Once again, games part of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 have been divided into cartridge games and Sega/Mega CD games. Sega has also released a video to go alongside the announcement.

Cartridge games:

• Aah! Harimanada
• Alien Soldier
• Fatal Fury 2
• Gyuwanburaa Jikochuushin Ha Katayama Masayuki no Majong Dojo
• Spatter
• Super Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers
• Tatsujin

Sega/Mega CD games:

• Final Fight CD
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• Lunar: The Silver Star
• Wondermega Collection

The Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 is set to feature 50 games at launch. Its October 27 launch day for North America was announced earlier this week. Sold exclusively through Amazon in the region, the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 is priced at $103.

Sega has previously also announced a full Tower Mini 2 add-on for the upcoming mini console. The Tower Mini 2 includes a mini-disc for Sonic CD, a mini cartridge for Virtua Racing, and spacers to mount the original Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini and 32X Mini.

Of course, before the announcement were made, many were expecting that the company would announce a Dreamcast Mini, or perhaps even a Saturn Mini, since a mini console version of the Genesis had already been released, and because there’s clear demand for similar treatment for Sega’s other platforms as well. So why is it that the company is sticking with the Genesis?

Well, according to Sega, mini versions of the Dreamcast or the Saturn would be too costly to make right now. Speaking recently with Famitsu, Yosuke Okunari – producer of Sega’s retro hardware re-releases – explained that due to the COVID pandemic and with the global semiconductor shortage, production of a Dreamcast Mini or a Saturn Mini would be too costly right now.

“I had experience with the Mega Drive Mini, so it was easy to make a plan if it was an extension of that,” Okunari said when asked why the Mega Drive Mini 2 was greenlit. “We also know the precedents for production and supply.

“In fact, some of you may say, ‘why isn’t this Sega Saturn Mini?’ or ‘I wanted a Dreamcast Mini.’ It’s not that we didn’t think about that direction.

“The development of new boards has been stagnant due to the coronavirus, and of course, it would be a fairly expensive product in terms of cost.”

Of course, there’s always the chance that Sega will eventually decide to get around to releasing a Dreamcast Mini or a Saturn Mini, but for now, it doesn’t look like that’ll happen anytime soon.

For now, the Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 is launching later this year.

Output resolutions include 720p and 480p and a bonus title, Fantasy Zone, which went unreleased for the original consoles is also included. Check out the full list of confirmed titles below:

Cartridge Titles

• Bonanza Bros.
• Fantasy Zone
• Magical Taruruuto-kun
• Shining in the Darkness
• Thunder Force IV (Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar)
• Virtua Racing

SEGA / Mega CD Titles

• Mansion of Hidden Souls
• Popful Mail
• Shining Force CD
• Silpheed
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD

If you want the full nostalgic experience, then there’s a Genesis/Mega Drive Tower Mini 2 add-on available for 4,500 yen ($34.38). This includes the Sega/Mega CD 2 Mini, a mini cartridge for Virtua Racing, a mini disc for Sonic CD, and mounting spacers for the Genesis/Mega Drive Mini and Super 32X Mini. You can also pick up Fighting Pad 6B controllers for 2,500 yen ($19.10).

Even more will be revealed about the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 in the coming months via livestreams. The full schedule can be seen below (with stream titles borrowed from the Yakuza series):

• June 24 at 20:00 JST – “Fulfiller of Dreams”
• Mid-July – “The Song of Life”
• Early August – “Whereabouts of Light and Darkness”
• Late August – “The Place of Oath”

Stay tuned for more details on a potential Western release in the coming months. Check out the Japanese website here in the meantime.