¶ Technical data
- Manufacturer: Sega
- Year of release: 1994
- CPU: 2× Hitachi SH-2 @ 23 MHz (in addition to the Mega Drive's 68000 and Z80)
- RAM: 256 KB
- VRAM: 256 KB
- Video: additional 32768-color VDP, overlaid on the Mega Drive picture
- Resolution: 320x224
- Sound chip: stereo PWM, mixed with the Mega Drive sound
- Media: 32X cartridge (inserted into the module, itself plugged into the Mega Drive cartridge port)
¶ Presentation
The 32X (Super 32X in Japan, Mega 32X in Europe) is a Mega Drive add-on released at the end of 1994. The module plugs straight into the console's cartridge port and adds two Hitachi SH-2 processors plus an extra video chip, meant to keep players busy until the Saturn arrived by delivering textured 3D and far more colors.
Timing worked against it: the Saturn launched in Japan just weeks after the 32X, leaving Sega supporting the Mega Drive, the Mega-CD, the 32X and the Saturn all at once. Developers quickly walked away from the add-on, whose library stops at around forty titles.
It still holds a few notable games: Virtua Fighter, Virtua Racing Deluxe, Star Wars Arcade, Knuckles' Chaotix, Doom, Kolibri, along with a handful of hybrid 32X CD titles using both the module and the Mega-CD. The 32X remains a curiosity sought after by collectors.
¶ Emulators
Emulator availability per board:
| Emulator | RPI3/RPI02W | RPI4/400 | RPI5/500 | OGA/OGS/RG351 | PC | RG353 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libretro picodrive | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
picodrive is Recalbox's only 32X emulator, and it is available on every board. Its compatibility and speed are high, and it supports CRT output.
Netplay is supported, softpatching is not. RetroAchievements are available on this system. Light guns are not supported.
¶ Roms
32X games have their own folder: they must not be stored with Mega Drive games, otherwise they will be launched as plain Mega Drive games and will not work.
/recalbox/share/roms/sega32x/
Supported extensions: .32x .bin .md .smd .zip .7z
A
.binor.32xrom placed inroms/megadrive/will not boot properly: move it toroms/sega32x/.
No-Intro romsets are recommended. No BIOS is required for this system.
Also have a look at the Sega 32X guide for game preparation, configuration and system-specific tips.