Sega president Yukio Sugino comments on the possibility of developing a miniature console based on the classicSega Saturnmachine. In the last few years, gaming companies have been producing ways for fans to play retro games, with one of the more popular trends being the production of miniature consoles preloaded with classic games. Nintendo’s NES and SNES mini consoles were attractive pieces of gaming hardware that Sega followed up with its own series of retro mini consoles,the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Mini.
Sega released these miniature consoles in two waves, with the Sega Genesis Mini 1 and Sega Genesis Mini 2. The first iteration contained 42 emulated games, while the second included more games that also had overlap with the Sega CD’s library. Shortly after the mini console’s release in 2022,Sega asked fans what mini console they’d like to see next, based on an online questionnaire included with each purchase. These questions included the possibility of developing a Sega Saturn and Dreamcast mini, two of the most recognizable consoles in Sega’s history. When the possibility was brought up to current Sega president Yukio Sugino, he commented on how difficult it might be to make one.
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In an interview with Famitsu (with translation courtesy of VGC), the Sega president commented the main issue of adapting theSega Saturnto a mini console is due to the hardware itself. The Sega Saturn is historically a console that was a high-performance machine, where it had more raw power than the PS1, though its hardware was also incredibly complex. Sugino commented that they would consider it once they’re in a position where the company can openly develop it together with gamers who loved the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast.
Back in 2022, Sega classic hardware producer Yosuke Okunari acknowledged the same desire for fans wanting a mini-console for these two classic consoles. However, Okunari also commented thatproducing a Sega Saturn and Dreamcast mini was unlikely, due to the costs of producing the miniature hardware being too expensive. Recreating the boards and miniaturizing them for production would be costly, and emulation on current boards was also incredibly difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic also was a contributing factor in the costs to produce these boards, due to the complex architecture of both consoles.
Despite the console’s failure, theSega Saturn’s library of gameswas filled with some hidden gems that have been trapped on the machine. These include the well-regardedPanzer Dragoon Saga, which hasn’t gotten a re-release. For the time being though, it seems unlikely that aSega Saturnmini console will be coming out anytime soon.
