In the vast history of gaming controllers, the N64 sticks out like a sore thumb. Its oddball, three-pronged design was bizarre even for 1996, especially when stacked up against the relatively straightforward PlayStation controller.
Still, the trident-like pad is thought back on fondly today, which is perhaps the reason Nintendo decided to re-release it as a wireless controller for use with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier's roster of N64 games .
That's right, if you're a subscriber to the Nintendo Switch 's online service, you can actually buy yourself (stock permitting) a wireless N64 controller that apes the design and feel of the original. And while it's not quite a perfect 1:1 recreation, it's a great way to experience loads of N64 classics on the controller they were intended to be played with.
N64 Controller for Switch: price and availability
The Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch can be purchased exclusively from the My Nintendo Store for $49.99 / £39.99. The only prerequisite is that you must be signed in with your Nintendo Switch ID linked to your account. This is because purchasing the N64 controller for Switch requires you to be subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service.
That's just the first hurdle, however, as just like Nintendo's other retro offerings like the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive controllers, the wireless N64 pad is routinely out of stock. You are able to pre-order the controller to be delivered upon availability, but it's never clear when Nintendo's online store will have them back in stock.
N64 Controller for Switch: design
The N64 controller for Switch, unsurprisingly, bears a striking resemblance to the pad of old. The colored buttons juxtapose nicely against the slate grey controller, and its form factor, while certainly strange, has a unique charm to it.
There's no official info on the battery life, but users of the pad claim it lasts upwards of six hours on a single charge. That could be a very conservative estimate, however, as the Switch Pro Controller can easily last up to 40 hours before that battery is depleted.
If you're unfamiliar with the N64 pad, the new wireless controller is identical to the original model, featuring large A and B buttons, as well as four directional C buttons, the uses of which will vary from game to game.
The big red "Start" button can't be missed, neither can the prominent analog stick that protrudes from the center of the controller, just above that weird middle prong that you'll actually hold in your left hand.
The top of the controller is flanked by L and R shoulder buttons, although most N64 games won't even use the L button by default, given that your hands will be holding the center and right handles for general gameplay. However, many games do support left-handed control options, which is where that three-pronged design shines, even if it's a bit underused.
Tucked away at the back of the controller is the Z button, which by default, your left index finger will rest on top of. Like the C buttons, the Z button's use will change from game to game, but standout uses of it include "Z-targeting" in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask , as well as for firing weapons in GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark.
N64 controller for Switch: features
The N64 controller for Switch is wireless, meaning that just like the excellent Nintendo Switch Pro Controller , there are no cables to deal with. Besides the included USB A-C cable you'll need to charge the controller, of course.
The controller also has vibration support and, much like the N64's Rumble Pak add-on, will work for certain N64 titles on Switch like Starfox 64. The functionality is a step above what we'd normally expect from these controller re-releases, but we're happy Nintendo went above and beyond to include one of the N64 controller's most unique features for its time.
Another great feature is the ability to use the N64 controller for Switch as if it was a Pro Controller. That means that you'll be able to use the pad for games outside of the Expansion Pack's N64 collection. But do keep in mind that your mileage will vary here, given that the button layout and a number of buttons differ between the N64 and Pro Controllers.
The N64 is connected wirelessly to your Nintendo Switch console in the same way that the Pro and Joy-Con controllers are. That means that once the controller is paired, you can use it in both docked and handheld modes.
PS5 ray tracing could get a big boost thanks to new tech from Sony
Sony appears to be working on ways to improve ray tracing on PS5 , according to a listing on the Sony Group Portal website and a recently filed patent.
If you’re not familiar with ray tracing , the simplest way to describe it is a more advanced and lifelike way of rendering light, shadows, and reflections in a scene. Ray tracing is commonly used in movies and TV shows, and its application in games is now possible thanks to more powerful hardware.
However, ray tracing is an extremely graphically intense feature that often requires developers to lower a game’s performance and resolution to implement it effectively on PS5. This has been the case in games like Cyberpunk 2077 , Dying Light 2 , Control Ultimate Edition, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales , though developer Insomniac does offer a Performance RT mode, which includes a lower fidelity form of ray tracing but keeps the frame rate at 60fps.
Sony, then, looks to be trying to address the toll that ray tracing can have on a developer’s resources. A post on Sony Group’s website highlights a new AI technology, which could increase performance in PS5 games . Takafumi Morifuji, a lead researcher at Sony Group Corporation, is exploring super-resolution technology in ray tracing, which essentially relies on machine learning to make lower resolution images sharper and more clear.
Even though the new AI technology is currently only being tested in CG movies, Morifuji says that super-resolution ray tracing will have a “large effect in the future”, and “the aim is to extend the use of technology to games, movies, and other areas of entertainment.” There’s no reason why, then, we couldn’t eventually see super-resolution technology in ray tracing be used on PS5.
Another sign that Sony is taking ray tracing seriously comes via a recently spotted patent filed by Sony’s lead system architect, Mark Cerny. Cerny filed a patent for “System and method for accelerated ray tracing” on August 20, 2020 (thanks, Zuby_Tech ), which points to a new way of optimizing ray tracing effects on PS5.
While it’s hard to parse through all the technical language used, it appears that the new patent would effectively reduce the number of rays that need to be cast in-game, reducing the resources needed for ray tracing while still delivering a comparable experience.
Analysis: ray tracing needs a boost
It’s clear that even though ray tracing is a desirable feature, it currently takes too much processing power to be as mainstream as some might like. If Sony can find a way to optimize ray tracing or use upscaling techniques to provide better image quality when resolution or frame rate does have to be compromised, it could make the feature a more tempting proposition for developers and gamers alike.
Currently, only those with access to high-end GPUs like the Nvidia 3090 can really get the most out of ray tracing, along with the use of Nvidia's DLSS technology which uses AI to upscale lower resolution content, similar to what Sony is proposing with its machine learning tech.
But why do we need ray tracing, exactly? Even though developers have mastered the art of creating convincing lighting in games, it’s a time-intensive process that can’t replicate the same level of realism that ray tracing can provide. The same is true of reflections and shadows.
Here’s hoping ray tracing continues to be improved in the future, particularly on consoles like PS5, as it’s a technology that can have a truly transformative effect.
We've contacted Sony for comment on the patent and will update this article should we hear more.
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Next Assassin’s Creed game is a Valhalla spin-off
The next game to release in the Assassin’s Creed series started life as an expansion to 2020’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla , but morphed into a fully standalone release during its development late last year.
Revealed by Bloomberg , citing people familiar with the project, the game is codenamed Rift and will focus on Basim, a character introduced in Valhalla and belongs to the first, ancient incarnation of the game’s Assassin Brotherhood.
The upcoming game will reportedly be smaller in size than the series’ previous mainline releases and won’t feature the same RPG-driven open-world gameplay of Assassin’s Creed Origins , Odyssey , and Valhalla. Instead, it will place a greater focus on stealth.
Scheduled to release either later this year or in 2023, ahead of Assassin’s Creed Infinity , the franchise’s take on a live service game. Infinity is expected to tie together future games in the series by acting as a central hub.
Bloomberg’s report also mentions that publisher Ubisoft has altered and canceled the development of several Assassin’s Creed expansions over the last year, alongside changing Rift into a standalone title.
Analysis: a return to the beginning?
The mention that this unannounced Assassin’s Creed game will be smaller in scope than recent releases is particularly noteworthy. Since 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins, each game in the series has followed Ubisoft’s penchant for humongous open-worlds, full to the brim with encounters, side quests, and collectibles.
Many Assassin's Creed fans enjoyed the move to larger worlds and action-oriented gameplay. However, not every fan of the franchise was swayed. Some have wanted Ubisoft to return to a focus on stealth, ditching the emphasis on upgrading equipment and managing inventories. This unannounced title might do just that.
However, the fact this game started its development as an expansion for Valhalla and is mentioned alongside other canceled projects, suggests larger forces are at play within Ubisoft.
The publisher has not had a stable few years, with several of its senior executives leaving following allegations of sexual misconduct . It also delayed multiple major releases, including Riders Republic and Rainbow Six Extraction .
It's not surprising Assassin's Creed is being changed with its developer facing such upheaval.