The Analogue 3D just got save states

Analogue has released firmware version 1.3.0 for the Analogue 3D, following our previous coverage of firmware 1.2.6. The update adds a full save state system to the FPGA-based Nintendo 64 console. It brings over the "Memories" feature first introduced on the Analogue Pocket in 2022. This will be a huge help while I work my way through Shadows of the Empire this weekend.

Now the company is tackling one of the biggest pain points of the original hardware. The Nintendo 64 era was a weird transitional period for game saves. The Super Nintendo mostly used battery-backed cartridges. The PlayStation moved entirely to memory cards. Nintendo decided to do both.

This fragmented ecosystem meant renting a game was always a gamble. If the game used on-cartridge saving, you might inherit someone else's unlocked characters. If it required a Controller Pak, you had to bring your own memory card and hope you had enough free pages. Memories bypasses all of that by capturing the exact state of the console at any given moment. You no longer have to hunt down a save point or worry about a thirty-year-old SRAM battery dying.

20 slots per cartridge

The system allows up to 20 Memories per game. You can access them through the 3D OS Library or the in-game menu. When you hit the limit, the console automatically overwrites the oldest unpinned slot. Analogue built the system to maintain total hardware accuracy. It even works with original accessories like the Transfer Pak. You can use Memories while playing Game Boy games through Pokémon Stadium's GB Tower.

The Analogue Pocket received its Memories update long after launch. It completely changed how people used the handheld. Being able to freeze a punishing game right before a boss fight makes older titles much more approachable. Bringing that same functionality to a home console is a massive quality-of-life upgrade.

No menus required

You do not have to open the menu to use the feature. If you are using an original N64 controller, holding Z and Start while pressing C-Up creates a Memory. Pressing C-Down instead loads the most recent one. Players using the 8BitDo 64 controller can hold the Home button and press D-Pad Up or Down to do the exact same thing.

Fixing Blast Corps

The 1.3.0 update includes a few other notable changes. Games can now save across different virtual Controller Paks. The menu speed is faster when swapping those virtual memory cards in the middle of a game. Analogue also added a beta version of progressive output for select titles.

Finally, there is a fix for a Blast Corps bug. Rare programmed the game with a bizarre save implementation that checks for a Controller Pak first. This caused conflicts with modern wireless adapters. The firmware now automatically sets a "No Pak" option when playing the cartridge to bypass the issue. The update also fixes a bug where 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth controllers could not press opposite C-buttons simultaneously. This is a crucial fix for speedrunners and players who rely on precise camera controls in games like Super Mario 64.