Paprium Now Playable on Flash Carts: Major Breakthrough for Sega Genesis Fans

Paprium, the notorious Sega Genesis beat 'em up by WaterMelon, has captured the gaming community’s attention since its tumultuous announcement and protracted development cycle.

First made available for preorder in 2017, Paprium was highly anticipated as a technically ambitious belt-scroller for the classic Genesis hardware.

However, its launch quickly became infamous due to years of production delays, scattered fulfillment, and limited supply, leaving many backers empty-handed nearly a decade later. Recently, a significant technical breakthrough has reignited interest in Paprium.

The game, previously challenging to emulate because of its custom hardware, can now be played on original Sega Genesis systems using a Mega Everdrive Pro flash cart.

This landmark achievement was reported on July 22nd, 2025, with developer Krikzz—responsible for the Everdrive line—acknowledging that although the current implementation is not yet flawless, the project’s progress in a short timeframe has been nothing short of remarkable.

"It’s not perfect yet, but seeing how far this has come so quickly is impressive," Krikzz remarked, underscoring the rapidly advancing state of Genesis homebrew and preservation efforts. Earlier this month, the community received good news with the release of a custom Genesis Plus GX core for RetroArch.

This development enabled Paprium to be emulated properly for the first time, offering fans their first stable glimpse of the finished product after years of waiting.

Before this, Paprium’s custom chip design had hampered emulation efforts, further compounding the frustration experienced by backers and retro enthusiasts. The euphoria surrounding these breakthroughs is tempered by the history of Paprium’s distribution challenges.

Despite two crowdfunding campaigns and the game’s technical merits, WaterMelon struggled to deliver on its shipping promises.

Many customers who pledged support years prior have yet to receive a physical copy.

While community-driven solutions are facilitating access to the game, these milestones also renew discussion about consumer expectations and accountability within retro game development. With Paprium now playable via Mega Everdrive Pro on original Sega Genesis hardware and through RetroArch emulation, a broader audience can finally experience its innovative gameplay and sophisticated graphical effects.

These advancements not only underscore the dedication within the homebrew and emulation scenes but also serve as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic hardware and the passionate communities supporting it.

For those waiting nearly a decade, this development represents a long-awaited opportunity to engage with one of the most storied projects in modern retro gaming.

Sega Genesis Sega Genesis Paprium WaterMelon Mega Everdrive Pro Genesis Plus GX RetroArch