Playable cartridges for NTSC Genesis consoles
Time to dust off old consoles?
SEGA and iam8bit have opened preorders for new Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 cartridges. Both releases are part of the Sonic 35th Anniversary Legacy Cartridge Collection (read: they are aimed at collectors).
Each game is listed at $99.99 and is sold as a playable Sega Genesis-compatible cartridge. The official iam8bit listings specify compatibility with NTSC Genesis retro consoles.
Source: iam8bit
The first Sonic the Hedgehog release comes in a translucent Blue Blur cartridge shell. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 uses a translucent Two Tail Amber shell. Both packages include a full-color instruction booklet with restored artwork and a new foreword, along with clamshell-style packaging and extra pack-in items.
Source: iam8bit
iam8bit says one in eight cartridges will include a special Chaos Emerald variant. These versions use a different translucent exterior with an inner glow effect. The company also lists manufacturing by Retrotainment Games and a limit of two copies per customer.
The first batch is planned for Q3 2026, the second batch for Q4 2026, and remaining orders are listed for Q1 2027. Buyers should receive a confirmation email with their assigned shipping window after placing an order.
Source: iam8bit
