If you follow retrogaming news, and more particularly FPGA console projects (equipped with reprogrammable chips that reproduce the hardware of old consoles), you've probably heard of the SuperSEGA project.

However, it's likely to be in unflattering terms. And with good reason: this project is racking up dubious presentations and surprising behaviour on the part of its designers, arousing suspicion and criticism.

SEGA rises to the occasion

Already viewed with scepticism by the retrogaming community, it would appear that the main people involved, SEGA, are not at all happy about this turn of events. According to the MO5 website, SEGA has demanded that the project be stopped altogether, and that existing prototypes be destroyed.

A flawed project from the start

Announced this summer, SuperSEGA's ambition was to become an FPGA console capable of reading the cartridges and CDs of SEGA's historical consoles, notably the SC-3000/SG-1000, Mark III, Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Mega-CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast.

Unfortunately, as soon as its design was presented, observers expressed doubts. And these doubts were reinforced a few weeks later during a video presentation: a device supposedly in operation behind a television, a prototype switched off, inexplicable cuts... The demonstration left more questions than answers.

Opaque communication and controversial decisions

Journalists wishing to test the machine were categorically refused by the designers, who cited fears that ‘competitors’ such as Analogue would steal their ideas.

Despite this lack of clarity, around 200 people pre-ordered the console. But these buyers were in for a nasty surprise: instead of being debited on dispatch, as initially announced, their accounts were debited €400 at the end of the reservation campaign, without any notice or warning...

SEGA wants to protect its image

Faced with what is looking more and more like a fiasco, SEGA is starting to worry. The famous Japanese company obviously does not want its name to be associated with an initiative that could be perceived as a scam.

On 30 November, SEGA denounced the misuse of its brand and the ambiguity surrounding the project.

Response expected

In a letter published by SuperSEGA, the Spanish company behind the project justifies its position, asserts its legitimacy and demands a response from SEGA within two weeks. So the matter is far from over.