Sega Saturn : la 32-bit mal-aimée de Sega

Sega Saturn: Sega's Unloved 32-bit Console

1015 words | Reading time: 6 minutes

Behind the ScenesSega SaturnSonic X-treme

Leader in Japan but scuttled in the West, the Saturn concentrates Sega's most painful years. Released on 22 November 1994, eleven days before the PlayStation, it landed in the United States on 11 May 1995 in a surprise launch announced that very day at the first E3, at 399 dollars against 299 for its rival. Its twin Hitachi SH-2 at 28.6 MHz shone in 2D but put developers off. The account lingers on the cancellation of Sonic X-treme in early 1997, on the NiGHTS engine Yuji Naka is said to have refused to lend, and on Bernie Stolar's fatal remark.

Summary

Number one in Japan, scuttled in the West: the Saturn embodies Sega's most painful years. A powerful but ill-fated machine that notably lacked… a Sonic game. A look back at a cursed console.

🎮 To place the Saturn in the broader timeline, (re)read our complete ludography of Sonic games.

ID Card

The Saturn is a 32-bit 5th generation console with a CD player, successor to the Mega Drive and rival to the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64. It is based on an architecture known for its "eight processors."

The first-generation Japanese Sega Saturn
The original Japanese model is recognisable by its gray shell and its blue buttons. Photo: Evan-Amos, Public domain.

Release Dates and Price

It was released in Japan on November 22, 1994, eleven days before the PlayStation. In the United States, Sega attempted a surprise launch on May 11, 1995, announced on the same day at the first E3 — a maneuver that would throw everything into disarray. Europe: July 8, 1995. Price: $399, compared to $299 for the PlayStation.

Under the Hood

The heart of the Saturn is a dual Hitachi SH-2 processor at 28.6 MHz, supported by two video chips (VDP1/VDP2) and approximately 4.5 MB of total memory. Formidable for 2D, but complex to program and disadvantaged in textured 3D compared to the PlayStation.

Sonic the Hedgehog Mug by Sega

Collector

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The Saturn motherboard
The two-main-processor architecture makes the machine's power as much as it makes it hard to program. Photo: Evan-Amos, Public domain.

Must-Play Games

  • Virtua Fighter (1994) — launch title, sold almost one-to-one with the console.
  • Virtua Fighter 2 (1995) — the best-selling game on the machine (~2.5 M).
  • NiGHTS into Dreams (1996) — from Sonic Team, not a launch title.
  • Panzer Dragoon (1995) — a cult rail shooter (not to be confused with the RPG Panzer Dragoon Saga).
  • Sega Rally Championship (1995) — the console's 3D showcase.

Sonic on the Console

This was the Saturn's great tragedy: it never had a true 3D Sonic game. Sonic X-treme, planned as its killer app and the first fully 3D Sonic, was cancelled in early 1997 after a chaotic development (Yuji Naka reportedly refused to lend NiGHTS' engine to the team). The console had to settle for the ports Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R.

Success or Failure?

Overall commercial failure (~9.26 million), especially in the West. Causes: the poorly managed American surprise launch that alienated retailers and caught developers off guard; an excessively high price; a difficult-to-program dual-SH-2 architecture; and weaker third-party support. A good start in Japan was not enough against the PlayStation's 100+ million sales.

Did You Know?

  • The surprise launch on May 11, 1995: Sega put the Saturn on shelves the same day it was announced, offending unprepared retailers (KB Toys refused to sell it).
  • In 1997, Bernie Stolar (Sega of America) publicly declared, "the Saturn is not our future," effectively burying the console in the West.
  • In Japan, the Saturn beat the PlayStation to market (released 11 days before it) and led the race for a long time.

Technical Specifications

Feature Detail
Type 32-bit Home Console (5th Generation)
Japan Release November 22, 1994
North America May 11, 1995 (surprise launch)
Europe July 8, 1995
Processors 2× Hitachi SH-2 at 28.6 MHz
North America Price $399
Sales ~9.26 million

FAQ

  • When was the Saturn released?
    In Japan on November 22, 1994, in North America on May 11, 1995, and in Europe on July 8, 1995.
  • Was there a Sonic game on the Saturn?
    No 3D Sonic: Sonic X-treme was cancelled. The console received the ports Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R.
  • Was NiGHTS into Dreams a launch title?
    No: it was released in July 1996, almost two years after the Japanese launch.
  • Why did the Saturn fail in the West?
    A poorly managed surprise launch, a high price, a complex machine to program, and insufficient third-party support.
  • Was Shenmue released on Saturn?
    No: the Saturn version was cancelled in 1997, with the game eventually released on Dreamcast.

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