Why Did The Sega Genesis 32X Fail !? - Gaming History Documentary 

I got a 32X and 8 games in the summer of ‘95 from a kid for $50. Virtua Racing and Fighter, Doom, Metal Head, Star Wars… it was a great summer and I played the hell out of it!

The biggest problem with 32x is you never get new customers, only a portion of your old customers. They probably should have just made a full system out of the 32x but that was essentially the Saturn, proving SEGA’s biggest enemy was themselves with Sega Japan and America fighting.

There is spite. Then there is 'willing to destroy your brand and company's image because the north american branch had success where you didn't' levels of petty spite that sega of japan showed.

I appreciate the idea and what SEGA was trying to do at the time, considering the competition. Nintendo did next to nothing but sit there and concentrate on what they already knew was working. SEGA went in 30 directions all at once, trying to get the upper hand. They wore themselves thin and ultimately that's why they failed. Still cool though, specially considering the time!

My cousin-in-law gave me his 32X for Christmas a few years ago. I never had one when it was new. And by the time I got my childhood Genesis, the Saturn was already on the scene. I think Sega should have skipped on the 32X and gone straight to the Saturn. But here's what Sega should have done with the Saturn: Include backward compatibility with Genesis and Sega CD games. That and a proper Sonic game would have given the Saturn a fighting chance.

the 32X could have been interesting if it had been released 2 years earlier

I actually have doubts whether the 32X would have succeeded even if the Saturn hadn't been announced. No doubt the 32X developers wasted their time with that project, but it's also arguable that the Americans failed to understand Japanese business culture. I suspect that someone at Sega of America really pushed Sega of Japan hard for approval to go ahead with an idea like the 32X because they were impatient and the Genesis needed something "now," and the Japanese were not sure, but eventually just told them to go ahead with it as some kind of "just in case" stopgap if they didn't finish the Saturn on time and see what happened out of politeness, and really didn't think it was going to go anywhere. Then again, that's not saying the Saturn was a wild success either, so maybe both sides of Sega just misread the hardware market in different ways. Of course, Nintendo also had the Virtual Boy around this time, so it was arguably just a very confusing time in which it was very hard to get things right with the transition from 2D to 3D changing everything.

I was oddly obsessed with polygon count as a child. When I got my hands on a 32x and Virtua fighter, I was doing backflips. I was a hype man in my own head. I immediately became a Steve Balmer for the add-on, constantly singing, "omg they've done it" , sometimes even breaking out in dance. I did the same with the N64, Dreamcast, GameCube and many other greats. Imagine my excitement when chasing poly count in the PC arena 😳. The 32x has and will always have a special place in my cherry ticker.

I had the Sega CD. Then a 32X. And finally realized...that this was the largest safety hazard ever.

Lady Decade, you always get me to laugh out loud at least once per video with your subtle (by American standards) humor, I love it

They should have just added extra chips inside the Mega Drive cartridges like Nintendo did with the SNES, instead of bringing add-ons out. I know they did with Virtua Racing with the SVP chip, but they should have done it more.

Nintendo made a lot of awful decisions, but Sega outdid Nintendo in that regard.

32X was the beginning of the end for Sega's hardware, until the Dreamcast won back a couple of breaths before everyone realized it was as easy to pirate as a Specrum game, and before the PS2 truly finished them off.

I remember when I was a kid and I saw 32x carts in a local rental shop on sale along with the 32x add on on discount and asked my parents for it. Dad was a closet gamer and said no lol.

"The sleek design of the Neptune is rather sexy." *laughs nervously in Hyperdimension Neptunia*

Such a shame that two companies that were meant to work together effectively shafted one another

I paid $3.00 for mine at clearance in fall 1997. Shows how bad they wanted to get rid of them.

The 32X failed not just because of the Saturn's launch but also because the 32Xs hardware still had to run through the Genesis/Mega Drive which greatly prevented it from fully utilizing it's color pallete and colors per frame. Doing this also limited the sound capabilities of the 32X. I know there are a lot of Sega fans out there that believe the Genesis/MD was the greatest thing since Heinz Ketchup but the only good piece of hardware that was in the Genesis/MD was the Motorola MC68000 CPU. The rest of the hardware was very old (even the time when it launched) and was very limited in it's color, sound and overall it's shared bandwidth. If Sega had skipped the 32X and went straight to the Saturn, Sega may have survived against the Playstation and N64 and may have possibly still been a big player in the console market.

I loved my Genesis/SegaCD/32x. Knuckles chaotix, star wars arcade, kolibri, nighttrap - all great!

They definitely should've made the power adapter for the 32X able to power both systems - with two DC connectors (not sure if this is possible, but I don't see why not)

This would have been a perfect video to go with your old “VHS” opening you used to use for your intros. I love this vid (as all of your vids) and thank you for the trip down memory lane.

I owned one at the time and really appreciated it. I had Doom, MK II, Virtua Fighter and Star Wars. I used to read all the Sega magazines and remember looking forward to summer games that never materialised such as X Men. I think Sega in hindsight should have delayed the release of the Saturn and given the 32X a fighting chance 🤔

That's the kinda cheeky behaviour we need when making a uranus joke! Bravo!

Despite the fact that this Sega Mega Drive add-on was already destined to fail on the market, I'm just happy that it, and its games, are getting preserved thanks to software-based emulators like PicoDrive, Kega Fusion, and Ares (thank you, Near), and hardware-based emulation, like the Mister FPGA (thank you, srg320).

Update: Short answer, it couldn't do much that the Sega CD could do. In fact, the Genesis already had both 320x448i and Shadow/Highlight Mode capable of putting up 256 out of 3,375 colors. Other tricks for full screen rotation and 3D graphics were figured out by 1994 with existing hardware on store shelves, while the upcoming 32X had a frame buffer sync issue that dropped it down from 60fps to 30fps. The audio was no better than the Sega CD, and the CD versions of games could've been made for $10 less (with better soundtracks and cut scenes) instead of the $70 monstrosities that demanded a new $160 addon! They should've called it the $32, since that's all they could get for it as soon as SoJ ordered the Saturn to be released in May (7 months from the 32X release), retailers, developers, and gamers found the rug pulled out from under us. And SEGA was expecting us (now broke after spending $700 on the "Tower of Power") to spend another $400 (think Neo Geo/3DO) on the Saturn... which had only two terrible games out on launch! The Atari Jaguar had a 64-bit object processor, blitter processor, and data bus. ATARI was citing its powerful 64-bit GPU, but SEGA was talking about the small 16-bit adder inside the Genesis and 32-bit SH2 in the 32X. Technically, even the Sega Master system had a powerful 14 MHz, 16-bit Video Display Processor. November 1994: SEGA was king of the hill. May 1995: Sega death watch.

When the 32x came out, I had hopes for it. I played it some at my friend's house. I enjoyed it for what it was and had lots of fun. Fast forward 27 years later and I can enjoy all the 32x games on my retropie and have fun all over again.

Buyed it back then and had a good Time with my Tower of Power. But NEC-History showed: You can try so hard to stretch your Console-Lifespan, but the Developers will jump ship at the first glimps of New-Future-Power-Hardware. It's a PC-Thing imo.

I could only try it via emulation, but I have to admit that some games were pretty impresive, such as the Sega 32X's version of Virtua Fighter, or the Mortal Kombat 2 version for the same system.

it was just too beautiful to succeed...

I picked one of these up about 10 years ago and paid £50 it came with boxed versions of Doom, Virtua Fighter, Star Wars Arcade, I found one in CEX in Chester yesterday priced at £300, the world of retro gaming has gone mad as much as I like the mad Sega mushroom there is no way on earth it is worth that much, although I will make sure I take care of mine as it looks like I would not be able to replace it very easily.

Sega really shot themselves in the foot with the 32X and Saturn - no wonder they've been reduced to software development only. And all after the outstanding success of the Genesis.

Sounds brilliant, u & Mr TopHat are killing it big ✌️

8:36 - Ad: "more, MORE! faster, FASTER," Jevil: "chaos, CHAOS!"

I had a 32x as a kid, and I remember that it would be EXTREMELY HOT!!! It became so hot, that you couldn't touch it with your hand without burning yourself. You had to turn the console off and wait about 30-40 minutes to cool down enough so you could remove it.

Your videos are so slept on, keep up the good work!

The 32X made me question owning another Sega device anytime soon back then. It felt like as soon as I got it Sega was like surprise we have a new system coming out only for that new system to also be replaced unceremoniously by another device. Its why I waited until the Dreamcast was dirt cheap before I bought it. Call me cynical having been burnt by the Game Gear and 32X. Don't get me wrong those systems had games I liked but Sega was so quick to abandon them it left a bad impression on me.

Back in the day I thought the 32x was going to focus on 2D gaming while the Saturn would focus on 3D polygon gaming. If the 32x would've produce near acrade quality 2D games there would've been a market for it. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

We nearly got a 32X. If we had, there was no way my folks would have got us a PlayStation as well. Bullet dodged.

32X failed because it was a poor concept released at a poor time with poor support. I was surprised to learn that it had some level of success at launch though. An yeah, the question at 7:55 is a truly baffling mystery. As for consoles I'd like to see covered on this channel, well if your friend owns one, the Vectrex would be cool to see. On the more obscure side, a video on the Super Cassette Vision would be pretty neat.

"An ugly mushroom NO one wanted to play with!" Holy inside joke, Batman!😆

Down for the count with a migraine, binging your mini docs is really helping. High five 🙌 to you guys!

I love the AVGN video on how he tried to set it up 🤣

13:35 - I think there was some regulation which made Sega require it's use. Even though you didn't need them.

Great info. Lady I learn well 😀👍👍

Very excellent video! Informative and funny. Thank you Lady Decade!

Big W here in Australia had a big stocktake many decades ago. They were selling the 32X for $19AU with some games, and the Mega CD II for $29AU also with some games. I wish I could have purchased them at the time, given their rising prices online.

A DISGRACE. That thumbnail made me laugh. The disfunction between SEGA of America and SEGA of Japan seems to be what doomed the company. It’s crazy how badly they collaborated. It’s just frustrating to watch

90's kids would be so let down knowing that even headed in to 2030, 64 bit is the highest game systems even are stuck at because there's more than bits. If you're not playing a well coded chess game there's no reason to worry about bits usually

Great video,I used to work in retail when the 32x came out and can’t remember selling any 🙄

Anyone else currently thinking about hypothetical costly mistakes with a specific individual?

You know retro gaming prices are bonkers when 2 Jaguars go for 1,100 pounds.

Back in the 80s, most of everybody I knew all had Nintendo. I have never own any Sega console before, not even the Dreamcast

I feel like some companies FELT COMPELLED to release any tech they had worked on before it became obsolete, and ignored the market timing.

You are simply a content machine. Really enjoying the content, but please don’t burn out!

It made this really high pitched sound that was alarming.

Sega holds a special place in my hart my first system was a Sega Master System.

I had got one for my 13th birthday. After the reduction. I tried it a few years ago and it no longer works. Amazing they dropped to 19.99 now you have to fork out upto 300 on ebay. Oooh little mushroom console how i miss you

A great retrospective on a console that doesn’t get enough love

Sega of Japan was right to introduce a new console. Making the 32X, mostly an entire computer on its own, dependent of the MD/Genesis was not smart. The Sega CD should have fulfilled the task of introducing semi next gen gaming to start with.

I got my 32X at Toys 'R' Us in late-1996 for $29.99 to play _Virtua Racing Deluxe._ I hope there are 32X emulators for the Pi 4.

Sold my "OG" " Triple Tower of Power" a few years back.. Miss it on occasion. Love the channel.

I bought one on clearance at Walmart for 10 dollars. I couldn't afford the other 32 bit systems as a kid. Had fun with Virtua Racing and Star Wars. Motocross was pure garbage through

Damn, you and Top Hat are just killing it! Thanks again!

Sega should have combined 32x and CD to one and released as a separate console and have that as next gen rather than trying to carry mega drive on

SoJ stands for Sega of Jealousy. Too bad they only decided work as one when it was already too late.

I love your channel. This was a good one.

Your content is always informative, interesting and humorous. I hope you get alot more subscribers. Keep it up beautiful ❤️

DOOM should have been a 32X Sega CD combo. Everything that couldn't fit on the cart, put on the disk.

That’s not the tower of power. The tower of power is the Sega genesis, 32x, game genie, sonic and knuckles, and sonic 3

Failure of 32X was mostly due to the head-butting between Sega of Japan and Sega of America. SoA wanted to not support the Saturn and 32x was originally going to be its own system in addition to the add-on.

Great video. What is totally insane is the money the 32X and it's extremely limited library of games now sells for on Ebay. Personally I was never interested in adding one to my retro games and console collection, but if I did the only two games I'd want would be the Mortal Kombat II port and Knuckles Chaotix.

I think the problem here is bad management. They should not have released both the 32x and Saturn. If the Saturn was going to be ready in the next few months (as it was), they should have held off and concentrated on that. They didn’t, so they ended up releasing a console that effectively competed against their own. If they had concentrated , they’d have had the resources to give the Saturn a proper launch.

You should do a video on either the PSX or Virtual Boy! I just started watching your videos after I saw one mentioned in a retro game collection app

I was an early adopter. It was my first home version of Doom and I loved it ( as long as I turn the music off). SW was super fun co-op and virtua racing was quality. Shame it failed so soon. Would have loved to seen what it was capable of as it matured.

If they wouldn't have tried to milk their market and had just combined that abomination, they could've stayed competitive. Although it had its share of gems, the Saturn was a desperate, rushed attempt to remain relevant. Sega's ego and the difficulty of programming the SS were the final nail in the coffin. Dreamcast was posthumous, but could've been successful it it weren't for the bad taste Sega left in devs' mouths.

Shame the Neptune never came out. It would have been highly desirable for the retro gaming community.

The song at 1:10 is door into summer from Knuckles Chaotix, i only hust found out like 2 weeks ago

The Sega Genesis CD 32X is my favorite game system of all time and for over a decade, was my primary music player.

Can't help wonder what could have been with full developer support.

"It all seems a bit silly now in retrospect now...." My 3090 Ti is the bomb reeeeeeeee

I wish I knew as a kid that both the Sega 32X and Nomad were so heavily discounted at $50 or less each I could have talked her into that but I just happily played my Genesis model 2 until Christmas of 97 when I got my N64.

I seriously can't believe that you did that old Uranus joke 🤣🤣🤣

The Atari Jaguar did have the Alien game, seriously addictive awesome game, all its others were not winners.

it failed because Sega themselves canceled it within a year. some say it was because of a chip shortage, since it uses the same chip as Saturn, Sega of Japan decided they couldnt have both.

Still love my 32X. Fav games being After Burner, Shadow Squadron, Virtua Racing Deluxe, Virtua Fighter, Star Wars Arcade & Knuckles Chaotix.

Quaaaaaaaaang! Watching this I thought, why didn't they give the Saturn the ability to play MD / 32X games and have the 32X act as the upgrade expansion that enables the Mega Drive to run Saturn games if you have a Mega CD. Or why not just be honest and say "We just want to develop a new console, if you can market it that would be great cheers."

I love how the 32x looks like a bicycle helmet and seat at the same time.

At about 20:00 I think I saw a continue screen, but the options were "YES, MAYBE, NO" .... What the hell happens if you pick "maybe"???

Thank you so much for reviewing these consoles. I learned so much from them , thanks to you

personally I got my genesis and the 32X addons with a few games for very cheap a long time ago. had a lot's of fun playing Space harrier and Virtua fighter on mine.

Jesus, that price of a Jag (and not the good kind) is crazy! I remember walking into an ex catalogue shop back in the 90's as a kid and seeing them super cheap. If only I had talked my mum into buying the entire lot, could have made a tenner at least.

I got one at near launch, possibly as a Christmas present that I'd asked for, so it would have been at the full price which I think was £170. But importantly it was marketed as better value than that because it came with £50 OF MONEY OFF VOUCHERS FOR GAMES!!!1!! So that makes the shiny new 32X just £120, right? Alas, the vouchers were for something like £10 of a £60 game or £5 off a cheaper one, and were set to expire in something like 5 months. So even if anyone could afford half a dozen full price games in that time, you were unlikely to find many 32X games that you'd want to play before the vouchers became useless. There was another disastrous problem. Incompatibility with many Mega Drive 1 units due to timing synchronisation problems. If you were a keen enough gamer to buy a 32X before the heavy discounting, odds are your Mega Drive was an early one also, and odds are the setup would suffer crashes or eventually stop booting altogether, and need to be sent for repairs! This happened to me, and it took ages to get my Mega Drive and 32X back (they had to go together for some reason) from Sega's repair people because they had so many machines to fix. It seems likely that the 32X hadn't been fully tested before release. At the time, I still had much more faith in Sega consoles as the best place for RPGs and arcade games, so I chose a Saturn over the PlayStation. But I'm sure just about anyone else would have jumped ship to Sony after the disappointment of the 32X ended up being more than just a bit of a weak and limited games catalogue.

5:21 epic comb over!

remember when the 32x came out it was $150. but when i picked mine up at toy's r us for $20 & i picked up most of my games used. i played the hell out of the 32x & had fun with it

Lady decade the Nigella Lawson of video games

I had recently got the Sega CD model 2 not long prior to the 32x news and Saturn news not long after; it just felt that they were rushing new systems and killing the market for previous ones (not many Sega Cd games compared to Genesis, SNES, NES, etc), Sega basically turned me, a big supporter in they systems and games away from them. I waited for the N64 then switched to Playstation. Would have stayed w/ Sega if they had thought ahead a little instead of treating their customers and ATMs (“they can waste their money on a system that has almost no games made for it”).

I loved my 32x. Christmas of 94 playing Doom and blasting White Zombie.

Great video. I LOVE my Voltron of video game systems which is my Sega Genesis, 32X, Sega CD combo. Too bad Sega did not get along with Sega. The 32X could have been home to arcade ports of Sega's vast library of 32-bit arcade games and all without the loading you got from first-gen CD-based games. I am still hoping that some indie, third-party developer would make games for the 32X. Keep up the great work!

The Sega CD made sense to compete with Turbo Grafix 16 but it came a couple years late in this regard. CD-ROM technology was a hit but also expensive at the time. It provided much more memory and space for much larger and better games. The 32x was just an albatross around Segas neck. I remember it well all the hype surrounding the Atari Jaguar claiming it was a 64-Bit system. Sega Genesis was still very popular at the time. The PC-Engine released an arcade card attachment. My guess is Sega was in panic mode uncertain about the future when they should have just remained calm and focused on the next system while continuing to contribute to the success of the Genesis. Of course we had no idea the Atari Jaguar would be the failure that it was. Another expensive attachment that used cartridges when CD-Rom technology was booming. This was just a bad idea all the way around. Super Nintendo was exploding with Donkey Kong Country. The 16-Bit era was still in good swing. I love Sega consoles. Best consoles ever made. I lost interest in consoles when Sega stopped making them. I wish so badly Sega would have left the 32x out of their history and released more great titles outside of Japan for the Saturn which I think is a great console. If this was to happen I believe Dreamcast would have also seen more years.

Was wondering if you were going to use AVGN episode pieces.