Sega Genesis Mini 2
 
| |
| Sega Genesis Mini 2 | |
| Designer | M2 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sega |
| CPU | 1.3 GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex A7 |
| Graphics | Mali-400 |
| Memory | 256 MB |
| Media | internal storage |
| Released | WW: October 27, 2022 |
| Added to Museum | North America: March 23, 2023 Japan: May 7, 2024 |
The Sega Genesis Mini 2, known as the Sega Mega Drive Mini 2 outside North America, is a miniature video game system by Sega.
It contains fifty built-in games, running on an emulator designed by M2, and is designed to resemble the second model of the Sega Genesis.
Unlike the original Sega Genesis Mini, the Sega Genesis Mini 2 includes Sega CD games in addition to Sega Genesis games.
It also included ports of Space Harrier and Space Harrier II by M2 which use the 128KB extended VDP mode of the Sega TeraDrive computer.
One six-button controller is included which connects to the console using a USB connection. The video is output through HDMI.
Sound selection
The Sega Genesis has both FM and PSG sound sources. As the sound was different between the two models, there is a choice of playing music and sound effects as they would sound on a model 1 or a model 2.
Development
According to Yosuke Okunari, a creative producer within Sega that also worked on the Sega Genesis Mini and the Game Gear Micro, a miniature Sega Saturn or Dreamcast was considered for Sega's next mini console. However, the cost would be too high due to the microchip shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That shortage caused the price of the Game Gear Micro to be about one and a half times higher than initially projected, and Sega wanted a mini-console similar in price to the Sega Genesis Mini in order to maximize sales. Sega had access to the board used in the Sega Genesis Mini, however, it would not be powerful enough to run Saturn or Dreamcast games. Thus, a miniature console based on the Sega Genesis model 2 was chosen with a price point only slightly higher than the original Sega Genesis Mini.
The Sega Mega Drive Mini was revealed on June 3, 2022. Sega increased its marketing in Japan and held most of its available hardware for the Japanese market. However, because the Sega Genesis Mini sold more in North America and Europe than in Japan, the Sega Genesis Mini 2 was a worldwide release. Due to microchip shortages, however, the stock of the Sega Genesis Mini 2 was lower than the original Sega Genesis Mini.
Games list
Fifty games are included in the Sega Drive Mini 2.
