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Japanese SEGA Saturn (model 1) with controller

Sega Saturn

セガサターン

No. 01322 Nov 1994

Sega Saturn

Manufacturer
SEGA
Type
Home video game console · 32-BIT
Note
Model HST-3200

03

Overview

Overview

A 32-bit home console released by Sega in 1994, with twin Hitachi SH-2 CPUs and two video display processors (VDP1 and VDP2). Games were supplied on CD-ROM.

Name in Japan
セガサターン
Name in North America
Sega Saturn
Name in Europe
Sega Saturn

04

Industrial Design

Industrial design

The launch model had a gray casing; a later lower-priced model in light gray (officially white) was released in Japan.

SEGA Saturn motherboard
SEGA Saturn motherboard

05

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications

Model number
HST-3200
CPU
Hitachi SH-2 ×2 @ 28.6 MHz
Memory
RAM 2 MB / VRAM 1.5 MB / sound RAM 512 KB
Graphics
VDP1 + VDP2
Display
320×224 – 704×224
Bits (period term)
32-bit
Generation (Wikipedia)
5th generation

Values are from the sources below. Where sources differ, see the notes under Sources.

06

Controller

Controller

Six-button pad (A, B, C, X, Y, Z) plus Start.

SEGA Saturn control pad (Japanese model 1)
SEGA Saturn controller (Japanese model 1)

07

Media Format

Media format

  • CD-ROM

  • CD-ROM

    Optical discs sharing the audio CD format, used for data. Sources describe the PC Engine's CD-ROM² (1988) as the first use of CD-ROM as a home console game medium.

08

Launch & Context

Launch & historical context

Release (Japan)
22 Nov 1994[1]
Release (North America)
11 May 1995[1]
Release (Europe)
8 Jul 1995[1]
Launch price (Japan)
¥44,800(1996年3月に20,000円へ値下げ)[2]

Launched in Japan on November 22, 1994; the initial shipment of 200,000 units sold out on the first day, with Virtua Fighter selling at nearly a one-to-one ratio with the console.

09

Notable Games

Notable games

10

Gallery

Gallery

  • Japanese SEGA Saturn (model 1) with controller

    SEGA Saturn (Japanese model 1) with controller

  • SEGA Saturn control pad (Japanese model 1)

    SEGA Saturn controller (Japanese model 1)

  • SEGA Saturn motherboard

    SEGA Saturn motherboard

  • SEGA Saturn 3D Control Pad (Japanese version)

    SEGA Saturn 3D Control Pad (Japanese)

11

Timeline

Timeline

  1. 1990.11.21Super FamicomNintendo
  2. 1991.12.12Mega-CDSEGA
  3. 1994.09.09Neo Geo CDSNK
  4. 1994.11.22Sega SaturnSEGA
  5. 1994.12.03PlayStationSony
  6. 1994.12.23PC-FXNEC
  7. 1996.06.23Nintendo 64Nintendo

12

Related Consoles

Related consoles

About Sega →

13

Sources

Sources

  1. [1]
    Sega Saturn

    Wikipedia (EN)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  2. [2]
    セガサターン

    Wikipedia (JA)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  3. [3]
    沿革

    株式会社セガ

    ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
Notes on conflicting sources

bits: SEGA corporate history '32bit家庭用ゲーム機『セガサターン』発売'. Units 9.26M worldwide / 5.75M Japan (EN & JA agree) but shipped vs sold not specified, so unitsSold omitted. Gray color of launch model inferred from EN 'later recolored light gray (officially white)' wording — verify if strict.

14

Image Credits

Image credits

  • SEGA Saturn (Japanese model 1) with controller

    Japanese SEGA Saturn (model 1) with controller

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

  • SEGA Saturn controller (Japanese model 1)

    SEGA Saturn control pad (Japanese model 1)

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·CC BY-SA 3.0

  • SEGA Saturn motherboard

    SEGA Saturn motherboard

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

  • SEGA Saturn 3D Control Pad (Japanese)

    SEGA Saturn 3D Control Pad (Japanese version)

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain