My Arcade Shrinks The Hedgehog Down To Desk-Toy Size Once Again
My Arcade has released a new wave of licensed Sonic the Hedgehog mini-cabinets. We look at whether these 6-inch Micro Players are worth the shelf space.
Sega’s licensing department never sleeps, and consequently, neither does the production line at My Arcade.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if a device has a screen and a power source, Sonic the Hedgehog must run on it. Following this inevitable law of physics, accessory manufacturer My Arcade has released a fresh wave of officially licensed Sonic-themed mini-cabinets just in time to fill the stockings of lapsed Sega fans.
The new range includes the Sonic the Hedgehog Micro Player, a six-inch replica of a classic arcade cabinet. While it might look the part on a shelf next to your Funko Pops and other plastic detritus, it is essentially a delivery mechanism for the original 16-bit title. The unit features a full-colour screen, a removable joystick (for those who prefer a D-pad), and a 3.5mm headphone jack—presumably so you can endure the Green Hill Zone theme on a loop without driving your family to despair.
For those with even less desk space (or patience), there is the Nano Player Pro. At just under 5 inches tall, it is a borderline microscopic way to play Sonic, Sonic 2, and seemingly Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It is worth noting that playing high-speed platformers on a screen the size of a postage stamp requires a level of dexterity usually reserved for watchmakers.
Let us be honest here: you are not buying these for the high-fidelity gaming experience. You are buying them because they look charmingly retro and cost less than a round of drinks in London. They are powered by AA batteries or USB-C, ensuring they will likely sit on a desk, light up occasionally, and look vaguely nostalgic until the batteries leak in 2027.
The units are available now at select retailers. You can view the full specifications directly at the manufacturer's website.
