SEGA has announced the Sega Mega Drive Mini.
The mini console has been revealed as part of the company’s celebration of the classic 16-bit Mega Drive system’s 30th anniversary.
The Mega Drive Mini (a.k.a Genesis Mini in North America) will launch with forty pre-loaded games. The console is expected to launch on 19 September.
At present, only a select few games have been revealed to launch with the console and these differ between the North America and the Japanese/European versions. From what we’ve gathered, the EU version will contain the following titles, with more to come:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier 2
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
The Mega Drive Mini will retail for AUD $139.95 and the package will include two classic wired controllers with the iconic three button layout, an HDMI cable, and a USB power cable along with a normal power supply.
Check out the official press release from SEGA, crafted as a letter to Mega Drive fans, below.
WITH LOVE, FROM SEGA
To the SEGA fan, the Mega Drive revolutionary:
Enclosed is a letter we hope will bring back as many memories for you as it did for us.
My old friend,
I know it’s been a while. Time moves forward, yet not a day goes by that you’re not on my mind. I, the popular star-console, you, the shy unassuming kid. But we found common ground when we played Ecco the Dolphin together. You were so fast, racing through the Green Hill Zone with my pal, Sonic!
You sure knew how to play. The way that CRT hue hit your glazed over face as you spent another hour playing Castlevania: Bloodlines…We both knew things would change and that we’d move on to other great things, but lately, I’ve been thinking about spending time together once more. We didn’t do what we were told, but we made a good team.
I look a bit different now. I’m much smaller. I’m packing 40 games inside my sleek, molded shell, and gmore blast processing power than ever before.
We lived fast and dangerously together, playing the games some of the adults weren’t too keen on (but you had the cool parents). We had the games your friends wanted to play, a whole stack of them. Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, and ToeJam & Earl, to name a few.
Sure. there were other distractions (remember pogs?). I was never jealous though because we still had Altered Beast and Gunstar Heroes.
I will try to write more regularly. I hear there is this friendly meeting space called “social media” now where I can share more.
I hope to hear from you soon.
With love,
SEGA Mega Drive