Hardware makers Hyperkin have revealed an upcoming retro gaming handheld that lets you play original SEGA Genesis cartridges on the go.
Way back in 1995, SEGA released a portable version of the SEGA Genesis (or Mega Drive to anyone outside of America). It was called the SEGA Nomad, a successor to the Game Gear, it let SEGA fans play Sonic the Hedgehog on a 3.25-inch color CD screen.
It was not hugely successful, since the device was bulky, prone to malfunctions, and guzzled batteries even more than the famously power-hungry Game Gear did. Now PC and console peripheral maker Hyperkin has decided to make a new and better version of the SEGA Nomad with the creation of the Mega 95.
The Hyperkin Mega 95 is a new gaming handheld that has been designed to play original SEGA Genesis (Mega Drive) cartridges. It comes equipped with a five-inch display along with a toggle switch that allows users to switch between aspect ratios of 4:3 and 19:9 at will. To soothe any lingering battery woes, Hyperkin says the Mega 95 should last for up to ten hours on a single charge.
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Hyperkin shows off portable Sega Genesis handheld
As reported by The Verge, the prototype version of the handheld resembles a giant version of the Genesis or Saturn six-button controller with a screen in the middle, though Hyperkin emphasizes that this design has not yet been finalized. In terms of internal hardware, it is fairly likely to be a portable version of Hyperkin’s existing MegaRetroN HD Gaming Console, which uses hardware emulation to play retro cartridges, a superior option compared to software emulation.
Despite the Mega 95 being primarily created as a portable console, there are plans for a USB-C dock that will allow the Mega 95 to be hooked up to the television and provide ports for additional controllers.
Hyperkin has yet to confirm a release date or a price point, but for comparison, Hyperkin’s handheld SNES device is priced at $119.99. If the Mega 95 also ends up at this price point, it could make it an affordable option for retro fans on the move.
