Sega Master System
- Manufacturer
- Sega
- Production
- 1986–1992
- Generation
- Gen 3
- Type
- Home
- Region
- JP
- Launch price
- $199
- Media
- Cartridge
- Units sold
- 13.0M
About Sega Master System
The Master System is an 8-bit home video game console manufactured and developed by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, released in Japan on October 20, 1985. The Master System was launched in North America in September 1986, followed by Europe in August 1987, South Korea in April 1989, and Brazil in September 1989. A Japanese version was launched on October 23, 1987, with additions including a built-in FM audio chip, a rapid-fire switch, and a dedicated port for the 3D glasses. The Master System II, a cheaper model, was released in 1990 in North America, Australasia, and Europe.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Library & collector facts
338licensed games
- North America: 114
- Japan: 82
- PAL: 338
Lineage
Release timeline
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- October 20, 1985
- Lifespan
- 6 years on market
Pricing
Launch price (1986)
- 🇺🇸 USD
- $199
- 🇯🇵 JPY
- ¥16,800
- 🇬🇧 GBP
- £100
Launch titles & exclusives
Hang-On · Safari Hunt · Astro Warrior · Pit Pot · Teddy Boy · Snail Maze (built-in BIOS demo) · Transbot · Choplifter
Hang-On + Safari Hunt (NA launch bundle, dual-game cartridge); Alex Kidd in Miracle World (later EU/Brazil bundles, built into hardware in later EU revisions)
Phantasy Star (original) · Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap · Alex Kidd series · Fantasy Zone series · Shinobi · R-Type · Wonder Boy in Monster Land · Golden Axe Warrior · Power Strike (Aleste series) · Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System version)
Brazil's Tectoy continued producing new Master System games well into the 2010s; Street Fighter II (Brazil exclusive, 1997) is widely cited as the latest licensed release
Sonic the Hedgehog Master System gold cart variants (Brazil/EU); Loretta no Shouzou: Sherlock Holmes (JP, ~$500+ CIB); Bubble Bobble SMS (~$200+ CIB); various Brazil Tectoy late-life exclusives
Hardware specs
- Cpu
- Zilog Z80A
- Ram
- 8 KB RAM, 16 KB VRAM
- Sound
- Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG via VDP , Yamaha YM2413
- Dimensions
- 365 × 70 × 170 mm
- Display Output
- 256 × 192 resolution, 32 colors on-screen
Hardware revisions
- Sega Mark III(1985)
original launch hardware with FM sound expansion port
- Sega Master System(1986)
redesigned for Western markets with built-in FM sound chip (later JP units added it via expansion)
- Master System II(1990)
cost-reduced, card slot removed, built-in Alex Kidd in Miracle World (or Sonic in later EU units)
- Tectoy Master System variants(Brazil)
still in production with built-in games — Tectoy is the longest-lived console manufacturer for any platform
Launch colorways & special editions
- JP Mark III (original 1985 white casing); 1986 NA Master System; Master System II (1990, smaller, no card slot); Tectoy Master System (Brazil, ongoing production with built-in games)
Modding scene
- Difficulty
- soft-mod
- Custom firmware
- N/A (ROM-based); flashcarts: Master EverDrive, MegaSD
Reception & legacy
Disappointing in JP and NA — Nintendo's third-party lockout strangled the Master System library in North America; massive success in Europe (especially UK, Spain, Italy, Portugal) and Brazil
Nintendo's NA licensing terms required exclusivity, leaving Sega with almost no third-party support in North America; Sega aggressively countered with Tonka as a NA distributor (briefly) before taking back direct distribution
Failed in JP and NA but became the dominant 8-bit console in Europe and Brazil; the Brazilian Tectoy partnership is a unique case study in console preservation — the platform never truly died there
References
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Sega Master System in the news
Recent coverage mentioning the Sega Master System, gathered from 80+ gaming-news sources.
Castlevania's Fanmade Sega Master System Port Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Sega fans, be fang-ful. Castlevania is a series many fans will associate with the Nintendo Entertainment System. Konami's franchise made quite an impact when it launched on the console in 1987 (1986 for the Japanese Famicom Disc System version) and would be followed by two 8-bit sequels. Titles...
The Master System's Popularity In The UK Is Still Surprising Some People
Sega's 8-bit system outsold some pretty big names in the United Kingdom. In North America and Japan, the Sega Master System is little more than a footnote. Those two significant markets were dominated by the NES / Famicom, with Nintendo effectively locking out competition via some rather nefarious...
Game Boy Classic Tennis Comes To Sega Master System In Full Colour (Including Ref Mario)
Game, Set, Colourmatch. Nintendo's Tennis - one of the first releases for the NES and a U.S. launch title for the Game Boy - has made its way to Sega's 8-bit baby, the Master System. The unofficial port comes courtesy of the suitably monikered homebrewer "OldSchool is Cool". The Master System...
Atari 2600 Lumacode TIAdigitizer – US Seller
Koala Koa is now selling C0pperdragon’s “TIA Digitizer” Lumacode mod for the Atari 2600, along with the Sega Master System & NES Lumacode mods. Lumacode, when combined with either an OSSC or RetroTINK 4K is essentially the same as an HDMI mod, but much easier to install: Nothing needs desoldering...
Razing Core SMS Top-Down Shooter Released
The developer BadComputer0 has just completed their new top-down shooter for the Sega Master System called Razing Core. This is a complete game that was developed using devkitSMS by sverx and features music by Polaria Poyon / Lovepenguin. If you’re an SMS fan, this is absolutely worth the $8 for...
Brand-New Sega Master System Game Released
Retro game fans might be excited to know that a brand-new Sega Master System title is now available, and no, it is not a re-release of an old game.