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  "PageContent": "<h3>Dreamcast Today | Covering the latest and greatest for your Sega Dreamcast.</h3>It’s been a minute, hasn’t it! I’ve missed a fair few happenings on the Dreamcast in the recent months, it was a bit quiet in the earlier part of the year with Grand Theft Auto III dominating the airwaves, but it would be easy to forget that Grand Theft Auto Vice City is also out there and in some respects, a great ambition project albeit one that was ported in a quicker pace due to the knowledge already gained from the GTAIII conversion process. With this said, the ports to the Dreamcast are now coming in pretty quickly so perhaps we should take a look at what is out there now and what is coming…Wipeout on Dreamcast: A Definitive Fan-Made PortEarlier this year, a native Dreamcast port of the iconic futuristic racer Wipeout was released by independent developer JNMartin, marking another milestone in the ongoing trend of classic game revivals on Sega’s final console. This version, built on top of the open-source project Wipeout Rewrite, represents one of the most polished and complete community ports available for the platform to date.The Dreamcast build of Wipeout underwent extensive refinement over the span of just a few months. Unlike basic emulation-based projects, this version has been rebuilt natively for the Dreamcast hardware, resulting in significant technical upgrades. Notably, the port delivers:High and stable frame rates, even during busy racing sequences.Extended draw distance, minimizing the abrupt pop-in that was common on original PlayStation hardware.Improved image clarity, thanks to higher resolution rendering and better texture handling.These enhancements help elevate the experience well beyond the 1995 PlayStation release, delivering a smoother and more responsive game that takes advantage of the Dreamcast’s PowerVR2 GPU and SH-4 CPU.The port is based on Wipeout Rewrite, a fan-led initiative that began circulating in 2022. While never officially confirmed, Wipeout Rewrite is widely believed to be based on leaked source code or a reverse-engineered version of the original PC port of Wipeout. This base gave developers a functional framework to adapt the game for modern or alternative platforms, including Windows, Linux, and now, the Dreamcast.By leveraging this codebase, JNMartin was able to recompile and optimize the game for Sega’s hardware, adding platform-specific features and adjustments that make it feel native to the console. Beyond technical upgrades, the Dreamcast version also supports platform-specific features:Custom controller mapping, designed specifically for the Dreamcast’s unique layout, ensures intuitive gameplay that respects the original feel while accommodating hardware differences.VMU (Visual Memory Unit) support, allowing players to save game progress, settings, and lap times just like on official Dreamcast titles.These additions help solidify the port not just as a technical experiment, but as a genuinely playable and complete version of the game for Dreamcast enthusiasts.This one is finished and available now to downloadNext up is the Nintendo 64—or, at least, something close to it. Over the past few years, source code for several Nintendo 64 games has been successfully decompiled, which has opened the door for native ports to other platforms. One of the most exciting projects to come out of this is a Dreamcast port of Mario Kart 64, being developed by JNMartin. Impressively, the game is already up and running on Dreamcast hardware, with just a few texture bugs left to fix. Given how fast development has moved, this is shaping up to be a surprisingly high-quality conversion in a short amount of time.What’s even more impressive is the potential for the Dreamcast to improve on the original game. Frame rate bumps, higher texture throughput, and smoother analog control could all enhance the experience beyond what the N64 was capable of. In some test builds, Sonic the Hedgehog has even been added as a playable character, replacing Toad, along with the Sonic R soundtrack from the Sega Saturn. It’s a quirky and fitting crossover, especially considering both franchises were once fierce rivals in the late ’90s console wars.At the same time, another iconic title is getting the Dreamcast treatment: Super Mario 64. This project is taking a similar approach—rebuilding the game to run natively on the Dreamcast rather than relying on emulation. That means better performance, tighter control over visuals, and more opportunity for enhancements. Developer Falco is leading the charge on this one, and one of the most notable updates in recent builds is the introduction of a new Mario model, inspired by the more detailed design seen in Super Mario Galaxy. Surprisingly, it works quite well within the Dreamcast’s hardware limits and gives the game a modernized feel.The technical feat here shouldn’t be understated. Getting a game originally written for a completely different architecture—using Nintendo’s proprietary graphics microcode—to run on a Dreamcast, which uses a PowerVR2 GPU and SH-4 CPU, involves deep understanding of both systems. It’s not emulation; it’s a full rebuild using original assets and code structure, with new rendering and audio subsystems designed to match the Dreamcast’s capabilities.Rounding things out is a project that’s flying a bit more under the radar: a native Dreamcast port of Driver 2. This one was quietly announced earlier this year by Falco but hasn’t seen much public attention since. Right now, it’s in a very early state—just basic geometry and placeholder assets—but there’s plenty of interest around where it might go. The original Driver 2 was planned for a Dreamcast release back in 2000 but was cancelled before it could see the light of day. No prototype or development build has ever surfaced, making this fan-made version potentially the only way to see what a true Dreamcast edition might have looked like.What makes this especially interesting is how it reflects the broader trend of Dreamcast development today. Unlike the traditional modding scene, these are native ports—games being rebuilt from the ground up for the hardware, not just shoehorned in through emulators or hacks. It’s a more technical, more demanding process, but the results are usually more stable and visually cleaner.And it’s all being done by a small group of hobbyist developers, often in their spare time. There’s no studio, no budget—just passion, technical skill, and love for both what could have scenarios and Sega’s final console.Gladmort Is Finally Shipping for Dreamcast This JulyAfter a lengthy development period, the original 2D action-platformer Gladmort is officially on its way to the Sega Dreamcast. The game, developed by French publisher JoshProd and distributed by PixelHeart, has been confirmed for a July 2025 release, with physical copies set to ship to Kickstarter backers and pre-order customers this month.Gladmort was first announced a year ago as part of a broader wave of indie titles aimed at reviving support for classic platforms, primarily the Neogeo. The game combines retro gameplay sensibilities with modern visual polish, offering side-scrolling action with a fantasy-horror aesthetic. It gained considerable attention during its Kickstarter campaign, which met its funding goal quickly thanks to strong community support from retro gaming fans, over 800 backers in fact!Despite periods of relative silence in development updates, interest in Gladmort remained strong due to its unique visual style, we’re very much looking forward to this one.JoshProd and PixelHeart are no strangers to the Dreamcast scene. The companies have worked together to bring numerous indie titles to the console over the past decade, including releases like Arcade Racing Legends, Andro Dunos II, and 4×4 Jam. These efforts have helped maintain an active niche market for Dreamcast games, long after Sega officially ended support for the system.With Gladmort, JoshProd continues its strategy of backing original titles built with Dreamcast hardware in mind—targeting fans of retro aesthetics, physical media, and platform-specific design. For those who backed the game during its crowdfunding phase, or pre-ordered through PixelHeart’s store, Gladmort will ship as a factory-pressed disc in a full jewel case, complete with printed manual and region-specific cover artwork, including a snazzy PAL specific blue case variant.As of July 2025, shipping has begun, and many backers can expect their copies to arrive within the coming weeks. Next we have ;Sovietborgs: Retro Run-and-Gun Targets Dreamcast, Mega Drive, and Neo Geo with Authentic Physical EditionsOne of the most ambitious multi-platform retro gaming projects currently in development is Sovietborgs—a top-down run-and-gun action game inspired by classics like Cannon Fodder and Chaos Engine. The game has been on the radar for some time, but development has recently stepped up with the launch of a new Indiegogo campaign, aiming to raise approximately £41,000 to help fund physical production and final polish for its multi-platform release.What sets Sovietborgs apart isn’t just the retro-inspired gameplay—it’s the developer’s commitment to bringing the game to multiple original hardware platforms, including the Sega Dreamcast, Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, and the Neo Geo.Described as a hybrid of tactical shooting and arcade-style chaos, Sovietborgs puts players in control of cybernetic soldiers navigating grim, war-torn battlefields. The game embraces a stylized dystopian military aesthetic, with large, detailed sprites, fast-paced action, and a top-down perspective that gives players a tactical view of the battlefield.Gameplay footage and early screenshots suggest a blend of high-action shooting, squad mechanics, and destructible environments, with a focus on short, intense missions. Though inspired by older games, Sovietborgs appears to modernize some of the formula, incorporating smoother controls, expanded weapon loadouts, and slightly deeper strategy elements.The soundtrack and sound design also aim to match the era, with chiptune-heavy compositions and console-authentic audio output tailored to each platform’s sound hardware.Unlike most retro-inspired games released on modern platforms, Sovietborgs is being developed to run on the original hardware of three distinct retro systems. That means dealing with three entirely different sets of graphical capabilities, memory limitations, and control schemes:On Dreamcast, the game benefits from enhanced performance, improved visuals, and CD-quality audio.On the Mega Drive, developers are pushing the 16-bit hardware with smooth scrolling, sprite-based explosions, and fast gameplay at 60fps.On Neo Geo, the game leverages the system’s arcade pedigree for rich visual detail and responsive controls.This type of multi-platform development is rare and demanding, particularly when staying within the constraints of the original hardware specifications as well as improving key points for the console in question.One of the most praised aspects of Sovietborgs is its attention to physical packaging. The developers have taken a clear stance on delivering authentic-looking boxed editions that mimic the exact style of each platform’s original releases—something that many modern indie publishers have increasingly overlooked.The Dreamcast version comes in a traditional blue jewel case, complete with the correct Dreamcast spiral logo, spine design, and even official-style cover formatting. This attention to detail is especially appreciated by collectors, as many recent independent Dreamcast releases have omitted the iconic spiral or used non-standard packaging. Of course there will also be an NTSC version which retains the earlier white style Dreamcast packaging for North America.The Mega Drive / Genesis editions are also housed in hard clamshell cases, styled to match the Blue ‘L’ or red Genesis box art depending on region, again evoking the authentic 16-bit retail presentation.The Neo Geo AES version, for those backing at higher tiers, will arrive in a classic SNK-style big box case, similar to what players would have found in the ‘90s arcade-to-home ports.This level of care in presentation ensures Sovietborgs will sit proudly on shelves alongside official releases from the respective consoles’ original libraries—a significant draw for serious retro collectors.As of July 2025, the Sovietborgs Indiegogo campaign is live and actively seeking funding. Backer tiers offer a mix of digital downloads, physical cartridges and discs, soundtracks, posters, and even custom game controllers in themed packaging. Development is already well underway, with target release windows expected in mid to late 2026, depending on platform and production scale. Worth keeping in mind also is that in the mix of the tiers, there’s the option to obtain an exclusive PAL variant of Xenocider if you missed out on the original print of this.If funded, Sovietborgs promises to be one of the most faithful and technically ambitious retro releases in years—bridging three classic platforms with one unified, authentically presented vision. Help out today by pledging what you can!",
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