn’t around during the Nintendo vs SEGA thing).

@TrueBlueYoshi Got to actually challenge yourself, fellow gamer.

@StewdaMegaManNerd It's about growing skills, really. After all, how does a gamer expect to tackle the likes of Dark Souls or Touhou, if they can't get through Super Mario 64? There's no rewind feature in Black Myth: Wukong or Hollow Knight. There's no save state feature in Celeste or Super Meat Boy. A rewind feature will only coddle people into wanting an easy solution, where there's no skill or strategy involved.

The 64 controller doesn't translate super well beyond itself so this is great for handheld play. It looks like it's done on a game by game basis, too, which is much appreciated. Rewind is also great for practicing glitches and speedrun tech. SM64 LBLJ here I come

I've actually been wanting to play a few N64 games lately and holding off specifically because I want to use the CRT filter.

I wonder if the remapping will let us reverse up/down on the analog sticks. The reversed controls in Goldeneye were messing me up bad.

Im annoyed the CRT filter is locked to the Switch 2. I can’t play N64 games on the Switch 1 via NSO as they just look too clean and clear. I know that sounds weird but they just don’t look right like that. It really benefits N64 games to me blurrier and from that little video the CRT filter looks quite good.

@SteveDaSteve N64 emulation is notoriously difficult (and indeed launched on the Switch in a pretty poor state), and even just one bigger end N64 game like Paper Mario or Ocarina of Time is the size of like a quarter of the entire NES library. They might legit just not be able to get it to function within the Switch's capabilities without impacting the performance of the games.

@Suketoudara but do we really believe them? I mean, we can get ocasional PS4 ports… but no rewind for N64 games? I don’t buy it

Ayeee now I can try to get all 120 stars in Mario 64 without being institutionalized

Nice!!
Now waiting for some that personally I wish for; the Transfer pack option for Pokemon stadium games, Mario Tennis and Mario Golf and connect with the its respective GB games.

Thankfully, the most important and long-overdue feature — the button remapping — is coming for both consoles.

To be honest, it's only Goldeneye and Perfect Dark that really need it, and I already have a System Preset for them.

But it's obviously more convenient to do everything natively within NSO.

@dabaumer It's definitely shortsighted and/or scummy.

Nope, won't be trying it as I also won't be buying a Switch 2. Nintendo took what good will I had towards them and threw it out the window with their business decisions surrounding the Switch 2

@Zufolobelisk I can challenge myself if I want to. There's no law that dictates anyone from using the rewind feature.

Hallelujah to remapping N64 controls without warping all system controls. I have zero issue with N64 rewind either.

I'm going to remap the controls in Goldeneye,Turok 1 and 2. Jet force Gemini and Perfect Dark. Plus with all them Gamecube games and a much better tears of the kingdom on my sub. And Mario Kart world I will be busy. I just play world for 2 to 3 days straight and then get to it after. It will all be installed through when I get Switch 2 before I play new Mario kart.

@Zufolobelisk I’m seriously doubting anyone playing Mario 64, using the rewind feature, is either concerned about being good at Dark Souls or will even play the game. It’s video games we’re talking about here. Not brain surgery. I think you’re too focused on a concern where there is none.

@SteveDaSteve i could believe the withholding narrative about many things with Nintendo, but in this case with the emulation I do not believe they are simply withholding the CRT filter to the Switch 2 version

@Zufolobelisk Sorry, the rental stores I went to as a kid always asked me to rewind but I could never figure out how to rewind the SNES carts before returning them.

More than anything the game I think would most benefit from remapping things is Kirby. I have an N64 controller so it's not that big a deal but that game feels like trash with the Joycon D-pad.

Rewind feature for N64 games. Never thought it was possible. I welcome that feature.

@Michael0916 Not when I played golden eye on switch, it is mapped to right stick on wii u if I correctly.

@Zufolobelisk strongly disagree. You can retry faster, so it makes you experiment more, so you learn more along the way.

@Stwert ah fair enough. It was probably a trial and they gave up. But I would guess the switch is capable of doing the rewind feature, but maybe not. Still, Nintendo are known for stockpiling like this, and that’s my suspicion here particularly as the crt mode is also only on switch 2 as another poster pointed out.

But I want to be a good boy and not cheat! Unpopular opinion, but I liked rewind NOT being an option in the N64 games. I know I do not have to use it, but if it is there...it is hard not to. The option to make save states was enough for me.

That said....maybe I can finally beat Mario 64 now! Some of the platform hopping in the latter part of the game is too finnicky for me! Haha.

Stupid that rewinding is locked behind a £400 paywall

@Zufolobelisk Nintendo's emulators suck compared to the "amateurs"

@RupeeClock

Nintendo's official emulators have a reputation for going for accuracy and not taking shortcuts

A reputation that's gone down the pan with the Switch

100th comment, also looks good

Button remapping might make it fun to play Goldeneye.

Nintendo seems to constantly add more and more features, games, music etc. to the Online subscription.

I wonder when they'll raise the price... :/

Button mapping should have been available from day ONE, no excuse for that, Nintendo.

CRT filter is nice and arguably also should have been included day one, but whatever. Glad to see it here. LOL. (Granted, I don't know exactly what technological steps go into making this feature possible, so I could be totally wrong about it being possible on Switch 1)

Rewind is the only thing I can really understand being sorta resource-intensive and maaaaybe not possible on Switch 1, but even that seems like a stretch.