Although Retro gaming has always had its fans, recently it seems like the idea of re-experiencing (or experiencing for the first time) classic games is the key to major success. Nintendo drove home the idea of reliving the old classics by releasing the NES Classic and the SNES Classic and now Sega is looking to capitalize on some of that nostalgia by releasing its own mini console.
At Sega FES 2018, Sega revealed a brand new, miniature Sega Genesis tentatively named the Mega Drive Mini. The console is relatively small, as evidenced by a couple tweets from the company's official twitter, but there is very little information about the upcoming console. All Sega was willing to reveal is that the Mega Mini Drive will release in Japan later this year and work with HD TVs.
In light of all the unknowns, the most appealing factor is that this is an official Sega console. While ROMs and emulators allow players to enjoy games on their PCs or hacked NES Classic, this is an authentic product straight from Sega. Not only that, but players will be able to introduce the console to the newer generations that have never even heard of a Sega Genesis.
That said, there are two key pieces of information missing from the reveal: the price and the games. The NES and SNES classic released for $60 and $80, respectively, and since Sega is once again competing with Nintendo, it's safe to say the new console might fall somewhere in that ballpark. Video game-wise, there's no word on which games will come to the console, not even flagship mascots such as Sonic the Hedgehog. It would be unfortunate for this console to have some of the same drawbacks the SNES classic had, such as missing some great games.
With the NES classic having released two years ago now and having sold at least 2.3 million units, it's not hard to see why Sega wants to try jumping back on the mini retro console bandwagon. Whether or not the Mega Drive Mini will prove as popular as the NES or SNES Classic might depend on which games it features. Hopefully Sega takes into account player feedback when deciding which games make the cut.
Source: CNET