8BitDo just dropped a transparent blue N64 anniversary collection

Peripheral maker 8BitDo has released a transparent blue mechanical keyboard and controller to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo 64. The N64 30th Collection includes new color variants of the company's Ultimate 2 wireless pad and Retro 87 keyboard. Both are decked out in a translucent plastic shell that mimics the late-nineties console aesthetic.

I am looking at this cool blue transparent keyboard and controller right now, and I think I need these. The see-through plastic trend of the late 1990s and early 2000s is a highly specific design language, and 8BitDo nailed the exact shade of frosted blue.

The Funtastic era returns

The Nintendo 64 originally launched in Japan on June 23, 1996. It was a massive dark gray block of plastic that defined early 3D gaming with titles like Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. A few years into the console's lifespan, Nintendo introduced the Funtastic series. This was a line of brightly colored, translucent consoles and controllers that completely changed the system's visual identity. You could see the circuit boards, the rumble pak connectors, and the internal wiring right through the shell.

This new 8BitDo collection pulls directly from that design philosophy. The company has spent the last decade building a massive catalog of retro-inspired accessories, usually focusing on the matte gray and beige tones of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Moving into the late-nineties transparent plastic phase is a natural progression for a manufacturer that built its reputation on nostalgia.

$60 for the pad, $100 for the board

The Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller costs $59.99. It is available now, though initial stock on 8BitDo's direct storefront sold out almost immediately.

The Retro 87 Keyboard is available for pre-order at $99.99 and is scheduled to ship on August 14, 2026, meaning it is not immediately available.

The Retro 87 Keyboard is officially compatible with Windows and Android, while the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller works with Windows, Android, SteamOS, and Apple devices, though Apple compatibility might require specific modes or firmware updates. This makes them versatile options for PC gaming or playing on a Steam Deck, rather than just display pieces for a shelf.

Modern guts

Despite the retro coat of paint, the hardware inside is entirely modern. The Ultimate 2 is 8BitDo's current flagship wireless controller. It includes TMR thumbsticks, which use magnetic sensors to prevent the stick drift issues common in traditional potentiometer-based controllers. It also has customizable RGB rings around the sticks and a six-axis motion sensor for games that support gyro aiming.

The Retro 87 is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard. It uses a hot-swappable printed circuit board, meaning you can pull out the mechanical switches and replace them without soldering anything. It is a solid foundation for a custom keyboard build, especially if you want to swap in heavier or quieter switches down the line. The keyboard line originally launched with designs based on the NES and Famicom, so seeing it adapted for the 64-bit era is a welcome change of pace.

We are officially at the point where the Nintendo 64 is thirty years old, but at least we get some good-looking hardware out of the deal.