Hyperkin is once again dipping into the retro well, but this time it’s doing so alongside ModRetro. The two companies have announced a collaboration that brings Hyperkin’s Captain Premium Controllers to the upcoming M64 console, complete with new colorways designed to match the system’s aesthetic.
If you’ve been around the retro scene for a while, the Captain controller name probably rings a bell. Hyperkin has built a reputation on making durable, slightly modernized takes on classic designs, and that approach carries over here. The M64-compatible version keeps the same sturdy build, with what the company describes as “mashable” buttons that can survive the kind of punishment only a frustrating boss fight can inspire. It also sticks with a wired setup, featuring a 10-foot cable that feels almost excessive until you remember how far couches have drifted from TVs since the 90s.
On the back, there’s an extension port for memory cards and rumble accessories, which is a nice nod to the original 64-bit era. It suggests that ModRetro isn’t just chasing the look of the past, but some of the quirks and functionality as well.
The new controllers will launch in four M64-themed colors: Green, Clear, Purple, and Red. If those sound familiar, that’s likely intentional. Transparent plastic and bold colors were practically a requirement during the late 90s, and this lineup leans right into that nostalgia without apology.
For those who haven’t been keeping tabs on it, the M64 is ModRetro’s attempt at revisiting the 64-bit generation with modern reliability. While full details are still emerging, the console is positioned as a refined take on that era rather than a straight clone, with updated hardware designed to keep things running smoothly on modern displays while preserving the feel of classic gameplay.
Both the console and the new controllers will be playable at PAX East 2026, where Hyperkin is showing them off at its booth. Attendees will be able to go hands-on with the Red and Clear variants, which should give a better sense of how this partnership translates from press release to actual gameplay.
The M64 color variants of the Captain Premium Controller are set to release later this year, joining an already crowded lineup of existing colors. Pricing has not been announced yet, but if Hyperkin’s past releases are anything to go by, these should land somewhere in the comfortably affordable range. For now, this feels like a smart pairing. A new retro-inspired console is only as good as the controller in your hands, and Hyperkin is betting it already has that part figured out.
