In recent hours, several portals announced with great enthusiasm the launch of two new versions of the Sega Mega Drive console, also known as Genesis. One variant uses wireless controllers, while the other adopts the portable console format. Unfortunately, the information turned out to be incorrect: the company AtGames is only re-launching a version of the console that has already been on the market for a long time, and the only difference is the list of games.
More than once I said that "retro" was back, and in recent months we've seen one confirmation after another. Movies are still ruled by comic-based films, franchises like Star Wars, Ghostbusters and Independence Day have been resurrected, a Tarzan reboot, another Ice Age, and Jason Bourne returns (though maybe that's not so retro), while on the video game side, Pokémon GO conquers the world, and Nintendo melts brains with its new NES Classic Mini. Not everything I just mentioned deserves our enthusiasm, but Pokémon GO and the new console made "click" in the right way, and nobody can stop talking about both. The possibility that other manufacturers join this trend is great, and a few hours ago my feed exploded with the news that Sega was going to follow Nintendo's line, launching a compact Mega Drive.
The Reality
The news seems excellent: Sega returning to the console world? Sonic at the forefront? And also with its most popular platform? Basically there would be nothing wrong with it, except for one detail: Sega is not doing anything like that. The reality is that a British portal known as FunStockRetro announced a new version of the already existing AtGames Sega Mega Drive (which has supposedly been properly licensed), and its portable equivalent. Both consoles contain a modified catalog of 80 games, including the first three Mortal Kombat, five Sonic titles (including Sonic 1 and 2), Golden Axe 1 to 3, Altered Beast, Shinobi III, and more. The reasons behind this update are two: to take advantage of the wave generated by the NES Classic, and to celebrate Sonic's 25 years, whose first title was released in June 1991.
The official announcement indicates that the new AtGames Sega Mega Drive will be available starting in October, with a price of £50 (both models), about €60... but the point is that it is already on the market, with a slightly different game catalog. The people at ToysRus offer it online for $45, and physically it's the same console... with all its limitations, i.e., mono audio output and RCA video, and infrared wireless controllers (about which I've read horrible comments, though it's possible to connect normal controllers).
In summary: False alarm. I would have loved to be the first to shout about the announcement of a new console from Sega, but the silence from official channels confirms that it has nothing to do with it, beyond its licensed name. Now, if next week Sega breaks the mold with a new Mega Drive that has HDMI output, cartridge support, and a large built-in game library, it will be a pleasure to eat these words...
