Analogue has announced the Mega Sg, a new console that has been built to play every Sega Genesis, Mega Drive, and Master System game thanks to its unique FPGA circuit. Pre-orders are currently up at analogue.co though the site is currently unavailable. The Mega Sg will cost $189 USD and shipping begins next April.

We set out to design the definitive way to explore Sega's 16-bit and 8-bit era. A reimagining of the underdog that led a 16-bit revolution. Engineered with an FPGA. No emulation. 1080p. Zero lag. Total accuracy. Mega Sg is not a plug n' play toy. Compatible with the 2,180+ Sega Genesis, Mega Drive and Master System game cartridge library. Explore and re-live one of the greatest video game systems of all time with no compromises.

Much like the Super Nt (Super NES) and the Mini Nt (NES), Analogue has once again created a device that runs original cartridges (and Sega CD games) with hardware emulation instead of software emulation. This was accomplished thanks to Kevin Horton, who previously released the HiDef NES mod in 2014 that allowed you to hook up NES consoles to HDTVs using an HDMI. His work programming the Altera Cyclone V FPGA for the Mega Sg allows the integrated circuit to imitate the hardware's description language. Analogue brought him in to help design the Analogue NT Mini, Super Nt, and now the Mega Sg.

There are four variants of the system, three of which are based on the Japanese, North American, and European versions of the console and a white version. Hardware is housed in a plastic chasis. A 3.5mm audio jack based on the Mega Drive Model 1 consoles is also included. Due to the lack of an analogue output, original 32X add-ons will not work unless a 32X model is released with its own FPGA circuit.

Thanks to the hardware emulation, the Mega Sg outputs high resolution images via HDMI to your modern television and will most likely include the various visual options that the Super Nt included. Adapters will be sold for $9.99 USD each that will support Mark III, Game Gear, Sega MyCard, SG-1000 and SC-3000 and will launch sometime next year. A Master System adapter is included with every system. Should you own a Sega CD or Mega CD you will be able to connect them to the console to play those games in HD.

Much work has been done chronicling the audio differences between Sega Genesis models, rendering recreating them difficult. Digital Foundry writer John Linneman has listened to some samples of the Mega SG and found them impressive but reserves final judgement for a thorough inspection at release. A reference video for the audio can be found on Analogue's YouTube channel.

8BitDo's M30 wireless controller, a recreation of the Sega Genesis/Master System controller with 2.4g wireless technology instead of Bluetooth. The controller has a rechargable battery and includes a receiver and USB cable. The controller is currently available on Amazon in white and black variants for $24.99 USD.

Compatibility

  • Genesis cartridges, Mega Drive cartridges
  • Sega Master System cartridges [with included Analogue cartridge adapter]4
  • Mark III, Game Gear, Sega MyCard, SG1000/1000II, SC-3000 [requires Analogue Cartridge Adapters]5
  • Sega CD & Mega CD [requires original Sega CD & Mega CD]
  • Region Free
  • Worldwide Compatibility [PSU: 100-240v, 50-60hz]

Video

  • HDMI 1080p/720p/480p
  • NTSC & PAL Support
  • Lag free, zero signal degradation

Audio

  • 48KHz 16 bit
  • Digital audio via HDMI
  • Headphone jack, 3.5mm
  • Technical Specifications

Special Features

  • Original-style Genesis/Mega Drive/Master System Controller Ports
  • Original-style edge connector for Sega CD and Mega CD
  • SD card firmware updating [via Mega Sg's SD card slot]

Other Features

  • Scanline options
  • Scaler options
  • Horizontal position adjust
  • Horizontal stretch
  • Vertical position stretch

8BitDo M30 Gamepad w/ 2.4g wireless receiver:

  • 20hr Battery Life
  • Auto sleep mode after 15min
  • Lag free
  • Includes 2.4g wireless receiver

The studio Kenyon Weston and its head Matthew Kenyon are thanked by Analogue for their work on the Mega Sg's ID/design and Phil Fish of Polyton/Fez fame helped design the system's UI like he did for the Super Nt. The Super Nt featured the Analogue Logo transforming into various throwback images during the console's boot up which were created by Fish.

As old hardware continues to decline and only select titles are re-released for current consoles, Analogue has been working to preserve old games by recreating the hardware's description language instead of using software emulation. Thanks to Analogue your cartridges don't have to rely on aging hardware to be played and don't require any pass through or adapters to output to HDTVs. You can view the hardware up close in the image gallery below.