Quick Summary
Sega has teamed with iam8bit to reissue two classic cartridges for the Mega Drive / Genesis.
Created to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog's 35th anniversary, they are limited edition, collectors versions of the first and second outings of the blue spiky speedster.
Sony's announcement yesterday signals the end of physical game media – when it comes to current and next-gen consoles, anyway. Xbox is also rumoured to be following suit.
It means that from 2028, we'll no longer be able to buy games on disc for PlayStation consoles – PS5 and, most likely, PS6. If Xbox does indeed also ditch the disc, Project Helix will be digital-only too.
However, one much-loved gaming giant is bucking the trend. Sega is embracing physical games for a special release, and anyone with a Mega Drive / Genesis or an FPGA homage (such as the Mega Sg) will appreciate the gesture.
That's because it will be releasing two "Legacy Cartridges" in collaboration with iam8bit, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its famous blue mascot.
Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will come on playable Mega Drive / Genesis-compatible cartridges, with additional collectable bumph in "nostalgic" packaging.
There will also be a surprise cartridge "infused with Chaos Emerald energy" with one in eight orders.
How much do the Sonic the Hedgehog cartridge reissues cost?
Each bundle costs $99.99 and is available to pre-order now. The first wave of orders will be shipped in Q3 this year, the second in Q4, while all remaining pre-orders will be sent to customers in Q1 2027.
The sets look superb for retro gaming enthusiasts for sure, but are also a reminder of what we are set to lose when PlayStation puts a nail in the coffin of its physical releases. Digital copies are just not the same, and certainly not collectable.
And, as it also showed recently with the announcement that 100s of movies are being removed from PS5 owners libraries, they're not permanently yours either – no matter how much you pay for them.
Still, at least there's the likes of iam8bit and Sega, plus Evercade with its expanding cartridge library to keep the retro flag flying.
