Sega has unveiled its latest foray into the realm of mini consoles with the announcement of the Sega Genesis Wumbo, available exclusively in North America, alongside the Sega Mega-Drive Micro, which will be exclusive to Japan. As of now, there are no plans for a European release.
Specifications and Features
Both the Genesis Wumbo and Mega-Drive Micro share a design concept reminiscent of previous Genesis Mini consoles but introduce unique sizes. The Mega-Drive Micro is notably compact, being half the size of its predecessor, the Mega-Drive Mini. Due to its small dimensions, it will require a separate USB-C adapter for connections to HDMI and power. In contrast, the Genesis Wumbo will be significantly larger, measuring twice the size of the original 1989 Model 1 Genesis console. Its controller will also be oversized, while the Mega-Drive Micro’s controller will be smaller than the original.
Game Lineup
Sega has announced an initial lineup of ten games for these consoles, with further titles expected to be revealed later. The confirmed games include:
- Ariel: The Little Mermaid (1992)
- Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (1994)
- Red Zone (1994)
- Insector X (1990)
- Lethal Enforcers (1994)
- Frogger (1998)
- OutRun 2019 (1993)
- Outrunners (1994)
- Landstalker: The Treasure of King Nole (1993)
- Sonic X Cream MD (202X)
Development and Music Production
In an exciting twist, M2 is developing a demake of Sonic X Cream Advance, which will be titled Sonic X Cream MD. This follows the earlier announcement of an HD remaster of Sonic Advance. No gameplay footage of this title has been released yet.
Unlike last year’s Genesis Mini 3, which focused solely on the core Genesis lineup, this new console aims to include Sega CD and 32X titles as well. While Sega has hinted at a game that underwent significant changes from its original Japanese version, the specifics regarding this title remain unclear. Speculation about the game has included potential ties to Sister Sonic, a concept that has since been disconfirmed by Takashi Iizuka of Sonic Team.
Regarding the music for the consoles, Sega attempted to enlist Tommy Tallarico again, but he was unavailable. Instead, renowned Sonic composer Jun Senoue will create music using authentic Genesis hardware, aiming to satisfy fans’ expectations following past controversies.
Release Information
Currently, no release date has been set for either console, and pre-orders have not opened. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.