Twitter user playsegasaturn has posted images from Gamescom displaying a Sega Saturn arcade stick and a prototype wireless Dreamcast controller. These haven’t been officially announced by the company and seem to be in an early state, but they’re a good indication of future plans.
The arcade stick is somewhat similar to the console’s Virtua Stick (it’s displayed next to a Virtua Stick box) while also being evocative of the Sega Astro City control panel. It has 8 buttons and (confusingly) labeled for both Switch and other platforms. There’s a large number of sync options on the dial for xinput, dinput, Switch, Sega Saturn, and so on.
Besides that, there is the wireless Dreamcast controller. It looks to largely be a similar form factor as the standard-issue console controller. However, there are additional face buttons and a different stick and d-pad. Notably, there is no window for a VMU display. However, there is also what looks like the preliminary mold for something that would contain a VMU. Either way, it looks like a very early prototype, and it could change. I don’t know why it would have such a large face without the VMU window, so I imagine it just isn’t implemented yet.
Neither device has yet received Sega’s approval, so things may change to meet their vision. Retro-bit has previously released replica Genesis and Saturn controllers, and have even released a new wireless Saturn controller with added analog sticks.
I could honestly use a wireless Dreamcast controller. Living rooms have changed, and I have had to buy cable extenders for my wired ones. On the other hand, I don’t need a new stick. I’ve done modifications on the one I currently use to make it suit my preferences, and they take up a lot of space. However, if the design changes to something closer to a Sega Astro City panel, then I may be enticed.
No word on when we’ll see either of the controllers.
Published: Aug 26, 2024 01:37 pm