This is a list of cancelled Sega 32X video games. The 32X was an add-on to the Sega Genesisvideo game console that was designed as a cheaper, more incremental hardware alternative to the Sega Saturn. However, the dwindling of the aging Genesis market and the more advanced Saturn dwarfing it led to low sales and a very brief lifespan - launched in late 1994, it was discontinued by early 1996. Many games - even Sega's own - were cancelled simply because games were not able to be finished in this short time, with games either being moved on to the Saturn, or cancelled outright. This list documents all known games that were confirmed for release for the 32X at some point, but did not end up being released for it.[1]
Development of the game originally started on the Sega CD and Sega 32X, and even had a release date of November 1994 at one point, but development was eventually moved to the more powerful platforms of the Sega Saturn and PlayStation 1, where it eventually released in 1996.[8][9]
The game was one of the Sega-developed games seen as the 32X's "second-wave of software" that was cancelled upon the quick termination of the platform in early 1996. The game involved maneuvering a tank that could adapt to whatever it touched.[10]
A sequel to the 1994 Sega Genesis title Zero Tolerance was announced for the Genesis and 32X, and scheduled for release in 1995, but was cancelled and never released for either platform. The game was later released onto the internet as freeware in the 2000s, and as part of the Zero Tolerance Collection on the Nintendo Switch in 2022.[11][12][13]
After the success of porting Virtua Fighter to the 32X in 1995 after its 1994 Sega Saturn port, Sega was reportedly looking at other Saturn games to be ported to the 32X. A port of the 1995 Saturn game Bug! was announced in early 1996, but never released, with the 32X being discontinued shortly after.[15]
A variety of video game adaptions of the 1995 film were released across many video game platforms; the 32X and Sega Genesis were announced as target platforms, but games of the franchise never released on either platform.[16]
Originally announced as a Castlevania entry for the Sega 32X, the platform's short lifespan lead to a shift to the Saturn and PlayStation platforms instead. The game was eventually cancelled, but some content was reworked into Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which was released on Saturn in 1998 in Japan and PlayStation worldwide.[17][18][10]
College Basketball's National Championship Hosted by Billy Parker
A college basketball game announced and made by Sega themselves, it would have featured scaling and camera rotation - features rare for the time. While it was listed on release schedules across 1994 for release towards the end of the year, the game never materialized.[18][9]
Announced at E3 1995 for the Saturn, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, SNES, PlayStation 1, and PC, the game was reported far in development, but was cancelled and never released in any capacity. Despite a large budget and a then-impressive 15,000 frames of animations, the game reported garnered very negative reactions from test audiences, who did not like the game's half-court, two versus two set up.[19][20]
A port of the 1994 arcade game for the 32X and Sega Saturn was announced around the same time as the game's initial announcement. The 32X version was not present at the time of the 1995 Saturn release, but a 32X release was still reportedly possible into 1996, when Sega considered the possibility of more 32X ports after the success of Virtua Fighter on 32X in late 1995. However, the 32X was discontinued shortly thereafter.[23][15]
A video game adaption of the first three Die Hard films, development originally started off for the 32X and Sega Genesis, before development shifted to the Sega Saturn, PlayStation 1, and Windows, where it released across late 1996 and early 1997, well after the 32Xs lifespan.[24]
Released on PC platforms in 1995, the first console version was initially intended for the 32X. However, between the 32X's short lifespan, and difficulty in developing for the Saturn, the only console version that arose was for the PlayStation 1 in 1996.[25][26][27]
Sega teased in 1994 that an entry in the Ecco the Dolphin series would release for the 32X, and publications expected it to release in 1995, but no further details ever arose on the title.[10][28]
A version of the 1984 PC game was in development for the Sega Genesis and 32X in 1994, but was delayed and eventually cancelled after Sony pulled out of publishing the game. The Genesis version featured polygonal graphics, and the 32X version featured greater detail in its graphics. In 2020, a demo of the Genesis version was released onto the internet by designer Ian Bell.[29][30]
A port of the 1995 Sega Genesis game was scheduled for 32X, but never materialized.[31][4]
Flying Aces
Originally announced for Sega CD 32X platform, its short-lived lifespan lead to development shifting to Saturn, though it never released there or anywhere else either.[32][14][33][34]
Fractal Racer
Starting development on the 32X, development eventually shifted to the Sega Saturn, though the game never released in any capacity.[35]
A game that combined the gameplay of Outrun and Road Rash. In development across 1994 and 1995, it began under the name Nitro Wrecks for the Sega Genesis. Development later shifted to the 32X and the game received a name change to Heavy Machinery. The game never released for either platform due to the discontinuation of both platforms.[37][38][39]
After Sega announced that Capitol Multimedia was officially signed on to develop 32X games, one their first announcements was that 32X was one of the consoles that would receive ports of the arcade gameThayer's Quest under the new name Kingdom: The Far Reaches. However, the 32X version never materialized.[44]
When Ocean Software first announced they had acquired the rights to create a video game adaption of the 1996 Mission Impossible film in 1996, announced platforms included the 32X, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, and the SNES. However, a lengthy development period delayed it well beyond most of the platform's lifespans, leading to it only releasing on the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 1 by the time of its 1998 release.[45]
An entry of Sega's NBA Action series was announced for 32X. Announced in between the vastly different Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn iterations, no footage was ever released of the game, making it difficult to discern if it was a variant or original game.[46][16]
One of the first games announced after Capitol Multimedia signed on to be a 32X software developer was NFL Football Trivia Challenge, a game with over 1500 NFL related questions voiced by commentary Pat Summerall. However, only the Sega CD version ever released.[44]
Development of the game started in 1994, and was scheduled for release in September 1995, but the game was delayed over a year until late 1996, delaying it out of the 32X's lifespan. Sega Genesis and SNES versions still released.[48]
A 32X iteration of the Sega Genesis game of the same name was announced, but never released. While no footage of it was ever released, its advertisements noted improvements over the Genesis version, including a fully 3D playing field, and player character models up to 4 times as large as Genesis football games.[50][51]
Began development as early as 1991 for the Sega Genesis, but its ambition lead to it being pushed to the 32X and its stronger processing power. The game involved controlling 2 police officers, "Ratchet" and "Bolt", who would mix and match different weapon types to defeat oncoming enemies. Featured 2D characters in a 3D environment. Despite years of development, no screenshots or footage was ever shown, just unused box art. The game was one of the Sega-developed games seen as the 32X's "second-wave of software" that was cancelled upon the quick termination of the platform in early 1996. The game is unrelated to Sony's similarly named Ratchet and Clank series.[3][10][52][53]
Console ports of the arcade game were announced for 32X, Sega Genesis, and Sega Saturn, though the 32X version never released. The 32X version was far enough along to be demoed at E3 1995.[3][55]
An isometric action platformer game with pre-rendered 3D graphics in the vein of SegaSonic the Hedgehog (1993) and Sonic 3D Blast (1996), following a boy and his dog navigating a hostile alien planet. Originally in development for the Sega CD, the developer's lack of commercial success in releasing games for the platform lead for development to be moved to the 32X and later the Sega Saturn before its ultimate cancellation. Prior to its cancellation, it had been scheduled for a late 1995 release on the Saturn, but the game had been put on hold due to its developers feeling it was too similar to other games they observed at CES 1995. They later closed down entirely in 1997.[14][56][57][58]
A Sonic the Hedgehogarcade game with a relatively limited release. A 32X version of the game was reported by magazines as being in development, but never materialized. While no official reasons were given, well after the fact in 2005, when asked why it was not included in Sonic Gems Collection, Yuji Naka noted that there had been troubles in trying to translate the arcade game's trackball control scheme to standard game controllers, and to date, no ports of the game have ever been released.[59][60]
Originally scheduled for release in 1995 for the 32X and PC platforms, by the time it was delayed and released in mid-1996, a 32X had been cancelled in favor of Sega Saturn and PlayStation 1 releases.[61]
A proposed Sonic the Hedgehog game for the 32X by Sega Technical Institute while Sonic Team was busy developing Nights Into Dreams for the Sega Saturn. Game design documents were created and gameplay prototyped internally, but staff changes and intercompany disagreements delayed progress, and with the 32X lifespan being short, development was shifted to the Saturn, where it became Sonic Xtreme, which was worked on until its cancellation in late 1996.[62]
Game Players magazine reported that a Sonic Sports game was in development for the 32X. The game would have been similar in concept to ACME All-Stars, including the sports of basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Sonic, Tails, and Ristar were mentioned among the game's playable characters.[63]
Upgraded versions of the 1994 Soul Star release for Sega CD were announced for the 32X, Atari Jaguar CD, and PC platforms, but none ever materialized.[64]
While developing an iteration of the Strikersoccer video games for the Sega Genesis, developers Rage Software discussed plans to develop enhanced versions for other Sega platforms, including a Sega CD version that used the increased storage space of its CD-ROM to store data for over 200,000 different soccer teams, and a 32X version that used its stronger hardware for improved graphics. However, the Genesis version was the only one which ended up releasing on Sega platforms, and future Sega Saturn and Dreamcast version were completely different games.[67]
A 32X version of the multiplatform racing game was in development, and previewed by French video game magazine Consoles+, but never materialized.[68][69]
An adventure game where the player investigates terrible events that keep happening to a small town. The game was one of the Sega-developed games seen as the 32X's "second-wave of software" that was cancelled upon the quick termination of the platform in early 1996.[10]
Core Design began work on a golf video game for the 32X and Saturn before even having finalized hardware information for either. The game was announced as Tee-Off in 1994, with the team aiming to release it in time for the 32X launch. The game did not meet launch, and never released on 32X, but later released on Saturn as Virtual Golf.[71]
A 32X version of the 1995 Sega Genesis and Sega Game Gear game was in development. While no footage of the game was ever released, it reportedly featured a fully 3D world, something not present in the Genesis or Game Gear versions.[73][74]
A port of the 1994 arcade game was announced for the 32X, but never released, nor was the game ever released anywhere else beyond its initial arcade release.[14]
One of the last Sega CD releases in 1995, a 32X port was announced, but never materialized.[18][28]
X-Men / X-Men: Mind Games
An action-adventure game featuring Wolverine, Bishop, Rogue, and Ice Man announced for 32X, and present at E3 1995, but never released in any capacity.[3][80]
