32 X

Summary

Shortly before the Playstation launched, Sega released a hardware add-on for the Sega Mega Drive. The Sega 32x was intended to turn the 16-bit Mega Drive into a 32-bit system, with dedicated 32x games. It plugs into the Mega Drive’s cartridge slot and also connects to its AV port by cable. Although it increases the Mega Drive’s capabilities, it became one of Sega’s biggest failures. The first dedicated 32-bit consoles were imminent: Sega’s own Saturn was due only six months after the 32x. Third-party developers therefore soon withdrew support. The add-on was also expensive, at the equivalent of 150 euros, and prone to faults. An all-in-one Mega Drive and 32x console called Neptune was planned but never released.