Highlights
- Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini, a portable arcade replica, is available for pre-order in Japan for $315 USD.
- The mini console includes 40+ songs from the first three DDR games and can connect to a TV or PC monitor.
- Set to release on September 27, 2024, it will only be available for purchase in Japan.
The first installment in the iconic Konami rhythm game series, Dance Dance Revolution, is making a comeback in the form of a mini emulator console that just went on sale. The release of this tiny arcade cabinet replica is coming just in time for fans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the best-selling Konami franchises.
Though the popularity of the series has faded in the West in recent years due to the decline of arcades, many fans still widely regard Dance Dance Revolution as a shining example of the music video game genre. The series not only successfully managed to gamify the act of dancing, it also popularized the use of interactive entertainment as a form of exercise, years before titles like Just Dance and Wii Fit did. As nice as it is that the Konami franchise is still active to this day, some fans may be longing to get a dose of nostalgia, however, by revisiting the original Dance Dance Revolution from 1998. Fortunately, it looks like they’ll finally get a chance to do just that later this year. However, there’s a catch.
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Konami and Japanese hardware manufacturer Zuiki have announced that Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini, a fully functional, portable replica of the 1998 music game’s arcade cabinet, is scheduled for release on September 27, 2024. The mini console is now available for pre-order on the official Zuiki store for the hefty price of 49,500 yen, which is equivalent to around $315.60 USD. Unfortunately, though, the tiny arcade cabinet for this game will only be released in Japan, as there has been no official word from Zuiki regarding a worldwide release for the Classic Mini.
The lack of confirmation regarding a U.S. launch may be disappointing, but at the very least, Konami and Zuiki shared some additional information on the Classic Mini. The upcoming mini-arcade console will include 40+ songs from the first three Dance Dance Revolution games. In addition, it will be bundled in with a pair of DDR mat-styled controllers small enough to be played using one’s hands. Those who would rather play the game on a larger screen with their feet can connect a regular dance mat to the miniature console via USB and link the device to a television or PC monitor using an HDMI cable. To top it all off, the Classic Mini will also come with a set of interchangable stickers that fans can use to customize the look of the miniature arcade cabinet.
Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini Details
- Release date: September 27, 2024
- Cost: approx. $315.00 USD
- 40+ songs from the first three Dance Dance Revolution games
- Only for sale in Japan
Konami initially revealed the Classic Mini in October 2023 as part of a crowdfunding effort in Japan. The project earned over 81 million yen, or $516,500, in funding from fans over the last few months, which goes to show just how popular Dance Dance Revolution still is in the country. If the Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini is a commercial success, hopefully it will incite other companies, like Sega and Nintendo, to release more of these sorts of retro devices, like the much-requested Sega Dreamcast and Sega Saturn mini consoles.
