An FPGA SNES console looks like it’s on the way from Taki Udon, the creator behind the SuperStation One, after he posted a teaser of a Super Nintendo reset button with the caption “It’s time to run it back”, plus the codename SSNT/SuperFPGA.
Before anyone gets their wallet out, this is a tease and not an announcement, so there are no specs, no price and no release date. But Taki Udon has a habit of teasing things that actually turn up, so is the Super Nintendo about to get its first serious FPGA rival in years? Let me explain.
What Has Taki Udon Actually Teased?
According to Time Extension and Retro Dodo, the teasers went up on 8 October, and here’s everything we’ve got so far:
- Codename: SSNT/SuperFPGA
- Teaser one: a photo of the NTSC (American) SNES reset button, captioned “It’s time to run it back”
- Teaser two: after a fan asked him not to go with the American design, he posted the PAL/Japanese reset button and reassured everyone that every region is covered
- Specs, price, release date: nothing confirmed
So we’ve got two photos of buttons and a codename, which is basically the hardware equivalent of a “coming soon” sign, but when the person posting them has already shipped an FPGA PlayStation, you pay attention, don’t you?
Quick NoteNothing here is officially confirmed as an FPGA SNES. The codename and the reset buttons make it very likely, but until Taki Udon or RetroRemake actually announces it, treat every spec you see floating around as guesswork!
Why Does an FPGA SNES Matter When Emulation Exists?
Fair question, because SNES emulation has been excellent for ages, and some people (definitely not me) have been running the whole library on a very shiny potato for years.
The difference is that an FPGA recreates the original hardware at a chip level instead of running software that pretends to be it, which generally means lower input lag and more accurate timing, and on machines built with a cartridge slot, you get to use your original carts too.
For collectors with a shelf of real carts, that’s the whole point, you get to play your actual games on a modern TV over HDMI without hunting down a 30-year-old console with a yellowing shell and a dodgy power supply. [ADD PERSONAL NOTE: your own SNES collection, or a favourite SNES game you’d want to play on it]
Is Analogue’s Super Nt Finally Getting Competition?
Analogue’s Super Nt has been the go-to FPGA SNES since 2018, but it’s often been hard to get hold of, with limited restocks and resale prices that’ll make your eyes water. Retro Dodo makes a smart point that the N64 FPGA space is already crowded with Analogue and ModRetro, so going after the SNES is a much easier lane to dominate.
Taki Udon’s track record is the big selling point here, he’s behind the MiSTer Pi and the SuperStation One, and that console’s limited Transparent Collection and $20 memory card that plays DOOM have kept it in the retro news all month. If the SuperFPGA follows the same “lots of features, reasonable price” formula, Analogue could genuinely have a problem!
Fun FactThe PAL SNES and the Japanese Super Famicom share the same curvier, two-tone grey shell, while North America got the boxier grey-and-purple design, and fans have been arguing about which one looks better for over 30 years, so the region-friendly reply was a very smart move!
Should You Get Excited About the SuperFPGA?
Excited, yes, but hold your money, because we don’t know the price, whether it takes original carts, what video outputs it has, or when it ships, and those are exactly the things that decide whether it’s worth buying over a cheap emulation handheld.
If you’re more into the portable side of things, our look at the MagicX Mini Dream and its $179 price tag might scratch the itch while we wait, because honestly, waiting is all we can do right now… and staring at photos of reset buttons, apparently!
FAQ
Is Taki Udon making an FPGA SNES console?
It looks likely. Taki Udon has teased an FPGA SNES console with the codename SSNT/SuperFPGA, but it hasn’t been officially announced yet.
How much will the FPGA SNES console cost?
No price has been revealed for the SuperFPGA, and there’s no release date either.
What is an FPGA SNES?
An FPGA SNES recreates the Super Nintendo’s hardware on a programmable chip rather than using software emulation, which usually means better accuracy and lower input lag.
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