The Blast from the Past party continues with the return of Sega Genesis.
The new Genesis will basically look the same as the original. It will also support the console's original game library. That means every game that used to be in cartridges can be played in the new version of the Genesis. It will also be compatible with the original controllers.
According to a report, the console will have 20 pre-installed games in its memory card. An SD card slot is provided along with support for A/V cables.
The first Genesis was launched in North America back in 1989. It was known as the Mega Drive in areas outside North America.
The 16-bit gaming console became popular because of the game Sonic, the Hedgehog. Sega created the game in 1991 which centered on a blue-colored hedgehog. The character has since become an iconic symbol of the company. The latest game from the franchise, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, was released on Sept. 27, 2016.
CNet reports that the Genesis will be manufactured in Brazil by TecToy.
Sega was in a bitter rivalry with Nintendo back then. They were the two most popular consoles in the '90s. While Nintendo managed to stay significant though the years, especially with the recent announcement of the Nintendo Switch, Sega faded into the background after the Genesis was discontinued in 1997. Other brands' consoles like Atari Lynx, Commodore Amiga, and Neo Geo folded completely. Sega never really left the industry but focused more on being a third-party developer.
Sega follows the footsteps of Nintendo which will officially launch the NES Classic Edition in a few days. Both the Genesis and the NES are gaming consoles that were popular back in the day and have now attained iconic statuses.
The Sega Genesis can now be reserved online while the target date for its release is set on June 2017. The Genesis will go for $138 each.
