Sega Neptune Custom Build Showcases High Cost and Collector Ambition

In the annals of video game hardware, few unpublished consoles spark as much intrigue as the Sega Neptune.

Originally intended as a combined Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and 32X system, the Neptune was Sega's answer to simplifying the notoriously complicated 32X add-on era.

However, Sega’s decision to discontinue the 32X and shift focus entirely to the Saturn meant the Neptune never progressed beyond the prototype stage, leaving collectors and retro gaming aficionados to wonder what might have been. Despite its brief role in Sega's production history, the Neptune has captivated hardware enthusiasts and modders.

The allure of a one-piece Genesis/32X hybrid solution—a device that could have eliminated the sprawling cables required to combine a Genesis, 32X, and Sega CD—has motivated several ambitious projects to recreate it from scratch.

These modern custom builds are far from simple undertakings, as demonstrated by a notable recent collaboration between Jake Smith and respected console modder Simon Lock. Simon Lock, renowned in the retro gaming community for his technical expertise and precise workmanship, recounted the project to Nintendo Life.

Initially hesitant, Lock was eventually convinced to take up the challenge after learning that a friend, known online as @cosam_the_great, was developing a replacement PCB that would form the foundation for a custom Neptune.

"After some discussion and when the new PCB became a reality, I agreed to build the unit," Lock explained, emphasizing the demanding nature of the build. The construction was painstaking.

Lock clarified, "This was a fully hand-built prototype.

We faced multiple challenges, from ensuring compatibility with Mega-CD hardware to troubleshooting schematic discrepancies and rectifying assembly mistakes.

The process spanned several days for the basic build and extended over three weeks for troubleshooting and refinement." While the final product is a stunning homage to Sega’s missed opportunity, such a project is not for the faint of heart—or wallet.

Lock summarized the scale of the investment, stating, "The ultimate expense in terms of hours, effort, and component sourcing was immense." To fairly compensate for this labor-intensive process, Lock and Smith agreed on a fee that brought the build cost in excess of £1,000 (around $1,300), not including the cost of donor hardware or custom shell fabrication.

With all materials considered, the total soars close to £2,000 (about $2,600), underscoring just how rare and valuable these projects are. Currently, only six such Neptune systems are known to exist, with Lock and his peers each building a small number of units.

For collectors unwilling to invest at this level, unofficial FPGA-based recreations offer a more affordable, if less authentic, alternative.

Still, these custom builds stand as testaments to the ingenuity and dedication of the retro gaming community—and to the enduring fascination with Sega’s unlaunched hardware visions. As interest in retro hardware and rare collector’s items persists, projects like the custom Sega Neptune keep the spirit of classic gaming innovation alive.

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