Sega evokes 16-bit nostalgia with Mega Drive Classics Hub on Steam

By Danny Cowan Published April 21, 2016

SEGA Mega Drive Classics Hub

Sega is updating its Steam catalog of classic Genesis and Mega Drive games with a new 3D interface that simulates the look and feel of a console gaming fanatic’s bedroom during the 16-bit era.

The Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub will premiere as a free update on April 28th for players who already own any of Sega’s emulated 16-bit classics on Steam.

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The Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub is presented from a first-person perspective, offering players an immersive view of a Sega fan’s bedroom. From the Hub, players can browse a virtual shelf filled with all of their purchased Mega Drive and Genesis games, giving quick and easy access to a library that spans dozens of titles.

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After picking a game, players sit in front of a simulated CRT television and enjoy Sega’s back catalog free of distractions. Over the course of gameplay, the surrounding room will illuminate and darken as time passes courtesy of the Hub’s dynamic daylight simulation.

In addition to serving as a new way to connect with old games, the Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub also introduces Steam Workshop support for all of its featured titles. After the Hub launches later this month, players will be able to modify their purchased Mega Drive and Genesis games and distribute them via Valve’s digital storefront.

While the interface’s first-person perspective and immersive presentation seem like an ideal fit for virtual reality headsets, VR support for the Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub has not been announced.

Dozens of emulated Sega Mega Drive and Genesis games are currently available for download via Steam, including era-defining classics like Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, Altered Beast, and Streets of Rage. Sega’s Steam catalog also highlights lesser-known greats from the mid-’90s like Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, and Gain Ground.

Sega’s lineup of PC-ported Mega Drive and Genesis games are available for download via Steam individually and as part of budget-priced bundles.

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