Graphics
320×240
- Colors on screen
- 32,768
Sega 32X
Also known as Genesis 32X · Mega Drive 32X · Super 32X · Mega 32X
- Sega
- Add-on
- Fifth generation
33 Sega 32X games, all playable free in your browser.
The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis, developed under the codename Project Mars and unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1994. It reached North America on November 21, 1994, Europe the same month, Japan in December 1994 and Brazil in March 1995. It plugs into the cartridge slot, adds two Hitachi SH-2 32-bit processors and its own graphics hardware, still plays standard Genesis cartridges, and can be combined with the Sega CD.
- First released · Europe
- 1994
- Units sold
- 800,000
- CPU
- 32-bit
- Games in the library · all playable
- 33
TIMELINE
1994–1996
- EUEurope
- NANorth America
- JPJapan
- BRBrazil
- ENDDiscontinued
Games per release year
| Year | Games |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1995 | 24 |
| 1996 | 2 |
- SNESSuper Nintendo: Nov 21, 1990 – Sep 25, 2003
- Sega CDSega CD / Mega-CD: Dec 12, 1991 – 1996
- CPS-2Capcom CPS-2: Sep 10, 1993 – Dec 22, 2003
- Neo Geo CDNeo Geo CD: Sep 9, 1994 – 1997
- 32XSega 32X: Nov 1994 – 1996
- PS1PlayStation: Dec 3, 1994 – Mar 23, 2006
- N64Nintendo 64: Jun 23, 1996 – 2002
- CPS-3Capcom CPS-3: Nov 21, 1996 – end not recorded
- NAOMISega NAOMI: 1998 – end not recorded
All 36 systems
- Atari 2600Atari 2600: Sep 1977 – 1992
- SpectrumZX Spectrum: Apr 23, 1982 – 1992
- ColecoColecoVision: Aug 1982 – 1985
- Atari 5200Atari 5200: Oct 1982 – May 21, 1984
- VectrexVectrex: Oct 1982 – Feb 1984
- NESNintendo Entertainment System: Jul 15, 1983 – Sep 25, 2003
- SG-1000Sega SG-1000: Jul 15, 1983 – Oct 1985
- MSXMSX: Oct 21, 1983 – 1993
- Amstrad CPCAmstrad CPC: Jun 21, 1984 – 1990
- Master SystemSega Master System: Oct 20, 1985 – 1996
- Atari 7800Atari 7800: May 1986 – 1992
- X68000Sharp X68000: Mar 28, 1987 – end not recorded
- PC EnginePC Engine / TurboGrafx-16: Oct 30, 1987 – Dec 16, 1994
- CPS-1Capcom CPS-1: May 13, 1988 – May 11, 1995
- GenesisSega Genesis / Mega Drive: Oct 29, 1988 – 1997
- PCE CDPC Engine CD / TurboGrafx-CD: Dec 4, 1988 – end not recorded
- Game BoyGame Boy: Apr 21, 1989 – Mar 31, 2003
- LynxAtari Lynx: Sep 1, 1989 – 1995
- Neo GeoNeo Geo: Apr 16, 1990 – 2004
- Game GearSega Game Gear: Oct 6, 1990 – Apr 30, 1997
- SNESSuper Nintendo: Nov 21, 1990 – Sep 25, 2003
- Sega CDSega CD / Mega-CD: Dec 12, 1991 – 1996
- CPS-2Capcom CPS-2: Sep 10, 1993 – Dec 22, 2003
- Neo Geo CDNeo Geo CD: Sep 9, 1994 – 1997
- 32XSega 32X: Nov 1994 – 1996
- PS1PlayStation: Dec 3, 1994 – Mar 23, 2006
- N64Nintendo 64: Jun 23, 1996 – 2002
- CPS-3Capcom CPS-3: Nov 21, 1996 – end not recorded
- NAOMISega NAOMI: 1998 – end not recorded
- GBCGame Boy Color: Oct 21, 1998 – Mar 31, 2003
- NGPCNeo Geo Pocket Color: Mar 19, 1999 – Oct 30, 2001
- PS2PlayStation 2: Mar 4, 2000 – Jan 4, 2013
- WonderSwanWonderSwan Color: Dec 9, 2000 – 2003
- GBAGame Boy Advance: Mar 21, 2001 – 2010
- OpenBOROpenBOR: 2004 – today
- TIC-80TIC-80: Mar 22, 2017 – today
A bar that fades out means the end date is unknown. Fantasy consoles and game engines are still available.
UNDER THE HOOD
Technical specifications
Processor
23MHz
- CPU
- Hitachi SH-2 (× 2)
- Core
- SuperH SH-2, 32-bit RISC
- Word size
- 32-bit
- Custom graphics processor — video display processor
Two SH-2 processors at 23 MHz each
Memory
256KB
- Main RAM
- 256 KB
- Video RAM
- 256 KB
Sound
2channels
- Chip
- PWM sound source
10-bit pulse-width modulation, mixed with the Genesis's own FM and PSG sound
Sales
800,000
- Scope
- Worldwide, total
Media
Cartridge
Launch price
$159.99
- North America
- $159.99
- Japan
- ¥16,800
- Europe
- £169.99
THE STORY
About the 32X
Sega presented it as an affordable way into 32-bit games while the Sega Saturn was being prepared, and retail demand at launch exceeded supply. Developers soon moved to the Saturn and PlayStation, however, and the library ended at 40 games, six of which also require the Sega CD; titles included Doom, Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Fighter and Knuckles' Chaotix.
Sega discontinued the 32X in 1996 to concentrate on the Saturn, after 800,000 units had been sold. It is generally regarded as a commercial failure, and former Sega producer Scot Bayless and several critics have described it as a lesson against splitting a console's audience with add-ons.
- Two Hitachi SH-2 32-bit RISC processors running at 23 MHz.
- Its graphics hardware produces 32,768 colors and renders 50,000 polygons per second.
- Launched in North America at US$159.99, about the price of a Genesis console.
- Nearly 500,000 units were sold in the United States by Christmas 1994.
- Sound comes from a two-channel, 10-bit PWM source.
- Knuckles' Chaotix is a Sonic spin-off made only for the 32X.
THE LIBRARY
33 32X games on Back2OldGames
33
games, all playable right in your browser
Release years 1992–1996
<p class="lib-span">24 developers</p>Genres
Top developers
Players
23 games with a known number of players.
Regions
THE GAMES
The 32X library
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32X ARCHIVETITLE · CREATOR · PUBLISHER
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Sources
Specifications and history from the sources below (Wikipedia text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; facts summarized in our own words). Library numbers come from the Back2OldGames catalog.
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