Advent Softworks' LINEAR S Pays Authentic Tribute to Sega Saturn’s Unique 3D Design

In the contemporary landscape of indie game development, few projects capture the spirit of classic hardware as authentically as Advent Softworks’ upcoming title, LINEAR S.

Developed by the two-person studio comprising Joel Boto and Daniel Sato, Advent Softworks has dedicated itself to reproducing the distinctive 3D visual style of the Sega Saturn, challenging prevailing narratives about the limitations of the ‘90s console.

Though Sega’s Saturn was often maligned in its day—perceived as less capable than its Sony PlayStation rival—the platform has retained a passionate fanbase and inspired a new generation of developers aiming to preserve its unique technical identity. Advent Softworks’ approach goes far beyond superficial homage.

The studio built PROJECT S, a custom suite of tools and shaders in Unity, meticulously engineered to emulate the complex architecture and rendering quirks of the Saturn.

This toolkit underpins LINEAR S, a racing game that not only adopts Saturn-era aesthetics, but faithfully embeds itself within the constraints of its original hardware—albeit fully playable on modern PCs.

Sato recently sat down with Sega Saturn Shiro to discuss the intricacies of recreating a nearly 30-year-old console in a contemporary engine.

He shared that, "Reconstructing the Saturn’s technical nuances in Unity was an immense challenge, especially striking the right balance between accuracy and practicality." Sato also remarked that, while most gamers recognize the signature ‘look’ of PlayStation or Nintendo 64 titles, the Saturn’s visual identity is far more enigmatic, but equally beloved by dedicated fans who have spent decades studying its inner workings. Interestingly, Sato notes that LINEAR S draws inspiration not from genre standards like Daytona USA or Ridge Racer, but from titles that showcase the Saturn’s hardware strengths—for example, Panzer Dragoon Zwei and Virtual On.

By analyzing how these games used the system’s dual video processors (VDP1 and VDP2) to generate depth and scale, the development team strove for visual authenticity.

Sato explained, "My early concept was an arcade drift racer with unique 3D rendering and a classic rear camera, but the initial tests didn't meet expectations.

We pivoted to more familiar references, refining the gameplay for accessible drifting, influenced by titles such as Initial D, while keeping control intuitive and satisfying." While the primary target platform for LINEAR S is currently PC, discussions around an authentic Saturn port remain speculative.

Sato clarified that, although porting the project to actual Saturn hardware would require substantial reengineering due to the system’s unique architecture, he is confident that a carefully optimized version is technically achievable.

However, he emphasized that such a move is not in the studio’s immediate plans, but expressed personal interest in someday seeing LINEAR S running on the original Saturn console. Advent Softworks demonstrates a rare commitment to historical fidelity in game development, preserving the artistic and technical legacy of the Sega Saturn for both retro enthusiasts and modern gamers.

As LINEAR S advances toward release, it stands as an exemplary showcase of how contemporary tools like Unity can rejuvenate classic gaming experiences for today’s platforms, while respecting and elucidating the hardware that inspired them.

Unity Sega Xbox Series X|S Sega Saturn Saturn S Advent Softworks LINEAR S PROJECT S Joel Boto Daniel Sato PC