The Dreamcast VMU Pro Returns, Provided You Can Wait Until Spring
The highly sought-after Dreamcast VMU Pro is back up for pre-order. The modernised memory card features a backlit screen, microSD support, and a Spring 2026 shipping window.
If you still wake up in a cold sweat hearing the high-pitched screech of a dying CR2032 battery, there is finally a permanent solution. You just have to queue for it.
The Sega Dreamcast was a console ahead of its time, but its memory cards were a logistical nightmare. The Visual Memory Unit (VMU) was a charming concept—a memory card with a screen and buttons—marred by a battery life measured in minutes and a storage capacity that filled up after saving Shenmue exactly once.
For the last year, 8BitMods and the team at Chrisz2600 have been shipping the VMU Pro, a modernised overhaul of the little plastic brick. It features a backlit LCD screen (that you can actually see), microSD storage support for effectively infinite saves, and USB-C connectivity. Naturally, it has been perpetually out of stock.
However, a fresh allocation has just gone live.
Retailers 8BitMods (UK/EU) and Stone Age Gamer (US) have opened pre-orders for the next batch of these devices. The current shipping estimate is slotted for Spring 2026. While a wait of several months might seem excessive for a memory card, anyone who has tried to buy niche FPGA hardware recently knows this is practically rapid delivery.
The device mimics the original form factor perfectly but replaces the internals with modern FPGA logic. It integrates with the open-source "Dreamcast SD" ecosystem, meaning it can automatically mount specific virtual memory cards depending on which game you load (provided you are using an Optical Drive Emulator like the MODE or GDEMU).
Most importantly, it runs off a rechargeable battery that charges via the controller port. The days of unscrewing the back panel to swap out watch batteries are finally over.
Both the "Smoke Black" and "Crystal White" variants are available to order. Given the demand for the previous batches, it is advisable to secure a unit before the scalpers do.
You can find the pre-order pages for both major distributors below.
Pre-order at 8BitMods (UK/EU) Pre-order at Stone Age Gamer (US)
