Sonic Spectrum Next

Sonic Spectrum Next is a brand new homebrew port that arrived in June 2026, and today we are playing the current beta build on the Spectrum Next with full gameplay and commentary. If you are new to the channel, welcome. This is exactly the kind of cutting-edge homebrew content we focus on.

The port was developed by Dave Douglas, known in the homebrew community as Dave18, who previously brought the SMS shooter Astro Warrior to the Spectrum Next. For Sonic Spectrum Next, Douglas took on the ambitious task of converting the 8-bit Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog, not the Mega Drive original. This matters because the Master System version was developed by Ancient under the direction of Yuzo Koshiro, giving it completely different level design and gameplay feel compared to the 16-bit release most players know.

The game runs on the Spectrum Next's advanced FPGA architecture, which allowed Douglas to achieve what would have been impossible on original Spectrum hardware. The Spectrum Next features an ARM Cortex-M7 processor running at 480 MHz, 8 MB of memory, and enhanced graphics capabilities that make the Master System port feasible. The current build is still very much a work in progress, and Douglas has been upfront about the remaining issues.

Sprite and tilemap priority handling is still at a basic level in this version, which means some sprites can appear behind tilemap elements when they should appear in front. Stage 1, Act 2 has a known glitch where Sonic's top half disappears when he enters the water, something Douglas plans to address in later updates. Despite these issues, the port demonstrates how much the Spectrum Next can be pushed by skilled homebrew developers.

The game uses CSpect for emulation testing and also runs on MAME, though with some emulation bugs that Douglas is working through. The current beta version is available on itch.io through Dave18's page, and development is ongoing with plans for future beta releases.

This is one of the most ambitious current homebrew projects for the Spectrum Next, and the fact that it arrived in 2026 shows the platform is still attracting serious developer talent. If you enjoy homebrew gaming, retro ports, and honest commentary on works in progress, hit subscribe and stick around. We track this scene every week.

Available from https://dave18.itch.io/wip-sonic-spectrum-next.