The Polymega is a home video game console made by the American company Playmaji, Inc. It is a retro console that can play games from older systems that used CDs or cartridges, such as PlayStation, TurboGrafx-CD, Neo Geo CD, Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and Nintendo 64. The console has a built-in DVD drive, and special add-ons called Element Modules allow it to play games that use cartridges.
It was first called RetroBlox in 2017 but had many delays before being released in September 2021.
History
The console was introduced in January 2017 as the RetroBlox. It was made by RetroBlox, Inc, a company based in Los Angeles. The company was started by Bryan Bernal and Eric Christensen, who both worked at Insomniac Games before. Bernal wanted to create the console after visiting Japan in 2015. During his trip, he bought many PC Engine games but found it difficult to play them on modern HD televisions without making changes to the console. He aimed to build a new console that could run these games without needing adjustments. The console was originally planned to launch in early 2018 but faced delays.
In May 2017, the console was renamed Polymega, and RetroBlox, Inc became Playmaji, Inc. Work on the console continued without much publicity for the next year. It was later shown at E3 2018. Playmaji began accepting pre-orders in September 2018, but the company’s website stopped working for several days because of high traffic and a type of cyberattack.
The design of the console was completed in early 2019. However, the release was affected by a shortage of 14nm chips. A public test phase started in early 2020, and the release was delayed again to November 2020 because of problems with a manufacturer that produced parts for the console. The release was delayed once more after issues with communication with Wal-Mart occurred after a change in leadership. Playmaji canceled orders placed through Wal-Mart’s website and asked buyers to purchase the console through the Polymega website instead. The release was then delayed until February 2021 for those who had pre-ordered in 2018 and 2019.
The consoles were assembled in Myanmar, where protests happened in 2021, causing another delay. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to the delay. The console was finally released worldwide on September 12, 2021, fulfilling pre-orders made before May 2020. Some units reached Japan a day early. The console costs $450, and Element Modules—add-ons that support cartridge games—cost $80 each.
In February 2023, Playmaji announced plans to release the Polymega App, a free software that lets users play saved games on a computer. The company also plans to launch a paid subscription service called Polymega XL, which would add features like cheat codes and cloud storage for games. Because many computers lack a disc drive, Playmaji plans to release the Polymega Remix, an external drive that connects via USB and supports cartridges.
In July 2023, Playmaji announced a partnership with Atari, which became a minority investor. This deal would help Playmaji finish shipping pre-orders from 2021 by the end of 2023. Under the partnership, the Polymega App and Remix will work with the modern Atari VCS console.
Hardware
The Polymega uses an Intel Coffee Lake S processor. It has Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections, and it connects to a television using HDMI with a resolution of 1080p.
The console’s default controller looks like a DualShock 4 controller and works with all modules. It can be used wirelessly or connected to the console through a microUSB port. Playmaji also makes a set of classic controllers for each module, designed to match the look of original controllers from the past. Controllers made for older consoles can be used with the Polymega’s modules. Similarly, the classic controllers from each module can be used with the original consoles. Controllers made by third-party companies, such as the Xbox 360 controller, also work with the Polymega.
Playmaji partnered with Sinden Technology to create a Polymega light gun called the Retro Gun Controller. It is designed to work with HD televisions. It is expected to be released in mid-2024.
Games
The Polymega uses Linux and is based on emulation, which means it uses legally licensed software such as Kega Fusion, MAME, Mednafen, and Mesen. These programs were modified by Playmaji. The main console has a built-in CD drive, and cartridge-based games are supported through add-ons called Element Modules. Each module includes five pre-installed games.
Playmaji claims the Polymega is "the world's most compatible game console." It supports games from several cartridge-based systems, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and Sega Genesis. It also supports CD-based systems like PlayStation, Sega CD, and TurboGrafx-16, along with its international versions such as the PC Engine.
Support for the Neo Geo CD was added in June 2017. The Polymega loads Neo Geo CD games much faster than the original console, which was known for slow load times. In September 2018, support for the Sega Saturn was announced. The Saturn is difficult to emulate. Bernal, a Playmaji representative, said the Dreamcast might be the last console supported, explaining that Playmaji does not plan to support newer systems like the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, or later consoles. Bernal noted challenges in emulating the Dreamcast due to its special GD-ROM format but stated in 2022 that work on this issue was ongoing.
The Polymega was originally designed to use a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), but this was changed in mid-2018. Removing the FPGA allowed more space for a faster dual-core chip, enabling support for more demanding systems like the Saturn, Dreamcast, and Nintendo 64. Before this change, Bernal said some systems, like the N64, could not be supported due to legal issues, including unexpired patents. In late 2021, Playmaji announced an N64 module due to demand. Bernal explained that there were few legal options for playing N64 games outside of original hardware, making the module a natural choice. The N64 module was released in December 2023. Compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games is planned using the N64's Transfer Pak. Through a partnership with Atari, Playmaji also plans to release a module for Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges, expected in 2024.
The Polymega is compatible with over 90% of the games from each classic console. It works with regional versions of games, including NTSC, PAL, and Japanese titles, without needing patches. The console includes a built-in database with cover art, descriptions, and screenshots for thousands of games. This information appears when a game is inserted and is organized by console and region.
The Polymega can save game data to its memory, creating a backup and helping preserve physical copies. However, games downloaded from the internet cannot be saved without an original copy. Once game data is saved, a module is no longer needed to play the game, though it is still required for classic controllers. The console has 32 GB of storage and includes slots for SD cards and M.2 SSDs to store more games.
Initially, the Polymega was planned to include live streaming through YouTube and Twitch, but this feature was removed in 2018.
Playmaji regularly updates the console, such as adding support for previously incompatible games. An update in late 2021 introduced screen filters that mimic the monochrome displays of the Game Boy and Virtual Boy.
Playmaji plans to launch a digital store for downloading games, including arcade titles. An internal studio was created to develop exclusive games for the Polymega. Playmaji also intends to support cloud gaming services in the future.
Reception
Christopher Grant of Polygon said the Polymega console is a good choice for gamers who already have many games, stating, "The Polymega is an attractive all-in-one option. While it does not use the same advanced technology as the MiSTer, it is still a strong competitor for the best retro gaming console." Will Greenwald of PCMag praised the Polymega's software and gave it a rating of 4 out of 5. Damien McFerran of Nintendo Life highlighted the console's ability to play games from the Saturn system and wrote, "There is no other device like this available, and it may become a popular choice for fans of retro gaming." Some critics mentioned that the console's price is very high. PCMag and Wired listed the Polymega as one of the top retro gaming consoles.