35 Years Ago, a Forgotten Sega Console Paved the Way for the Steam Deck

Few companies have ever approached console design with the unbridled, experimental spirit that defined Sega throughout the 1990s. The firm was famous for its restless innovation, frequently pushing boundaries with unconventional peripherals like the Sega CD and the 32X, which transformed the humble Genesis into a platform for constant reinvention. Over a span of less than two decades, between 1983 and 2001, Sega brought an impressive 15 distinct pieces of hardware to market.

Sega was equally adept at iterating on its existing technology, most notably with the Game Gear handheld, which arrived in North American and European markets 35 years ago this month. Borrowing heavily from the architecture of the 8-bit Master System, the Game Gear positioned itself as a sophisticated, “grown-up” alternative to the cultural juggernaut that was the Nintendo Game Boy. While it ultimately failed to dethrone Nintendo, the Game Gear remains a pivotal landmark in the evolution of portable gaming.

The device’s standout feature was its vibrant, backlit LCD screen—a luxurious upgrade compared to the murky, monochromatic visuals of its rivals. Although it wasn’t the inaugural color handheld—that credit belongs to predecessors like the Atari Lynx and NEC TurboExpress—Sega managed to offer this premium feature at a remarkably accessible price. For $149, players could take high-fidelity versions of icons like Sonic the Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat, and NBA Jam wherever they roamed.

Despite the visual leap, the Game Gear’s library often felt like a watered-down collection of Genesis ports. Crucially, the platform lacked a “killer app”—a defining title like Pokémon that could anchor a console’s success for decades. Furthermore, the hardware was notorious for its insatiable appetite for power, draining six AA batteries in a mere three to four hours. However, it offered creature comforts the Game Boy lacked, such as a built-in AC adapter port and a ergonomic horizontal design. In retrospect, the Game Gear feels less like a Game Boy contemporary and more like the spiritual grandfather to modern powerhouses like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.

Sega’s penchant for eccentricity was best exemplified by its wild range of accessories, most famously the TV Tuner. By snapping this peripheral into the cartridge slot and extending a long, silver antenna, users could turn their handheld into a miniature television set. While modern mobile devices have rendered such tech obsolete, these forgotten curiosities—much like the PlayStation Portable’s UMD movies—retain a nostalgic, mechanical charm.

The TV Tuner even featured an AV-in port, allowing for the absurd but undeniably impressive feat of piping a modern video signal—like a Nintendo Switch—through a 1990s handheld screen. It serves no practical purpose, yet the sheer technical novelty is delightful.

Beyond the tuner, the Master Gear Converter allowed users to play full-sized Master System cartridges on the go, serving as a precursor to the Super Game Boy. Sega even attempted to address the screen size with the “Super Wide Gear,” a magnifying lens so cumbersome it arguably made the console more difficult to play than it had been before.

Ultimately, the Game Gear trailed far behind the Game Boy, which went on to sell over 118 million units—a staggering tenfold lead over Sega’s efforts. Yet, nobody could fault Sega’s marketing prowess. With a campaign defined by screeching electric guitars, edgy humor, and a brazenly defiant attitude, the Game Gear captured the essence of the 90s in a way few other products could.

While the Game Gear didn’t capture the crown, Sega’s foresight was undeniable: they realized early on that there was a massive, untapped appetite for high-performance portable gaming. It simply took the rest of the industry years to catch up to their vision.

Source: Polygon