A render of the GF1 Neptune (Level Up/GamesCare)
An unofficial recreation of the cancelled Sega Neptune console has been unveiled, which combines the Mega Drive and the 32X add-on.
If you’re old enough to remember the early 1990s, there was a time when Sega was riding high in the console market with the Mega Drive (known as the Genesis in the US) and even managing to outsell Nintendo.
The console’s follow-up, the Sega Saturn, started the company’s decline in the hardware space, but before that, Sega had plans for a hybrid project called the Sega Neptune. It was originally announced as a combination of the Mega Drive and 32X consoles, but it was later cancelled in October 1995, over concerns that it would clash with the Saturn.
Despite a few prototypes being made the system never went on sale, but it has inspired a new fan-made project called the GF1 Neptune, made by Brazilian company GamesCare.
As reported by Level Up, the console will be compatible with real Mega Drive and 32X cartridges, along with games from the Sega CD.
It will also sport a HDMI connection with 1080p resolution, an SD card slot for storage, and will come with its own online platform to access ‘proprietary and exclusive services’.
While the project was announced in a trailer last month, there’s been no official images or a price for the machine itself – so it sounds like it might be a way off yet.
It’s also unclear if it will be available outside of Brazil. GamesCare is a store based in Sao Paulo which makes and sell component cables, controllers, adapters, and other accessories. You can check out their official website here.
While it sounds like a dream machine for classic game enthusiasts, it might be better waiting for an official price point – especially as there’ll likely be a heavy import fee for anyone interested in the UK.
Sega’s last home console was the Dreamcast, which launched in 1999. After it became a commercial failure, Sega discontinued the Dreamcast in 2001 and withdrew entirely from the console business.
A prototype of the real Neptune (Sega Retro)
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