It’s shaping up to be a busy couple of weeks for the folks at Sega. The long-time gaming company has now decided to jump on the retro re-release train with the announcement of the upcoming Sega MegaDrive Mini. Chances are its response is going to be in-line with the Nintendo Classic Edition consoles and we expect stock to be limited once it finally hits store shelves later this year. But that won’t be the only way to play classic Sega titles on modern hardware in 2018.
Sega is planning on bringing a nice collection of its most iconic vintage titles to Switch as individual downloads via the Nintendo eShop this summer.
While details are still scant on the Sega MegaDrive Mini, we have a decent amount of concrete information on the upcoming classic digital re-releases for Nintendo’s latest hybrid game player.
All of the games will be released under Sega’s long-running “Sega Ages” moniker. The company released a collection of classic titles under the Ages name back in the 90’s as a way to introduce new gamers to its classic titles on the Sega Saturn. That was followed by another re-release bundle for the PlayStation 2 known as Sega Ages 2500. These collections included titles like Space Harrier, Out Run and many more.
Back in 2012, Sega launched Sega Ages Online, but this will mark the first time the company has brought it to the Switch. We know there will be a total of 15 games, but only a select few have been revealed thus far. You can expect to see Thunder Force IV, Gain Ground (arcade version), Sonic The Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Alex Kidd.
Sega already has plans to release a 50-game collection of Genesis titles for PS4 and Xbox One, but that is not slated for Switch. Instead, the company is opting to offer up individual downloads of select titles specifically for Nintendo’s eShop.
Also, as part of the announcement, Sega is making it sound like Saturn and Dreamcast titles would be included as well. While it seemed like Sonic and Phantasy Star would be as far as Ages would be going on Switch, it sounds like just the first 15 are from the MegaDrive era, Sega said “there will be Saturn and Dreamcast games in the future.” So if you were itching for a re-release of Panzer Dragoon, Shining Force and Skies of Arcadia, that might just happen sooner rather than later.
Pricing and details on the rest of the titles are still be held close to the chest at Sega. Here’s to hoping they don’t gouge Switch gamers on individual download prices while PS4 and Xbox One gamers download all 50 titles in one fell swoop. Right now the only definitive info is pointing to a Japanese eShop release for the collection, but chances are we will see it stateside as well.
But enough with all that, go check out the new Sega MegaDrive Mini!
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