Nintendo Switch gets a six-button Sega Genesis controller, but only in Japan

Last week, Nintendo made the surprise announcement that the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games will be coming to Switch Online as part of a new paid level of ‘Expansion Pack’. Nintendo will also sell N64 and Genesis controllers for $ 64.99 to use with these games.

Now, the company has revealed a special version of the Genesis controller that has six buttons instead of the usual three. However, it will only be offered in Japan, a Nintendo of America spokesperson confirmed to Polygon.

The spokesperson did not provide a specific reason for this exclusivity outside of a general statement that “different regions make different decisions based on a variety of factors.” With that said, the spokesperson noted that the three-button setup was “by far the most widely used and well-known SEGA Genesis controller in these regions.”

What Polygon explains, this was certainly true. The six-button controller wasn’t released until several years after the Genesis was released. It was then introduced in response to the growing popularity of arcade games with many entries like Street Fighter and Streets of rage.

It is important to note that while Nintendo Switch accessories are technically region free, the company says it “cannot guarantee compatibility between systems and accessories for all regions.” So you might want to take that into account if you’re thinking of importing the six-button gamepad or any other Japan-exclusive peripherals.

However, for now, the three-button controller and Switch Online expansion pack are scheduled to launch sometime in October. Nintendo says that specific pricing and release time will be revealed at a later date.

Source: Polygon


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