Next year, Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates his 30th anniversary. Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka has already confirmed a major title is in the works and spoken about how Sega is currently "preparing" for the blue blur's birthday celebrations.
On the latest episode of the official Sonic livestream, Sega's social media and PR head Aaron Webber was asked when fans could expect to see a new Sonic trailer or reveal of sorts. Webber explained how Sega had obviously changed its approach to development in recent years, and while it understood the wait was frustrating, it was "really excited" about Sonic's future.
Here's exactly what he had to say:
Back in the day it used to be like every year there was a new Sonic game. And as a result of that, there were a number of times...because of that rushed production schedule, the quality of the games wouldn't quite be where they really needed to be.
A few years ago, we actually said "hey, that's going to change going forward, we're going to put probably more time into things as we go forward " and that's going to mean that you have to wait longer between trailers or announcements...and we know that's kind of annoying sometimes, cause you just really want news, but that's where we are now and we think that the patience hopefully will be worth it in the end.
We're really excited for what's to come but we can't really say anything right now - so thank you for being patient. And as soon as we have news or anything to share with you, we absolutely will share it with you. That's the best I can say...That's the short version of kind of why it's taken a bit longer to hear anything.
Earlier this month, we heard Sega's CEO Ivo Gerscovich made a similar comment, stating how the company had "exciting" Sonic news and couldn't wait to share it. He even teased Sonic was "just getting started" in reference to the 30th anniversary.
Are you hyped for Sonic's next major release? How do you think he'll celebrate his 30th? Share your thoughts below.
[source youtu.be, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 62
Were really excited too Sega. Your teases complete us.
Hey, Sega and Sonic Team:
"I'm waaaaaaiting!"
Are they sending him to college or something
Ever since Sonic '06 they haven't given us anything worthwhile. Sure unleashed, generations, and lost world were fine but everything else was extremely underwhelming. Heres hoping for SA3 or SM2
Also this is like the 5th or 6th tease. Just announce something SEGA
Mark my words, it's going to be a remake of Tiger's Sonic wristwatch game.
In layman’s terms- “we crapped the bed and have no idea what we are doing anymore.” “Stay tuned for more shovelware as we dig ourselves deeper into overdue grave of incompetence and mediocrity...”
Sega.....taking time to make a game instead of rushing it beyond belief? BLASPHEMY!!! I mean, this is the same company so notorious for releasing games far before they are ready that the creator of Space Harrier installed a button underneath his desk that, when pressed, would bug out the game and make it look nowhere near ready. This was done to fool the Sega president anytime he came to check on the progress of the game, as the creator knew if the president saw the game in a playable state, he would demand to release it immediately instead of giving them more time to polish the game. So too see them finally demand Quality over Quantity is just baffling. It's never been the Sega way.
Lol @ "Back in the day..."
There has been a Sonic Game, in some form, released every year from 2005 to 2020. Although, back in "My Day", 16 bit, things seemed a lot more spaced out... Hopefully, this is a return to form.
Anyways, I am also very excited for Sonic. I absolutely loved Sonic Mania. I am hoping for a sequel. In my opinion, it would be Perfect for the Anniversary.
@Blooper987 Colors was worthwhile IMO, as was Rush. Not to mention Mania (plus)
Remember when they say they are giving us Sonic news on the 20th of every month this year? Well we are way passed four months since the announcement and got nothing. Not even a teaser.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/01/sega_to_share_fresh_sonic_news_on_the_20th_of_every_month_during_2020
I don’t trust Sonic Team neither Sega. Good luck with that game.
I bet it's a rogue-like open world 3d game based on the movie that doesn't follow the movie. Stage one you have to fly through rings to unlock the car Sonic will be driving. They dont get it. So since they'll get it wrong, I'm hoping he will be a dark edgy hate filled Sonic who goes on a murder spree until Eggman kills him and becomes Segas new mascot..
@link3710 i forgot about colors. we have christian whitehead to thank for mania tho
I'm a sucker for Sonic games. As long as it comes to Switch, I'm sure I'll pick it up. In the meantime, a port of Generations would be nice.
The optimist in me is freaking out!
Ive heard this so many times. Somewhere in 2005, 2009 and 2012 or 2011 if memory serves me right. I remember them making a big deal out of sonic having a scarf back then.
Sonic adventure one and two remake.
@RPGamer After seeing how well the Sonic movie was handled and the absolute delight that was Sonic Mania, Sega has my trust!
Amazing things are already happening, Sonic Boom is no more.
One of the shackles holding back the series is finally gone. Rejoice.
Anything I'd want from a Sonic game feels impossible now but I'm patiently waiting for the day where 3D Sonic plays again like a platform game and not a quick-reaction-boost-to-win mobile game that ends before it really began.
And where a 2D Sonic game doesn't rely on old stages and assets, if Sonic Advance 1/2/3 could do it back then, why not now?
@NoNoseNosferatu Dude... No. Even if there were an inkling of truth in what you said, that's way too much jaded pessimism.
@retro_player_77 Cause the Coronavirus threw a wrench into things. Literally the whole industry is affected by it. Don't pretend that's not what's going on here...
@MegaVel91 They could still give us somethings without going to an event. A teaser, a project name, a hint of what they will deliver, something that would excite us for the reveal.
So the secret to making a good Sonic game is... slow down?
Huh.
Expectation: Sonic Adventure III developed by the Yakuza team.
Reality: Sonic Forces II but even shorter and somehow even worse.
They've been excited since Sonic 2. I'm not falling for this again. My heart cant take it.
And I'm really excited for another average sonic game!
I've heard it's gonna be Generations 2 which would be alright. Safe bet.
Mania 2 with completely new levels (not relying on the classics) would be awesome.
Adventure 3 would be epic but I don't believe they have the talent available to pull it off.
But what I'd really want is (obviously not going to happen) is the original trilogy remade in HD. (Like that Sonic 2 HD mod that never happened)
Heck, I'd take a straight port of Sonic 3. That's not going to happen either though.
Fully expecting something along the lines of Sonic Forces. yawn
Honestly if Sega is willing to make a good 3D Sonic game, I hope it’s something similar to the Adventure games. Or if it’s a boost game again, I hope it’s similar to Unleashed or Generations. Also, kinda off topic. But Forces was pretty disappointing, but not a huge dumpster fire of a Sonic game. Nowhere near bad as 06 or Rise Of Lyric. Oh, and some DLC for Team Sonic Racing would be nice. That game is a lot of fun, and needs more attention.
@the4seer back in the 16 bit days we had Sonic (91), Sonic 2 (92), Sonic CD (93), Sonic 3 (94), Sonic and Knuckes (94), Knuckles Choatix (95), Sonic 3D (96) and that's not even counting the Master System and Game Gear games that came out in those years
SEGA...announcing announcements for unannounced games. Again.
"Are you hyped for Sonic's next major release?"
Unfortunately, not anymore, and it's mostly for the same reasons I may have mentioned before: The franchise abandoned whatever potential and ambition it had, and in its place is way too much emphasis on nostalgia and appealing to the lowest common denominator of its fanbase, both in gameplay (i.e. excessive use of 2D, automation, too linear level design) and in reputation (Do we really need to turn the characters in the this franchise into the wrong kind of caricatures? Do we really need jokes and memes to be spammed to the point where it's part of the franchise's identity, especially those bashing what used to be the "Dark Ages" for its faults, when the franchise's reputation is on shaky ground right now?) It's made especially evident with the previous releases, since Mania's just an ascended fangame that's outright drenched in nostalgia and used as a crutch for the franchise's reputation, Forces turned out to be a microcosm of all of these issues wrapped in a story that feels like it backed out of its potential and it's dark tone way too early, and Team Sonic Racing not only fizzled out too soon, but also had issues like questionable characterization in its story and a relatively paltry roster compared to its contemporaries. Plus, the former two opened up another can of problems when they decided to separate the Classic era from the Modern era as their own things, meaning characters like Ray and Mighty can't be reinvented for the latter, all for no logical reason other than to milk the Classic era for all its worth. It's like they barely care for their headlining franchise.
The worst part out of all of this, though, is that it gives off the impression that the franchise can't grow and evolve with the times, and would rather spin in its own wheels and regress itself. It would be worthwhile for them to figure out how 3D Sonic is supposed to play, as in finding a middle ground between speed and platforming, but instead, we're stuck with this odd quagmire between good and mediocre decisions for this franchise. If the higher-ups are okay with this and refuse to acknowledge or fix these problems, why should I care?
I’m hoping for an Adventure game with playable characters and two new hedgehogs, possibly Sonic’s male and female relatives.
I don't understand, why the secrecy? At the end you are still gonna release and sell the game.
@MegaVel91 sega has been circling the drain for almost two and a half decades. Keep your deluded opinions to yourself.
I think those scenarios will happen, at least according to how much of a big deal they are making it out to be:
1. Sonic Mania 2
2. Sonic Adventure & Sonic Adventure 2 remakes
3. New Sonic cartoon
4. A new main character they will introduce that will stick around
5. New spinoff series
6. A new team that will handle the 3D-Adventure games from now on
Ok Sega, this is a lot of repeat teasing. I'd rather you go quiet now before your big reveal.
Sega Is "Really Excited" About Sonic's Future....... Then sega announce sonic boom 2 😭
you better learn from your movie that sonic maybe fast, but it takes time to be fast!
@Blooper987 Sonic 06/Unleashed were both basically SA3 Heroes is the 3rd part of the adventure storyline
I don't see how making a game and slapping the name SA3 on it will make it good, it didn't work with Sonic 4, and how they can't even make a simple boost game without messing it up Forces I don't see it working for another adventure game
@ShockFire10 You said it all! I don’t understand how people can still be this excited for this trash. Let’s call it what it is- This franchise is trash and has been for a long time. There is no talent at Sonic Team and from the looks of it there never will be.
Lay Sonic to rest. Let him die in peace.
Owned by Microsoft will be Xbox/PC exclusive probably.
Sonic was actually Joe Musashi in a blue hedgehog costume all this time.
Now the ninja has returned.
@Blooper987 Did you like Lost World? I couldn't get behind the controls.
@NoNoseNosferatu I'm the one who's deluded? After all the money they've made on PSO2 and Sonic, they're circling the drain?
Pot calling the kettle black much.
sonic cycle continues apace
@carlos82 lol Well... You got me there. Well said 💯 I'm bias towards that Gen, anyways. Rose tinted glasses, and all.
Still excited for the next entry, retro or not.
I think sonic in 3D could be great. My first experience of it was sonic adventure 2 and the sonic levels felt like an adrenaline fuelled rollercoaster with interaction.
Why have they moved on from that? Why all these gimics? Why not just fix gliches and bugs and give us that rollercoaster feeling of finishing each level with a buzz?
The gameplay was there (in the sonic levels) it just wasn't finished.
The non-anouncement anouncement 😞
@Crockin is that a sonic for hire reference?
@Tendogamerxxx like I said in my comment they could have become something but instead went in a weird direction of gimics and fan service that pleased no fans
@AlienX Sonic Boom was a good show though. I think it could have continued on without any more game releases.
I swear this better be them hiring the sonic utopia team to make a full game
Honestly, I really appreciate the, "hey lets stop rushing so many games out" mindset. Look where that got Mario!
I hope this new title allows sonic's friends to be playable. I want Blaze the cat to be playable in the coming title and future titles of the sonic series.
I hope we have a great quality Sonic game I can't wait
I could imagine a ‘Sonic Adventure Mania’ style game containing areas of Sonic Adventure 1/2 & Heroes. Unlike the 2D games, the Adventure series has really dated (and arguable SA2 wasn’t really an ‘adventure’ at all).
They had some interesting ideas and play mechanics in Sonic Lost World which they should explore again, it did vary the gameplay somewhat, unfortunately they didn’t pull it off very well.
I guess someone needs to be excited about his future...
It took Sega long enough to excite the US with PSO2, so I'm not holding my breath for anything exciting from them ever...
New movie? Its gets more blueer every day
Better be Sonic 3D Blast 2
@Blooper987 I thoroughly enjoyed Sonic Forces. It was the only 3D Sonic game I’ve ever played, and it was actually pretty good. But I agree, I’ve seen play throughs of other 3D sonic games, and well...😉
@Danrenfroe2016 I personally think 3D just does not go well with sonic.
I wish they went back to full fledged old-school controls. Ie. sonic mania
@Apportal_SMM2 I agree.
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