Retro Game HDMI Splitter

Hyperkin has announced a new N64 clone console, which will include HDMI like all of their other recent console releases. It reminded me of something I wanted 20 years ago, a device that would split up the game into 4 separate displays. Ideal for the many 4-player splitscreen games that graced the N64 and other consoles of the era.

This splitter would be compatible with all HDMI-based game systems.

For this design, I felt 4 modes would be beneficial:

• Simulcast: sends the same image to all screens. This mode is for menu navigation, you’d switch to one of the other modes when gameplay starts. Or maybe you want your game on multiple screens for whatever reason.
• 4-Player: Splits the game evenly into 4 displays. Perfect for Goldeneye, Mario Kart, and Perfect Dark.
• Vertical: Vertical splitscreen games are split between 2 displays. Not many games use this layout, at least not on the N64.
• Horizontal: Horizontal splitscreen games are split between 2 displays. Lots of games use this configuration, including one of my faves: StarCraft 64.

All game controllers would still be tethered to the one console, which could be a pain but wireless controllers to the rescue!

This is a pretty dated idea but as soon as you play Goldeneye 64 and you’re trying to hide from everyone else, you will want this device, I guarantee it.

If I were Hyperkin, I would even think about including this as a built-in feature in their N64 clone. It’s just 4 HDMI ports and enough processing power to drive 4 displays, no biggie.