Rare Sega Mega Drive Prototype 'Dark Empires' Unveiled: A Lost Dragon RTS from Sega Technical Institute

In a landmark moment for video game preservation, Hidden Palace—an esteemed website dedicated to unearthing rare and unreleased games—has unveiled a playable prototype of the forgotten Sega Mega Drive title 'Dark Empires.' Developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) in the early 1990s, Dark Empires represents a unique chapter in the studio's history and highlights the experimental spirit of early console real-time strategy (RTS) games. Dark Empires was conceived at Sega Technical Institute shortly after its founding in 1990 by Mark Cerny, making it one of the studio's formative projects.

According to Hidden Palace, the initial concept was led by Sega designer Bill Dunn, a noted fan of tabletop strategy games.

The development team included future Insomniac Games artist Craig Stitt, as well as programmers Scott Chandler and Ken Rose.

Drawing inspiration from titles such as Technosoft’s acclaimed Herzog Zwei, Dark Empires set itself apart by focusing on epic battles between opposing factions of dragons, each spanning diverse historical time periods. Although ambitious, the project ultimately did not reach commercial release.

As reported by Hidden Palace, development on Dark Empires ceased in late 1991 following the delivery of its first playable prototype.

No official reason for cancellation has been documented, but Craig Stitt reflected that the game's niche appeal may have been a deciding factor, noting that it possibly did not align with Mark Cerny's broader vision for the studio at the time. The release of Dark Empires' prototype offers insight into its innovative gameplay premise—commanding dragon armies across eras—a concept that would foreshadow elements eventually seen in Stitt’s later work.

Notably, Stitt would revisit the idea of dragons traveling through history in his early pitch for Insomniac Games’ 'Spyro the Dragon,' a franchise that went on to become a PlayStation classic.

While Stitt has clarified that this was not an intentional connection, he acknowledges there is likely some intrinsic link between the projects.

In a statement to researcher Alexander Rojas, he explained, "That wasn't a conscious thing, but I believe there's definitely a connection somewhere." Interested readers can explore more details of the game's development journey in Hidden Palace’s comprehensive write-up.

The newly released Dark Empires prototype is available for download, giving retro gaming enthusiasts and preservationists a rare opportunity to experience this lost piece of Sega Mega Drive history firsthand.

For further context on STI’s legacy and unreleased projects, the Video Game History Foundation has recently published the ‘Craig Stitt Art & Design Papers’ collection, which features additional materials from Dark Empires and other innovative, yet unreleased, STI titles such as Segapede and SpellCaster. The unveiling of Dark Empires not only expands our understanding of Sega Technical Institute's creative ambitions but also underscores the enduring importance of game preservation efforts.

As the gaming community continues to champion the recovery of lost works, prototypes like Dark Empires remind us of the rich, often hidden, stories behind some of the industry’s most influential studios and platforms.

Sega Rare Xbox Series X|S Sega Mega Drive Mega Drive game development console Technical Xbox X|S Dark Empires Sega Technical Institute Hidden Palace Alexander Rojas Bill Dunn Craig Stitt Scott Chandler Ken Rose Mark Cerny Insomniac Games Spyro the Dragon Video Game History Foundation