Japan's mini retro-console boom hasn't cooled off. The Mega Drive Mini 2's resale price crossed into the 20,000 yen range in early 2023 and has held between 20,000 and 25,000 yen since — more than double its original retail price — largely because manufacturers commit to limited production batches rather than ongoing runs.

Nostalgia-driven buyers in their mid-30s to 50s are doing a lot of the buying, and once media coverage flags a shortage, that coverage tends to accelerate the very scarcity it's reporting on.

The Mega Drive Tower Mini 2, an official display stand built to hold the console upright, is a smaller piece of the same wave. CDJapan's listing is sold out direct, available now only through their Proxy Shopping Service.