It's not 1997, but N64 controllers are out of stock until 2022

Information technology's not 1997, only N64 controllers are out of stock until 2022

A closeup view of a Nintendo 64 original controller.

(Image credit: Tonelson Productions | Shutterstock)

No, it's not 1997, and no, GoldenEye 007 isn't the top game on every kid's Christmas listing. Simply special Nintendo Switch-enabled N64 controllers are sold out until 2022 nevertheless.

How did nosotros get to this betoken? During a Nintendo Direct online presentation in September, the company unveiled a new tier to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. Titled Expansion Pack, the premium membership would add N64 and Sega Genesis games to the service.

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These weren't bargain-bin games, only instead top N64 titles such as Mario Kart 64, Star Fob 64 and The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. And on Nintendo'southward online store, you could buy wireless N64 controllers to connect to the standard Switch, Nintendo Switch Light and the Nintendo Switch OLED, for that even more accurate Clinton-era feel.

Unfortunately, but similar everything else during this pandemic, those N64 controllers are now out of stock.

Come across you next year

This sad news comes by mode of Eurogamer. If you take a gander at Nintendo'due south online store, it states that N64 controllers, which were already limited to four per Nintendo account, are all sold out and won't be restocked until 2022. Exactly when in 2022 is non stated.

Predictably, wireless N64 controllers are now being scalped online for more than double the $50 list price.

Fortunately for Sega fans, the Sega Genesis controllers are however in stock for the aforementioned $50. However, Nintendo opted to make only the standard three-button Genesis controller available, non the six-push button variant that was pop for fighting games.

That may be why the Genesis controllers haven't sold out, or perchance because Nintendo plans to release the six-button controller in Nippon. Sega fans may exist waiting for Nintendo to bring the six-button Sega Genesis controller stateside.

It'south likewise possible for fans to import units from overseas, although Nintendo does not guarantee that accessories purchased from one region will work in another.

The controller shortage isn't the only problem

The $l Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack hasn't met with the greatest acclaim from fans, who run across it equally a inexpensive greenbacks-grab past Nintendo and have made the overview trailer the least liked video on Nintendo's YouTube channel.

The service adds only older titles and doesn't accost underlying infrastructure problems that plague online gameplay on the console. Compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, Nintendo's online operation is choppy and slow.

For case, Mario Kart 64 includes online play, which should exist great, but the performance has been a laggy mess. Some matches are borderline unplayable, if you believe videos posted online. Non only that, but the N64 game emulation also has input latency and other graphical oddities.

Hopefully Nintendo volition take addressed these problems by the time N64 controllers come back in stock sometime next year.

More: The Switch could be an amazing retro console, so why isn't it?

Imad Khan is news editor at Tom'south Guide, helping direct the twenty-four hours's breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a total-time freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Post and ESPN. Outside of piece of work, you tin notice him sitting blankly in front end of a Discussion document trying desperately to write the first pages of a new book.