G-Cube Returns! — New Versions of the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox-Themed Dreamcasts Discovered

Long-time readers may remember our 2023 feature about G-Cube, a Japanese group of artists and model builders who put their skills to work creating custom modifications of things like model kits, toys and yes, even Sega Dreamcasts. At the time we focused on the recent rediscovery in Thailand of the mysterious PlayStation 2 and GameCube case mods for the Dreamcast, pictures of which have been circulating on the internet since the early 2000s.

As part of the previous feature, G-Cube was interviewed and confirmed that they would even accept new commissions for these unusual Dreamcast modifications decades later, though it seemed such an order would appeal only to the most dedicated of Dreamcast fans as conditions included paying a substantial upfront fee, providing necessary materials (including a Dreamcast console and accessories) and agreeing to Japanese domestic shipping only to receive the finished work.

An astute reader of the Junkyard from Japan recently tipped us off about some interesting posts on the G-Cube website. Over the last few years since the publication of our feature, it appears that G-Cube has been preparing multiple brand-new versions of their PS2, GameCube, and Xbox-themed Dreamcast case modifications. The links below to G-Cube’s website show some of the build process and many in-production photos of these new creations.

PlayStation 2 case mod: https://g-cube.cocolog-tnc.com/gcube/2024/03/post-7ab347.html

GameCube case mod: https://g-cube.cocolog-tnc.com/gcube/2024/12/post-c9f426.html 

Original Xbox case mod: https://g-cube.cocolog-tnc.com/gcube/2026/01/post-b80f55.html 

A new Xbox-style Dreamcast comes together in 2026!

While the new versions of the modifications look very much like they will turn out to be highly reminiscent of the original case modifications from the early 2000s, G-Cube has identified certain improvements to the designs on its website, such as using a magnetic attachment for the Gamecube case handle rather than the glue used in the old version (indeed, when the old Gamecube modification resurfaced in Thailand, the handle had been broken off from the case).

A new GameCube-style Dreamcast takes shape in G-Cube's mysterious workspace!

It is fantastic to see these complex designs come to life again and to know that there are more than one example of each out there. G-Cube appear to be masters of their craft and their Dreamcast designs have led to much discussion over the years. To close the story for now, I’d just like to point out that it is quite the coincidence that these elaborate Dreamcast designs are being made by a group called "G-Cube", since, as confirmed by IGN in its reporting from the year 2000, Sega itself had once considered “G-Cube” as a potential name for the Sega Dreamcast!

The Hunt for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox versions of the Sega Dreamcast

Over the years, fans of the Sega Dreamcast have had the opportunity to see many interesting and artistic case mods, but some of the oldest to make a splash in the Dreamcast scene were the ones you see below; case mods designed to look like the Dreamcast's sixth generation competitors: Microsoft's Xbox, Nintendo's GameCube and Sony's PlayStation 2.

Cool designs? Or heresy against the Dreamcast? These case mods have had many fans and detractors over the years.

Long-time fans may dimly recall seeing pictures of these customised Dreamcasts making the rounds on Dreamcast forums and fan websites as early as 2002. The pictures have continued to show up over the last 20 years on various forums, fan sites and social media pages across the internet (including a 2006 post on this very blog), although genuine information about their origin has tended to be scarce. Given their relatively polished-looking designs and their appearance around the time of the Dreamcast’s commercial death, theories and rumors have spread that a Japanese gaming magazine or even Sega themselves may have commissioned them to use in conjunction with a story or announcement about Sega’s decision to create games for third party systems. Some critics have even gone as far as to argue that the images were mere Photoshop creations and never even truly existed.

After being reminded of these designs through a chance encounter with a fan who had found the GameCube design for sale on an online marketplace, I set off on the complex mission of discovering the truth about these mysterious custom Dreamcasts. I searched my own memory, trawled through defunct websites of yesteryear on the Internet Archive, and even managed to track down and discuss the case mods with the original Japanese creator. After all of this, I can finally provide the authentic story of these early and unusual custom designs.

The Creator

Enter G-Cube – the name of a group of Japanese model kit builders. In the early 2000s, G-Cube was a group of three people who would get together and use their extensive modeling, graphic design and painting skills to cosmetically enhance existing model kits, toys and other items. 

One of many logos used by G-Cube

Their projects involved assembling things such as retail model kits with highly detailed custom paint jobs, some of which would also have significant modifications, including custom fabricated parts, to make finished products that were substantially different from their original design. The group’s work often included designs for mecha, figures, spaceships, and other vehicles from anime and video games. Over the years, G-Cube’s creations would be profiled in Japanese hobby magazines, and the group would even display their work at public exhibitions and festivals. The group would also take commissions from customers, and to this day, G-Cube puts recent creations up for sale on Yahoo! Auctions Japan from time to time.

Various older works by G-Cube

I was fortunate enough to find contact information for a Mr. Fuminori of G-Cube, who as luck would have it, was the designer behind all three of the Dreamcast case mods shown above. The following is a summary of information about each of the case mods...