Google Pulls the Plug on Dreamcast Web Surfing After 25 Years

The End of an Era

Gather around, my fellow nostalgic gamers! It’s time to pour one out for the Dreamcast web browser, a glorious little piece of tech that has finally been laid to rest after a whopping 25 years. Yep, that’s right—Google has decided that enough is enough, and the days of surfing the web on the beloved Sega Dreamcast are officially over.

Remembering the Good Old Days

Now, let’s be real—when the Dreamcast graced our lives back in 2001, the built-in PlanetWeb 3.0 browser was probably more of a quirky gimmick than a legitimate means of browsing. How many of you actually used it to look up cat memes or the latest gaming news? I’d wager most users were just stoked about having a keyboard to dive into games like The Typing of the Dead or embark on epic adventures in MMORPGs!

News of Google pulling the support isn’t exactly shocking, though. As one tech site pointed out, Google simply closed a compatibility window that just happened to stay open for way longer than anyone expected—like an old friend crashing your couch, only to finally realize they should probably get going. Some users online are saying it’s been a rocky road for a while, with similar console browsers feeling the heat too.

But let’s be honest: While it might be a bummer for a few Dreamcast fans, this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your favorite online Dreamcast games. The homebrew methods are still alive and kicking, so don’t fret if you want to take your console for a modern spin!

In the grand scheme of things, though, why would you even want to troll the internet when you’ve got gems like Shenmue and Space Channel 5 waiting for you? I mean, if I had to choose between scrolling social media and fighting ancient spirits, I’d pick the spirits every time!