SEGA FES 2018: SEGA Genesis Mini announced at SEGA FES [UPDATED]

Another breaking news from SEGA FES is the SEGA Genesis Mini, though no price or release date has been announced but SEGA is hoping to get feedback from fans at the event what games they would like on the console. As this is a breaking story, please bare with us as we update it with further details.

Update: AtGames will be handling production of the SEGA Mega Drive Mini, with updated technology. The plug and play will release to the west as well.

SEGA FES 2018: Shenmue 1 & 2 Remasters announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC [UPDATED]

Just now Shenmue 1 & 2 has been announced for remaster on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Details are just breaking now so bare with us as we update this story but looks like the much requested port is finally a dream come true for long term fans!

The Steam page has launched, which reveals the game will have an updated user interface, a choice of modern or classic controls and Japanese and English audio (this will be the first time Shenmue I will be playable in Japanese in the west). The game is set to release in 2018.

SEGA News Bits: IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #2 Discussion

Another week in April means another issue of IDW Sonic the Hedgehog! On this SEGA News Bits George grills Barry on the second issue which features the return of Amy Rose. How is her characterization? How is this issue’s artist? Who is behind all the rogue badniks? We discuss these points and more!

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Stories of the Dragon: The Legend of Kazuma Kiryu live action series releases to promote Yakuza 6

This is a surprise! SEGA of America has released a trio of live action short films to promote the upcoming Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Initially I thought these were created for the Japanese release and were localized, but they appear to be brand new (the english speaking actors tipped me off, which to be honest is kind of jarring given the games are subtitled). The short films were created in collaboration with Liquid Advertising and director Christopher Ewing and were shot in Tokyo, Japan. The shorts focus on three people whose lives were changed by Kazuma Kiryu.

Each short is based on in-game substories, including “The Bouncer” and “Prodigal Son” from Yakuza Kiwami, and “Another Haruka” from Yakuza 5. Check all three out after the break! Don’t forget, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases April 17!

IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #1 sells out

IDW and SEGA have announced that the first issue of the new Sonic the Hedgehog comics series has sold out! Joe Hughes, editor of Sonic the Hedgehog, stated “We know fans have been waiting a long time for this launch, and we couldn’t be happier with their response to the first issue. This first issue was the start of a four-week event that kicked off the beginning of a new era for Sonic comics. The new series will feature new adventures with characters new and old and I cannot wait for fans to see what’s in store.”

Second printings have already begun, with more issue #1’s expected to hit shops on May 2, 2018. You can see the cover for the second printing above. Congrats to the IDW Sonic team! Don’t forget, issue 2 released yesterday and issues 3 and 4 release in the following two weeks and then the series switches to monthly.

What is the most underrated SEGA Dreamcast game?

Now that the console turns 20 years old over in Japan, the SEGA Dreamcast library has been dived into for over two decades, having people find buried treasure throughout the consoles library. But it still remains that a lot of hardcore users all have one or two titles that only they appreciate and no one talks about really.

So the question for this post is, in your humble opinion, what is the most underrated SEGA Dreamcast game? Of course this can have many answers and some of the choices will be personal. I could go on in this post talking about underrated games like Napple Tale, MDK 2, Super Magnetic Neo, Toy Commander, Cannon Spike, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The Last Blade 2, Tech Romancer, Elemental Gimmick Gear, SegaGaGa, Record of the Lodoss War, Cosmic Smash, Seaman, and many more. But I want to hear your underrated Dreamcast titles and why you consider them underrated!

Sonic Generations and Panzer Dragoon Orta to join Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Program


Xbox One continues to expand its Xbox and Xbox 360 backwards compatible titles, this month they will add Sonic Generations and Panzer Dragoon Orta (best looking Xbox title)! Both are great games and glad they get to be played on new consoles.

Sonic Generations is out today and even playable in 4K if you have one of those fancy Xbox One Xs. As for Panzer Dragoon Orta, that one launches on April 17th! There are still plenty of great SEGA Xbox and Xbox 360 games that need to hit the Xbox One, including Jet Set Radio Future!

[Via: Sega Driven]

SEGA ask fans to vote on if they want Sonic, Yakuza or Virtua Fighter cameo outfits for Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night & Persona 5: Dancing Star Night

Seeing that Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night release next month over in the land of the rising son, its weird that SEGA will finally make a poll asking fans what franchise should get cross over outfits for these Persona Dance games. I will assume that SEGA already approved the outfits a long time ago and this is just a way to get fans excited.

Here is the official SEGA Japanese twitter poll:

SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara wants to bring the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback to Japan

SEGA is not returning to the hardware market. I repeat, SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

In a Yahoo! Japan news article, SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara said that SEGA is planning to import and sell the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback in Japan. SEGA Genesis Flashback is licensed by SEGA and outsourced to Taiwan based AtGames to produce. The SEGA Genesis Flashback was released last year and was criticized for inferior audio and video quality. The reasoning for importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback was due to increased demand in Japan for machines like the NES and SNES Classic.

Did I mention SEGA is not returning to the hardware market? Importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback and rebranding it is a quick, easy and cheap way for SEGA of Japan to bring the Mega Drive to Japan again. SEGA are not developing a new machine, they are not rereleasing any other classic consoles, and it is not SEGA’s current mission to return to the console market. SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

Thumbs up to SEGA Driven for properly reporting on this story, and shame on any sites that misrepresent the original story.

[Source: Yahoo! Japan]

Alien Storm Spanish fan translation now available for SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive and Master System

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Hola SEGA fanaticos! ¿Quieren jugar Alien Storm pero en español? Well, I got some good news for you my Spanish speaking friend, Rom Hack fan translator Wave has now translated SEGA’s Alien Storm into Spanish. Not only did he translate the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version, but he also completed the SEGA Master System version as well.

I have also attached some screenshots of the translated text below for you to gander at. I love sharing these fan translations and hoping we get more in the near future.

SEGA unboxes the Yakuza 6: The Song of Life After Hours Premium Edition

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases in just a few weeks, on April 17th to be exact, for the PlayStation 4. The game will release with three options: a Standard Edition, an Essence of Art Edition, and (in my opinion) the must have After Hours Premium Edition. To promote this very special release, SEGA has created an unboxing hosted by Marketing Associate Lauren and Associate PR Manager Jonathon. Get a sneak peek at the hardcover art book, two bar glasses, 2 ice stones, 2 coasters, and the collectible outer box.

Which edition are you picking up? If you’re getting the After Hours Premium Edition, what are you planning to drink?

Shining Resonance Refrain Only Shifts 23k Units in Japan

Shining Resonance Yuuma Jenius

Shining Resonance Refrain has launched in Japan and it has not put up great numbers. The game debuted number 6 in the Japanese Media Crate charts only shifting 23,054 units, this only being on the PlayStation 4 in Japan. The game was even outsold by Far Cry 5 which shifted 75,474 units! SEGA also saw a massive drop in sales for Valkyria Chronicles 4, with the game only making the chart at 9,108 units sold this week (bringing the total to 72,029). SEGA’s Hokuto ga Gotoku also charted at number 17 by selling 4,604 units (bringing the total to 156,805).

I have to say its not a great time for SEGA’s Japanese sales, all these numbers seem rather low. I guess we will have to see if they try to ‘shift’ directions once again. Who knows, maybe a few of these games will do good in the West?

[Source: Gematsu]

Phantasy Star Online 2: Cloud launches for Nintendo Switch in Japan

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SEGA’s Phantasy Star Online 2: Cloud has launched on the Nintendo Switch. For those not in the know, this version of the game is a ‘cloud-based’ version of the PC, that is streamed onto your Nintendo Switch via ‘The cloud’.

Positives include not having to keep the game updated, since its always streaming the latest version. Obviously the downside is that you will need to be connected to a good internet connection. SEGA launched a huge series of videos to show off the game’s features:

[Via: Siliconera]

IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog #1 releases today!

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Just a friendly reminder that Sonic the Hedgehog comics are making their big return today with IDW taking over from Archie with an all new rebooted comic book series. Each week in April will see a new issue, with issue #5 moving back into a regular release schedule (which will no doubt relieve the strain on the artist’s wrists).

Expect a SEGA News Bits covering issue #1 this week, and a preview of issue #2 in the next SEGA News Bits Extra which is our Patreon exclusive video series. You can check out the issue’s synopsis, as well as a cover gallery, after the break.

SEGA shows off what they have in store for SEGA Fes 2018

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SEGA will hold a big event, partly to celebrate its history as a gaming company and another part to show off what they have in store for the future. SEGA Fes 2018 is mean’t to run from April 14 to 15 in Tokyo. One of the big events they will be holding is allowing vistors to play SEGA Mega Drive classics on a big Mega Drive controller. The big Mega Drive controller play will take place on the first day of the event.

April 14 games playable:

  • 10:00-13:00 JP time: Sonic the Hedgehog
  • 13:15-16:00 JP time: Puyo Puyo
  • 16:15-19:00 JP time: Bare Knuckle II (aka Streets of Rage 2)

On April 15, you will be able to replay these games on the big Mega Drive controller, but they will start in backwards (Streets of Rage 2 at 10, ending with Sonic the Hedgehog at 18:00). But that isn’t all, this is just one floor, the next floor they have is the ‘SEGA logo monument floor’.