Sega Is Already Thinking About Its Next Mini Console, And Dreamcast Is A Possibility

Sega creative producer Yosuke Okunari spoke about the future of the company's mini consoles in a Famitsu interview, as translated by Siliconera. Having just released the Game Gear Micro in Japan, a modern and smaller reimagining of the classic handheld console from the 1990s, Sega is still undecided on which console to give the mini treatment to next.

"For the next Mini, we are considering everything that has been imagined by everyone," Okunari said. "The Game Gear Micro is only sold domestically in Japan. When we do the next one, I feel like the project scope will be much bigger as we gaze upon the world. So we won't be able to release it at this time the next year or two years after the Mega Drive Mini. We can't make it that quickly."

A Sega Genesis Mini console was released in September 2019, but the company's hardware library also includes older consoles such as the SG-1000, The Master System, the Sega Saturn, and the Dreamcast. "I think for the next one, we may go with a concept close to the Mega Drive Mini. If I have to say some names, it could be an SG-1000 Mini or a Dreamcast Mini," Okunari said.

The SG-1000 was Sega's first home console and was capable of playing ROM cartridges, while an upgraded version with detachable controllers could also play Sega Card games. The Dreamcast was the final major home console that Sega produced and was home to cult classic games such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Phantasy Star Online.

Sega also revealed the Japanese-exclusive Astro City Mini several months ago. Based on a popular cabinet design that could be found in many Japanese arcades, the Astro City Mini comes pre-loaded with 36 Sega arcade games such as Virtua Fighter, Alien Syndrome, and Golden Axe.

In our Sega Genesis Mini review, critic Peter Brown praised the plug-and-play system. "While the Mini isn't without a few quirks, it's heads and tails above previous software-emulation-based Genesis offerings that have plagued Sega fans for years. If you want to play Genesis games but can't afford the real thing and a stack of cartridges, the Genesis Mini should be at the top of your list."