Sega’s ‘huge’ tech announcement is arcade server technology

The previously teased Sega announcement in the latest issue of Famitsu is reportedly new server technology planned for arcades.

According to Ryokutya2089 (via Kantan Games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto), Sega’s new “Fog Gaming” technology will essentially turn its Japanese arcades into server farms.

The tech will allow arcades to divert the CPU and GPU power of their machines for other purposes, and commercially adds the benefit of being able to make money outside of business hours.

Also known as Edge Computing, fog computing introduces additional local node mediators between end-users and cloud servers, in the process enabling data to be processed much more efficiently.

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As the arcade scene is largely absent outside of Japan, it’s unlikely the tech will reach beyond Sega’s home country.

During a YouTube live stream in late May, Japanese technology journalist Zenji Nishikawa reportedly claimed his “huge” Sega scoop in this week’s Famitsu would be on the level of Wired’s initial PS5 reveal article in April 2019.

Sega also announced the ‘palm-sized’ Game Gear Micro console on Wednesday.

The micro version of the 1990 handheld measures 80mm wide, 43mm tall, and 20mm deep with a 1.15-inch display, and will launch in Japan on October 6 for ¥4,980 (around $50 / €50).

The micro console features a mono speaker, headphone jack, and is powered by either two AAA batteries or a USB cable.

In Japan, the Game Gear Micro will be available in blue, yellow, red and black, with each variant coming with a different collection of games, which include Sonic the Hedgehog, Out Run, Shining Force, Sonic & Tails, Columns, G.G. Shinobi, and Megami Tensei Gaiden.

There’s no word on a western release yet, although the Mega Drive Mini was released worldwide in 2019.