Konami has been reaching into its past as of late to try and repurpose old games into new big sellers. Some of these, like the unexpected arrival of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on mobile devices, have been welcome and delightful, but others have had slightly rockier roads to consumer’s pockets.
One of Konami’s attempts is the TurboGrafix-16 Mini, a reproduction of the old console for home use. It will come with several of the most popular games of the original TurboGrafix-16 pre-installed, including seminal action RPGs Ys I & II, but players will have to wait a little longer than expected to get their hands on it.
Konami recently released a statement that, due to ongoing problems caused by the coronavirus, development and release of the TurboGrafix-16 Mini has been delayed. This is not the first time that the Coronavirus has impacted and delayed Konami, as the company recently canceled several live Yu-Gi-Oh events in Japan due to the virus’ continued threat. Unfortunately, there is currently no new release date for the TurboGrafix - 16 Mini.
Konami is not the only game company that has been impacted by the Coronavirus in several ways, especially in the video game industry. Recently, the Pokemon Company had to cancel several live events in Japan, and multiple products have been in short supply as the virus continues to hinder production. With no end in sight for the immediate future, news about how the virus is stopping production left and right will probably soon become a staple of life in the video game industry alone. At the very least, it means that products like the TurboGrafix - 16 Mini will probably be focused on less in favor of projects with wider fan bases and surer markets.
It is worth thinking about how the Coronavirus will impact the video game industry at large, both in the short term and the long term, as it is likely a bigger problem than many players think. It can be easy to become focused on the next big title, system, or patch of a favorite game to the exclusion of what may be going on behind the scenes, but that behind the scenes aspect should always be on players’ minds, at least in part.
For fans of Konami, this may prove especially frustrating, as the TurboGrafix-16 Mini may soon wind up on the list of things promised or teased and ultimately never coming to fruition. Hopefully, neither the Mini nor the rumored new Silent Hill game ends up on that list, but it would not be the first time that Konami devotees have been disappointed in the recent past.
Source: The Verge
