The SEGA Dreamcast Mini is high on the list of retro fans unable to get hold of an affortable working version of the 1998 console.
Despite the success of mini consoles, one that has somehow failed to materialise is the SEGA Dreamcast. Despite obvious interest and demand, SEGA has deemed the project too complicated, but that could be about to change.
While FPGA technology was almost certainly going to be used in such a project, rather than emulation, it requires a lot of work.
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology has considerable applications, not least in the retro gaming arena. Rather than rely on emulation, FPGA-based systems (such as the Analog Pocket) are programmed with a representation of the original hardware.
It’s the programming of a hardware environment that takes the time and effort.
The tweet below reads: “Is this the Sega Saturn Mini? Tachidenki exhibits technology demo [ #TGS2023 ] Achieves high reproducibility with FPGA technology.”
So, a Dreamcast Mini is possible. But whether this system ever sees the light of day as some sort of clone, or SEGA brings the developers on board to solve its own problems in this area, remains to be seen.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
