https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/06/adorable-japan-only-sega-mega-drive-mini-2-faithfully-recreates-the-sega-cd/ Skip to main content * Biz & IT * Tech * Science * Policy * Cars * Gaming & Culture * Store * Forums Subscribe [ ] Close Navigate * Store * Subscribe * Videos * Features * Reviews * RSS Feeds * Mobile Site * About Ars * Staff Directory * Contact Us * Advertise with Ars * Reprints Filter by topic * Biz & IT * Tech * Science * Policy * Cars * Gaming & Culture * Store * Forums Settings Front page layout Grid List Site theme Black on white White on black Sign in Comment activity Sign up or login to join the discussions! [ ] [ ] [Submit] [ ] Stay logged in | Having trouble? Sign up to comment and more Sign up se-gaaaaa -- Sega, still doing what Nintendon't, announces a tiny Sega CD retro console Announcement is Japan-only for now, console is coming in October. Andrew Cunningham - Jun 3, 2022 4:55 pm UTC Sega's Mega Drive Mini 2 includes Sega CD games and, for a little extra, an adorable recreation of the Sega CD attachment. But it has only been announced for Japan, at least for now. Enlarge / Sega's Mega Drive Mini 2 includes Sega CD games and, for a little extra, an adorable recreation of the Sega CD attachment. But it has only been announced for Japan, at least for now. Sega reader comments 91 with 47 posters participating Share this story * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share on Reddit Further Reading Sega Genesis Mini review: $80 delivers a ton of blast-processing fun Sega's Genesis Mini console was one of the only officially licensed retro emulation boxes that came close to the NES and SNES Classics' combination of software quality and hardware authenticity, even if its emulation wasn't quite perfect and its game selection was missing some heavy hitters. The company's mini-Game Gear was also the first officially licensed device to make the mini-console fad portable. Sega is going back to the well one more time with the Mega Drive Mini 2, which will be released in Japan this October (the Mega Drive was what the Genesis was called outside of the US). The console will cost 9,980 yen before tax; at just under $80, this is in line with the pricing of earlier mini-consoles. The Mega Drive Mini 2 will include an entirely different 50-game lineup, anchored by Sega CD titles like Sonic the Hedgehog CD and Shining Force CD. New Mega Drive games have also made the cut, including Virtua Racing and Thunder Force IV, and a version of the Sega arcade game Fantasy Zone has also been thrown in for good measure (the original Genesis Mini includes Super Fantasy Zone, the Genesis-native entry in the franchise). Advertisement The new console re-creates the Model 2 version of the Mega Drive design, as well as the later six-button version of its gamepad. The new console re-creates the Model 2 version of the Mega Drive design, as well as the later six-button version of its gamepad. Sega Further Reading Sega's tiny Game Gear Micro is 92% smaller than the original Every aspect of the hardware's design is lovingly detailed and true to the original. While the original Genesis Mini was modeled on the initial design of the Genesis/Mega Drive hardware, the Mega Drive Mini 2 is a re-creation of the redesigned "model 2" version of the console that came out circa 1994. It also includes the six-button version of the Genesis' gamepad--the Japanese Mega Drive Mini shipped with two of these instead of one, while the Genesis Mini came with the older three-button gamepad design instead. The console is all you need to play the games, Sega CD titles included, but for maximum authenticity, Sega is selling a purely cosmetic Sega CD accessory. It includes period-accurate mounting hardware and spacers for either version of the Mega Drive Mini, a tiny Virtua Racing cartridge, and a tiny Sonic the Hedgehog CD disc. The attachment will also be released in October for 4,500 yen (about $35). Emulation is being handled by M2, the same team that did the original Mega Drive Mini. If the console is released outside of Japan, pricing, accessories, the design of the console, and the list of playable games may be different. Promoted Comments * Sam Machkovech Tech Culture Editor jump to post As a Japan-only product, another Mega Drive Mini is a curious choice, given that the Saturn outsold Mega Drive in Japan at a roughly 3:2 ratio. We've already seen the Astro City Mini, which (mostly) did a good job returning to the company's arcade roots, but if Saturn emulation is too tricky for Sega to move forward on, I would've at least appreciated another volume of arcade games over the fully cracked nut that is Genesis, Mega Drive, and Sega CD / Mega CD emulation. (To be fair to Sega of Japan, this system's game-selection promise is already intriguing, thanks to at least one arcade-perfect emulation pledge. There will almost certainly be more of those in this hardware's final roster, and hopefully they'll land on the super-scaler side of Sega's arcade history.) In the meantime, I'm examining at least one other retail product that aims to deliver Saturn gameplay on modern TVs. Stay tuned. 2592 posts | registered 8/27/2012 reader comments 91 with 47 posters participating Share this story * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share on Reddit Andrew Cunningham Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica with over a decade of experience in consumer tech, covering everything from PCs to Macs to smartphones to game consoles. His work has appeared in the New York Times' Wirecutter and AnandTech. He also records a weekly book podcast called Overdue. Email andrew.cunningham@arstechnica.com // Twitter @AndrewWrites Advertisement You must login or create an account to comment. Channel Ars Technica - Previous story Next story - Related Stories Today on Ars * Store * Subscribe * About Us * RSS Feeds * View Mobile Site * Contact Us * Staff * Advertise with us * Reprints Newsletter Signup Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox. Sign me up - CNMN Collection WIRED Media Group (c) 2022 Conde Nast. 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