Sega announced that it is releasing the Genesis 2 Mini for US customers this fall. Previously, the company announced the Mega Drive 2 Mini in early June, but only in Japan and with a vague “fall” release date. Now it seems both versions will launch on October 27. But only in Japan. Wait. What? On the bright side, Team Sega based the updated mini on the Genesis Model 2, so it will have more power and games. Over 50 retro classic titles are preinstalled on the Genesis 2 Mini, including six Sega CD games — Sonic CD, Shining Force CD, Silpheed, Mansion of Hidden Souls, Night Striker, and The Ninja Warriors. A few of the regular Genesis games worth mentioning include After Burner II, Super Hang On, Sonic 3D Blast, Splatterhouse 2, and Rolling Thunder 2.
Another positive is that the Genesis 2 Mini will come with a six-button controller. The three-button gamepad bundled with Sega’s first mini console is also compatible, but it makes some games impossible to play. Sega didn’t mention if a second controller could be purchased separately or bundled. However, the initial Mega Drive 2 Mini press release said a two-gamepad bundle would be available for ¥1,100 ($8) extra. Sega might learn a hard lesson about releasing products outside their intended regions. Having to shell out so much for a nearly 30-year-old retro console will likely turn off many US customers. After all, Sega is asking for more than one-third the cost of a brand new Xbox Series S purchased directly from Microsoft ($290), which is not limited to just a handful of old games.
