Sega has announced that the release date for the Sega Mega Drive Mini has been pushed back to 2019.
The gaming console, also known as the Genesis Mini, was supposed to launch in Japan this year. Now, it will not be launching in the country until 2019. The launches in the U.S. and Europe have also been pushed back.
According to Sega’s tweet from its official Japanese Twitter account, they have been developing for the release, however, responses from fans overseas have helped them decide to focus on the quality of their console.
【お知らせ】セガフェス 2018で発表した「メガドライブ ミニ（仮称）」の発売を2019年に変更いたします。本年発売に向けて開発を行っておりましたが、特に海外のお客様からの反響が大きく、改めて北米は“GENESIS”、欧州は欧州版”Mega Drive”を再現したモデルを準備し、全世界で同時期に発売予定です。
— セガ公式アカウント? (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) September 19, 2018
Sega followed up with another tweet, stating that they are now working with a domestic developer in Japan and asks for everyone’s patience.
In the past, Sega announced that they were working with AtGames, the ones behind the Sega Genesis Flashback console. AtGames itself has announced on Twitter back in April that they will be powering the gaming console, however the tweet has since been deleted.
The deleted AtGames tweet from April 14 read, “The rumors are true! Sega is going to release the Mega Drive Mini in Japan, powered by the latest AtGames technology. This same new and improved technology will find its way into the US and other territories later this year! #MegaDriveMini.”
The current relationship between Sega and AtGames is unclear.
