PlayStation might have ditched the discs, but Sega is keeping physical games alive – with new Mega Drive / Genesis cartridges, no less

Sonic 1 & 2 anniversary cartridges from Sega — (Image credit: Sega)

Quick Summary

Sega has teamed with iam8bit to reissue two classic cartridges for the Mega Drive / Genesis.

Created to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog's 35th anniversary, they are limited edition, collectors versions of the first and second outings of the blue spiky speedster.

Sony's announcement yesterday signals the end of physical game media – when it comes to current and next-gen consoles, anyway. Xbox is also rumoured to be following suit.

It means that from 2028, we'll no longer be able to buy games on disc for PlayStation consoles – PS5 and, most likely, PS6. If Xbox does indeed also ditch the disc, Project Helix will be digital-only too.

However, one much-loved gaming giant is bucking the trend. Sega is embracing physical games for a special release, and anyone with a Mega Drive / Genesis or an FPGA homage (such as the Mega Sg) will appreciate the gesture.

How much do the Sonic the Hedgehog cartridge reissues cost?

Each bundle costs $99.99 and is available to pre-order now. The first wave of orders will be shipped in Q3 this year, the second in Q4, while all remaining pre-orders will be sent to customers in Q1 2027.

The sets look superb for retro gaming enthusiasts for sure, but are also a reminder of what we are set to lose when PlayStation puts a nail in the coffin of its physical releases. Digital copies are just not the same, and certainly not collectable.

And, as it also showed recently with the announcement that 100s of movies are being removed from PS5 owners libraries, they're not permanently yours either – no matter how much you pay for them.

Still, at least there's the likes of iam8bit and Sega, plus Evercade with its expanding cartridge library to keep the retro flag flying.

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.

Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.