Sega Delisting 'Mega Drive Classics' On Switch eShop This December

I am SO glad I have a physical version of this one.

This is also a pretty big strike against the NSO expansion pack, if only "select individual classic titles" will remain up.

Dang. Glad I got it physically then on Switch. Wonder why it is being delisted since these are their own games and I would assume own all the licenses to them as a result.

@Dpishere If I were to be a betting man, Sega is going to release another collection of some kind that will include the games.

Gotta keep making that money somehow and what better way to do that than to bundle the games (again) in a different shiny package.

@Dpishere Probably because with some of those games already on Nintendo Switch Online, it would make to sense for SEGA to remove this compilation from the online stores, well at least on Nintendo eShop.

This one had noticably bad input delay, right?

@GamingFan4Lyf Very true. Perhaps with more games added even, an upgraded version I would hope.

@TrueBlueYoshi I could understand delisting on Switch due to NSO but they had no reason to remove the collection from the PS4, Xbox Marketplace, and Steam though. Sega at this point is just pathetic, I thought they care about preservation. None of their games in the collection had any license issue either, I don't get the point of the delisting unless they are planning to re-release another Sega Genesis Collection (yet still pretending that the SMS, Saturn, and Dreamcast doesn't exist) in the future that had more games which also makes no sense as they could easily release a new one on top of this one with a whole different collection of games. That would had been the only reason that's legit otherwise this is just sad. Every gen they kept releasing a new Sega Genesis Collection of some kind so hopefully that's the reason for this. Because the Switch 2 is getting the Sega Genesis games on NSO, likely it won't get that new Sega Genesis 4K Collection perhaps.

The multiple Sega Genesis collection Sega release every gen (era):

• Sega 6-Pak (Sega Genesis) - 16-Bit era
• Sega Classic Arcade Collection (Sega CD) - 32-Bit era
• Sonic Jam (Sega Saturn) - 64-Bit era
• Sega Smash Pack Volume 1 (Sega Dreamcast) - 128-Bit era
• Sega Genesis Collection (PlayStation 2 and PSP) - SD era
• Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) - HD era
• Sega Genesis Classics Collection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - 4K era

Despite my preference to NSO for having Mega Man: The Wily Wars and Pulseman, maybe I can add this to my collection if there's a final sale or something. Unless they plan to do a SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis Classics Plus, with a physical (re)release that doesn't have the new contents on the cartridge/disc.

Why sell a product once (especially one that will be backwards compatible) when they can charge you to rent it forever?

Thankfully, physical media means this collection will still be available

Hear me out, instead of just another Mega Drive Collection SEGA, how about getting in touch with Digital Eclipse to do a SEGA Collection in the same vain as Atari 50 and Tetris Forever?

Games from every SEGA Hardware and Arcade, Interviews, complete company history and all the bells and whistles....

....but it's more likely another 50 Mega Drive ROMs Collection in a cart isn't it?

I feel optimistic that this might mean we get some new Genesis on NSO, I haven't seen that needle move in like a year or more.

Welp ever since Sonic Origins I figured this was coming. Although removing this means our only legitimate emulated copy of Sonic 3 and Knuckles with the original music will be gone. But yeah because of the input lag as @KayFiOS mentioned it's definitely one of my least preferred ways to play these games.

@KayFiOS Yeah, the input delay was pretty bad. I'm usually pretty tolerant of things like that, but the delay in this collection in particular was far too annoying to ignore. It's the main reason why I never really play any of the games via the collection.

Bad emulation in this collection. A shameful release from Sega that Nintendo refunded me for after calling them and reporting it. The NSO versions of Genesis games are at least playable. Nintendoes in this case..

Also if you want to keep these games forever without input delay just get the Genesis Mini

@Serpenterror Compared to XBox and Steam, we got lucky.

XBox is losing some of the BC SEGA games as well as Steam like Crazy Taxi, Nights into Dreams and the like.

Thankfully they did not go after the rather awesome SEGA Ages series on Switch. Now THAT would be a huge loss.

I expect this has to do with the IP revival project, at least in part. Given how successful a few different efforts have been recently, I could see why they want a piece of that action. Except, the revival is only for a few IP titles, not nearly as many as in the current collection getting delisted.

That or they're doing the old Disney Vault tactic to make them obscure so they can rerelease them again in a few years with a slightly different wrapper.

But, I guess I should go make sure I have all the DLC purchased on the Steam version.

@NintonicGamer Sonic 3 and Knuckles isn't in this collection.

@Devann I think they were included in the Steam version before they delisted them close to the release of Origins.

This makes no sense, I guess they plan to re release those games in a better collection somehow?

@NintonicGamer Tbh Sonic 3 and/or Knuckles are not even in this collection, it only has Sonic 1, 2, Spinball, Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, and 3D Blast. All but Sonic 3 and/or Knuckles. The last home console to receive a proper Sonic 3 and Knuckles was the Wii via Virtual Console and the last proper handheld to receive it was the DS via Sonic Classics Collection. The Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection also had Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles but you can't play any of the lock-on games so no complete Sonic 3 & Knuckles on there.

@Angelic_Lapras_King Holy crap that's even worst. I never knew NiGHTS was on Steam. Going to grab that quickly then, good thing it's cheap.

That sucks. I’ve been meaning to play Fatal Labyrinth and this is the only way to play it on Switch.

That sucks. I hope they have something else in mind because it’s a shame to make this package unavailable

Really, really glad I ordered the physical edition of this a week ago. I don't trust digital anymore with Nintendo.

They have to be doing a new collection or something. Since Sega’s delisting Dreamcast and Saturn games from Steam and Xbox, I wonder if they’ll release new and improved retro collections when the Switch’s successor inevitably drops.

Please let Digital Eclipse be involved in them, too!

@KayFiOS No it hasn`t IMHO

Let me guess. Another overpriced collection coming right up?

The switch is probably on its way out then.

@GamingFan4Lyf Hit it right on target

Good riddance. Garbage release with horrible input lag. Hopefully this means a new compilation that’s actually playable.

I got an entire library's worth of games for five dollars on sale, I can see how that makes the expansion pack a weaker value proposition

The audio emulation was garbage (very inaccurate) and input lag insufferable

And this is exactly why physical media is still important…

Hopefully this means we'll get a better collection and as much as I hate games being delisted, this one is poor on the Switch with near unplayable input lag

This is a genuinely disturbing trend. They are erasing gaming history as we speak…

@KayFiOS yeah it's utter garbage and has sound emulation issues on top of that

@NintonicGamer Sonic 3 and Knuckles isn't on this collection

A perfect example of why I say “If the future of gaming is digital, then gaming has no future”. I bought the physical copy of this 6 years ago and I still enjoy playing it.

With backwards compatibility becoming the norm alongside digital libraries, the only way to resell old content to new users is to delist games.

Weird choice.
Looks like they want to sell some individual? I was going to get it solely for TJ and Earl 2, but kept putting it off in the hope it would just come to NSO. Hmm.

Never have I seen a company intentionally fumble their legacy content more than SEGA.

-Remaking space harrier 2 with proper superscaling but not advertising it and only making it available via the obscure mega drive mini 2

-Ending their sega ages series for literally NO reason

-Sonic Colors Ultimate being possibly the worst remaster of a 7th gen game of all time

-The titular collection in this article not having sonic 3 and knuckles on top of massive input lag

-Sonic's Ultimate Genesis collection not allowing you to play regional versions of games which is a detriment considering how bad the USA versions of games like Streets of Rage 3 and Dynamite Headdy are

-Not touching like. ANY of their game library outside of the Genesis and dreamcast. Their arcade games, master system, game gear, Saturn, Sega CD, etc, none of it gets any attention or accesibility

-Rushing Christian Whitehead and crew to the moon and back for Sonic Origins resulting in an unsatisfying product

-Shutting down the Sega Forever twitter which actually provided cool cut content and concepts for their games instead of the reddit slop the Sonic twitter pumps out

-Their unending refusal to allow any classic or obscure sonic characters pre-adventure era to show up in the franchise in any way to the point they almost fire Ian Flynn for simply including a throwaway reference to the Hooligans in one of his comics

I could genuinely go on and on and on. Like they're worse than Nintendo at this point IMO.

@Xbox_Dashboard FYI only the Sega Genesis Classics Collection is the one that will be getting delisted on Switch and PS4. Xbox and Steam got more delisted Sega games than those two. All the delisted games only apply to classic titles only so modern games like Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove!, Super Monkey Ball, Panzer Dragoon, Samba de Amigo: Party Central, Team Sonic Racing, The House of the Dead Remake, and Valkyria Chronicle are all safe from the chopping block. Also all the Wonder Boy games are safe too.

To everyone complaining about the input lag. It was horrendous. An update brought it to acceptable (even good?) levels. I was late on the bandwagon and never had any issues.

@tektite_captain Not sure why y'all kept saying that it had input lags, I play this collection almost every day both on Switch and Steam Deck the same way I play them on a real Sega Genesis and it doesn't feel laggy at all. Maybe y'all just not that good at playing games anymore. I own all these same games on my real Sega Genesis too so I know how they should play like and everything that I had experience so far on this collection works just as good as the real deal so not sure where all complaints are coming from. Unless the complaint is that the UI and menu are slow then that I would agree, the menu progress on the Switch version is quite laggy and slow but once you load up a game it plays accurately just like on real Sega Genesis. If it was laggy before then perhaps they already fix it.

@NeonPizza You'd think Sega would've learned something after all of those botched Genesis/Mega Drive mini-consoles that the Brazilian company puked out to much deserved backlash. Then Sega did the one smart thing it does every few years and got M2 to handle the Genesis Mini, lo and behold, everyone loves it.

Sega and Nintendo, stop being idiots and just go get M2 to handle your retro ports. It's really just that simple.

Release a newer, better collection that isn't plague with issues then.

It's not the best emulation, but it's passable for playing the original Streets of Rage for me. When people say bad emulation, I always think 'well it's not SEGA Smash pack on Dreamcast bad'. I have it digitally on Switch and the PS4 disc. What is poor on Switch is the resolution scaling in portable, as you have shimmer no matter what.

I don't think the availability of some (even most) games on NSO has to mean that there are no people interested in owning them forever, not everyone subscribes.

Anyway, I bet they're going to release new collection not far from now, and that one will include, as usual, 85% of the games we already have, and a 15% of new ones. Roughly. And we're going to pay again. Of course.

@LadyCharlie what's this got to do with NSO? They're delisting these on all platforms with Xbox and Steam losing even more games such as Crazy Taxi and Nights

I bought this on PC instead as you can use KEGA to remove the input lag. I have DRM free backup of it too.

I assume this means SEGA plan to release yet another Mega Drive collection in the near future.

Why they don't do a Dreamcast or Saturn collection is anyone's guess.

I'm done with it now. I am never again buying a Mega Drive collection. SEGA have milked it to a point where it is beyond holding no value - it actually now generates negativity.

It's a decent collection and I love the game room interface. But having a Mega SG pretty much covers all the classic Sega I'll ever want.

Thankfully I've had this one for years (even alongside a Steam version with its cumbersomely exclusive Sonic 3), but December 6 deadline admittedly tempt an eyeroll otherwise, barely a week longer than LBP3's recent short notice elsewhere. Feels like God Wars was the last time I can vaguely recall a more tangible heads-up, if not by much. The only silver lining is the aforesuggested possibility of Sega merely planning to reboot the whole thing for newer buyers on newer platforms (okay, on one newer platform in the visible future), but time will tell.

@PinballBuzzbro lack of Saturn and Sega CD may be a bummer indeed, but Dreamcast game sizes likely don't lend themselves well to a collection while Master System and some arcades have been revisited in Sega Ages lineup and IIRC Game Gear at least got some spotlight among Virtual Console offerings (which might incidentally mean some odds of a separate NSO app being held up Nintendo's sleeve for one of the future service topicality bumps).

@carlos82

Yes if anything it is a boon for NSO.

@MeatBag My copy's updated, & it still has unplayable input lag

I have my physical so might plug it in to update
Also, this is the whole reason I collect physicals, look at Mario 3D Allstars...

@carlos82
yeah that is what i was thinking/hoping, also not a fan of games being delisted but if it ends up getting us an improved collection or collections it would at least feel like a net gain considering the issues ive heared regarding this one (on switch in particular)

also like what @JohnnyMind mentioned it doesnt feel like its because NSO since its also being delisted from other platforms.

tbh i wouldnt be opposed to another SEGA AGES line, those were awesome.

@Mgalens yeah it's got nothing to do with NSO as Xbox is losing more games outside this collection, such as Virtua Fighter 2 and Crazy Taxi. To me it seems like they're gearing up to repackage them another way, or at least that's what I'm hoping for

Wow. This is an unpleasant surprise.
Glad I already got this.
Also, I'm hearing about input lag for this, and the Megaman collections. How bad was it? I played through the two classic MM collections, and the fist MMX collection, but never really noticed anything. (Hadn't played MMX before, but had played MM2 on VC. I got the psn version of the classic collections if that matters.)

@KayFiOS I haven't had any input lag on my copy
I have played the 3 streets of rage games alot on there its really good.

@Novamii So that's where my hatred from Metropolis Zone comes from...

I wasn't expecting this, very glad to have the game & all its content on PC already. I'm not shocked as a lot of the stuff here was made & published by others if I remember correctly.

Apparently the Dreamcast stuff on PC & Console is being delisted too.

This can only mean that another compilation is coming.

Hey, make sure to buy the Dreamcast collection on Steam before it's gone too! It's also going away. So annoying Sega.

Bought it some time ago just for Shining Force.

Bought physical a long time ago, but I’ve hardly played it bc of input lag, the NSO Genesis games, and having both MD Mini’s around. Still, it’s sad to see them delist the compilation, which really was a great value.

Could this mean they’ll be adding more Genesis games to NSO? It feels like it’s been years.

@EarthboundBenjy
Does that DC Collection on Steam have Crazy Taxi with the original music? I gave away my DC 20 years ago, but miss that game dearly.

There’s probably a middleware app as part of the package that was licensed for 5 years, and seeing as new sales on this collection are now low, it’s not worth their money renewing.

We saw issues with the Unity Runtime fee changes for new installs, probably something similar to that.

@Teksetter
Unfortunately, the original soundtrack has been replaced for Crazy Taxi. There is however a steam guide to download a "Crazy Taxi Overhaul" mod that restores it https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=964260789

@drypaphmrbro ok I hear you... I might not be that sensitive then...

Glad I picked up a physical version years ago...
The input lag is only very minor for me, it's not been that much of an issue. Well worth picking up physically.

Man am I ever happy I lucked into finding a used copy for $10 the weekend haha

I also experience lag with and therefore avoid playing my copy of this comp. 👎

I had (i think it was called) "Sonic's ultimate genesis collection" on ps3 for a while before my ps3 died, and it was a much better collection without the lag.

I can't understand why SEGA lets their Model 1, 2 and 3 classics and others rot on the vine, while the only people that care to remember them are entering their 40s, 50s, 60s....

wtf are they waiting for? ☠️

Whatever collection they inevitably release I hope they can get Sonic 1&2 working properly at least. The input lag is unforgivable on this collection.

Glad that support page is nice and clear. I've got three games on Steam for the megadrive that are going to disappear and three of the dreamcast ones that are also going. If you're also going the Steam route do double check the two bundles, might be able to knock the price down on any renegades. Gonna give it until the end of the month just on the off chance of a sale before the nuke.

I bloody well hope that I'll be able to redownload this on the Switch 2 when it comes out.

I have the physical version of the Genesis collection on PS4. The games are not emulated well in my opinion, but it’s still nice to have.

@EarthboundBenjy thank for the heads up. I actually put this on mu wishlist this week

This collection indidn'tnuse that much after nso came. But always liked the bedropm like interfase a la retro game challenge

@Dpishere seeing this and that you mentioned having a physical copy (somehow I never saw that a physical existed), I went and found (and bought) it now because I'm sure the price will spike on any remaining physical copies lol.

They surely want to sell them separately and more expansive.
A shame, as you can take the roms from this Collection on the PC and use them elsewere.

I saw that they’re taking this down on Steam too. I might get this over there (along with the Dreamcast Collection, also being delisted).

@GamingFan4Lyf So much this! They're going to de-list, then come out with another collection that adds a few more games and then marks the price up because of all the added value. I own this game, but mostly just play Columns on it. That was my favorite game on gamegear.

@GamingFan4Lyf Yeah I think they will probably much smaller collections too that focus on individual franchises, much like the recent Sonic collection. This is pretty crumby of them to do, but at the same time, I hope we get enhanced versions of SEGA games. If they did a Phantasy Star collection, and all the games had the features of Phantasy Star 1 from the recent SEGA Ages release, that would be pretty cool. If it was just a basic ROM collection however, that would be really irritating.

@carlos82 my thoughts exactly 😀

@EarthboundBenjy
Thanks for the insight! I've never used Steam and don't even have a game-worthy PC, but I was curious about their version of Crazy Taxi.

Can't delist my physical cartridge!

Another point for why digital sucks... #ForeverPhysical

This should mean that they're making a new collection or service, but with SEGA you never know. It's 2024, and I still can't buy a collection of Master System or Saturn games.

@nhSnork I can understand the Dreamcast one, but sega has barely touched any of their other arcade games. Laser ghost, golden axe revenge of death adder, segasonic the hedgehog, the arcade versions of alien storm and ESWAT which are completely different from the genesis one, zombie revenge, the dynamite cop duology, bay route, ab cop, rail chase, I could go on and on about the games they refuse to give modern rereleases or ports of!😵‍💫

And no, having them playable in the Yakuza series doesn’t count.😂

And then there’s the Saturn which they have straight up never touched outside of porting NiGHTS over and over again💀, like how about we see Astal or Thunder force V playable on modern platforms instead of Kid Chameleon and Ecco the dolphin again for the 500000000th time????

Given that this is now the second time they have done something like this (the first time it was with sonic origins) it is very likely we are getting not only a usual suspects sort of collection but a few other games that have seldom even been ported, if you checked the list for Xbox you’ll see the 360 versions of virtua fighter 2 and sonic the fighters have been listed. And I doubt it’s because they’ve appeared in yakuza games

This had a wide physical release so its not a disaster. I imagine another collection will be released in the coming year or two. Hopefully a much larger one.

Sorry but the emulation is just piss poor quality, M2 does a far better job with its games on NSO.

I downloaded it already when it was 50% off. I smell a replacement collection coming.

As to physical copies or the Genesis Mini that some people think is the solution, try buy one now! They were sold out years ago while buying second hand is probably expensive.

SEGA, the masters of reselling the exact same set of Genesis games for decades.

If they want something to sell, they should make hard-to-get Saturn games like Shining Force III (and translate scenario.2 & 3) and Panzer Dragoon available.

And yet there hasn't been a new addition to the Genesis app On NSO in forever. Very odd all around.

@MeatBag oh this is the really good to know. I just ordered the physical copy and was about to cancel after reading that the input lag is so bad. That's why I don't play any games at launch (almost). You really want to wait at least three months to play a game.

@BloodWolfe same. Just bought it for $35.

I never bothered with this collection, I can play all of those games anyways on an emulator. If anything, they probably have plans to bring those games to NSO or some other platform

I think Sega is delisting it primarily to expand availability on NSO Expansion Pack. And Nintendo doesn't want Sega competing with them, and also I'm sure they get a kickback for Genesis games on Expansion Pack. So that's a revenue stream as opposed to occasional bundle sales.

@Gryffin There might still be issues. Just not something I've noticed. @drypaphmrbro claims it's still unbearable.

@MeatBag ok, well, I'll go ahead and get it anyway. We'll see. Even if it's pretty bad, it might be good enough to explore some lesser played games once in a while. Thanks.

I just decided to get Origins Plus also. Then I'll have all the Sonics haha.

@MeatBag I'm a bit of a snob with my emulated games lol, so take what I say with a bit of salt

@Gryffin A lot of what you say makes no sense, Sega and Nintendo had not been competitors since the 16-Bit days. There's no reason for them to delist the collection cause Nintendo had no collection of their own on the Switch. There's no reason for Sega to put their games on NSO cause then they don't make money from the games being there (unless Nintendo gave them 2% of their annual earnings from the service).

@Gryffin Nope, you're still missing Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R, two of the best Sonic games of all time.

Good game. I bought the Switch and PS versions on sale, but I am most proud of having Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, which has an even greater selection, with Master System, Arcade games, and more......I need to get my PS3 fixed.

I own it physical. Booyah

@Serpenterror what I meant was that Sega and Nintendo both benefit from having Genesis games on the expansion pack, and exclusively there. I'm positive Sega gets a cut. So Sega is hurting themselves by offering a Genesis bundle that might otherwise drive players to subscribe to the expansion pack, which is more consistent revenue. Likewise, Nintendo also benefits from getting more expansion pack subscribers. What I meant by competition is that Sega is competing with itself and unnecessarily with Nintendo too. They both benefit from cooperating, almost in a "trust" way really.

@daveMcFlave hey same! I've got the Ultimate collection for PS3 also and I also need to get it fixed haha

BUY PHYSICAL!

Rumour has it Sega are about to unveil a new console which will feature these games as part of there eshop….console is possible digital download only but will be the home to the all new titles from classic Ips along with previous classic entries.

@Serpenterror Actually it very well might be them releasing multiple or a much broader collection, considering they're also delisting a good handful of Dreamcast etc. ports from Xbox and Steam, but not all of them.