It's been an action-packed year for Sonic the Hedgehog, but it seems he won't be slowing down anytime soon. In the same Famitsu interview where Japanese developers look ahead to 2023, Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka has taken a moment to tease what's on the horizon.
According to Iizuka, the plan is to maintain the momentum of the past year. As a result, Sega is already preparing a "second wave" of Sonic content, and there's "a lot more" outside of the already announced Sonic Frontiers roadmap. Here's the full translation (thanks, Gematsu):
Takashi Iizuka: "This past year was the biggest year in Sonic history, including the release of the movie sequel, new titles Sonic Origins and Sonic Frontiers, and the Netflix animation Sonic Prime. We are preparing a second wave to keep the fans happy and maintain that momentum going into 2023. We already announced additional content for Sonic Frontiers, but there is a lot more outside of that, so please look forward to it.”
Throughout next year, the latest Sonic game Frontiers will be receiving free DLC updates. There are three content drops in total planned. Players can expect a Juke Box, Photo Mode, new challenge modes, Sonic's Birthday celebration, open zone challenge new Koco, new playable characters and new story content.
There's also a limited-time 'Holiday Cheer Suit' up for grabs. What would you like to see from Sonic the Hedgehog in 2023? Sound off in the comments below.
[source famitsu.com, via gematsu.com]
Comments 36
One wonders if there was a time Sega remembers they ever did more than Sonic.
Please no but a Dreamcast Collection would be nice. After all next year is going to be Dreamcast 25th anniversary in Japan, give us something.
"Please enjoy another rerelease of the Mega Drive games!"
Sonic Adventure 1&2 remasters with Spyro and Crash-style treatment.
Sooooo can you guys remaster billy Hatcher? No, you don’t remember him, oh ok.
@Maulbert No reason to remember when they haven't forgotten.
Sonic Mania is my most played Switch game, I would die if they announced a sequel with all new levels and got the ol' gang back together with Christian Whitehead, Headcannon and Tee Lopes for the music. I won't hold my breath and just keep playing Mania, but it would be spectacular if they did.
@Maulbert Does Megami Tensei and Like a Dragon somehow not count?
@obijuankanoobie Considering the backlash they'd receive due to overused nostalgia, I doubt it.
Besides, the rumor mill says that it's going to be a spiritual sequel to Rush and an Adventure remake.
@Maulbert I mean... Sega still does plenty of non-Sonic stuff: over the past few years we got stuff like Yakuza, SMT/Persona, Hatsune Miku, that Monkey Ball remake, Streets of Rage 4, the list goes on.
Mario & Sonic Olympic 2024 ?
Fingers crossed for a Sonic Advance Trilogy.
@Maulbert Which was the past half-decade where we got:
-Puyo Puyo Champions
-Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
-Shenmue III
-Shining Resonance Refrain
-Two Point Hospital (spiritual successor to Theme Hospital)
-Sakura Wars PS4
-Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD
-Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
-Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
-Valkyria Revolution
-Valkyria Chronicles
-Phantasy Star Online 2 localized
-Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis
-Streets of Rage
-Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX
-Wonder Boy Returns
-Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
-Panzer Dragoon Remake
-House of the Dead Remake
-Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash
So, yeah. They released a lot of games from non-Sonic franchises that were dormant in the West, at least.
Can we FINALLY have a rerelease of Knuckles Chaotix?!? Not all of us can afford a 32X and a copy of the game Sega!!!
Dunno why I'm acting like this is some official Sega blog and that they can hear me 🤷♂️🤣
They say this every year tbh, I'm not building up the hype yet
What I would like to see in the future:
@Samalik "the rumor mill says that it's going to be a spiritual sequel to Rush"
After Sonic 4 and the 2D stages on Forces/Frontiers with their weird physics I honestly don't trust anyone else but the Mania developers to make a new 2D Sonic :-/
@Clyde_Radcliffe The physics of Sonic 4 were based on Rush though, just without the mechanics to justify the wackiness like trick combos and whatnot.
Please do remaster for Sonic adventure 1 and 2 for switch.
Let’s hope Sonic Frontiers 2 is at least 3 years away so they can unlock its full potential.
Hey Sega, remember that survey you sent out in early 2022 asking gamers to request which legacy IPs NOT named "Sonic" we wanted to see? Then you made the entirety of 2022 all about Sonic anyway and now you're already hyping up more Sonic plans for 2023.
I personally will NEVER buy another Sonic product again until Sega starts giving more of their other legacy IPs some love...particularly their RPGs and Arcade titles. If you're not going to bother giving any of them a chance yourselves, Sega, then at least sell or license the rights to a capable developer who will.
Frankly, I think it's way past time for Sega to acknowledge that even the Sonic titles they've been releasing are middling quality at best, and realize that their company's long decline is the direct fault of its leadership. Give them a permanent vacation, and they can take Sonic with them too where I'm concerned.
@Samalik I doubt people would be mad at a Mania 2 with all completely unique stages and no reused stages from past games. Mania is one of the most well-received games in the series and consistently ranks near the top on most "best Sonic games" lists.
@MalkynRei78 A sizable number of the games you listed were outsourced to third parties to middling results. Shenmue 3 required a Kickstarter to even exist. Every "Shining" iteration since Sega abandoned the core Shining Force franchise is the same mediocre-to-awful ARPG bastardization of the original turn-based strategy formula they tried to get away with in Valkyria Chronicles Azure. As for the Puyo Puyos and the Monkey Balls, let's be honest; they don't exactly evoke the excitement and nostalgia of, say, Afterburner, Skies of Arcadia, Shinobi, and countless others.
Yes, Valkyria Chronicles and the Virtua Fighter games are incredible and more than welcome, but even VC4 is getting a bit long in the tooth by now. Sega's a big enough company even now to give a bunch more franchises remaster or new installments besides just Sonic. I give credit where it's due, but it requires a lot of denial to claim that Sega hasn't had a hugely myopic focus on Sonic for many years now that's been directly detrimental to the rest of their catalog and its fans.
I wish SEGA would give some attention to some of these other games… Nights Into Dreams…Ristar ….Vectorman…JetSet Radio ..Crazy Taxi..and on and on and no…where is their love .I am over the moon that Sonic gets some attention but all the other great franchises even a new console would be awesome.
@fox_mattcloud
Yes they need to. I actually bought a 32X back in the day when it released, but I never got to play Knuckles Chaotix and would love a chance to.
A Sonic Origins physical release would be enough for me
Speaking of the topic “What’s in store for next year, SEGA…”
I emailed the Insights Lab SEGA has here in the States last night to see what the company has to offer for Puyo Puyo in the future! I’m still awaiting a response, but I hope it’s a good one.
@Kirbo100 While it's true that it's hard to get mad at, it's also kind of a dull choice to regress back to the Genesis era AGAIN when 2D sonic from 2001 to 2010 has more developed and exciting gameplay and mechanics.
@AtlanteanMan Sega hasn't. The last main line Sonic game was 5 years ago. To say they are only focused on Sonic is kinda projective.
And don't disgrace people's nostalgia like that! Some people have fond memories playing Poyo Poyo via Mean Bean Machine
I'm saying nothing but 5 Sonic Lego sets just possibly got leaked so there is that!
@Samalik Sega literally just released Frontiers, and that "last mainline Sonic" argument doesn't fly when you consider how many remakes, compilations, tie-ins (Racing), and so on have occurred over the past few years alone. And go back over the Sega-related articles and promotions on gaming websites (ESPECIALLY here at NL) and see how many of them don't involve Sonic.
Yes, they HAVE. Even the industry media has played its own role.
It wasn't my intention to offend anyone who likes Puyo Puyo, but my point was that the Sega brand was once synonymous with the highest, most AAA-quality experiences in videogames, from their dominance of Arcades to RPGs that were easily on par with (in some cases better than) Square Enix's offerings, to a catalog that was more diverse and cutting edge than arguably even Nintendo's at the time. I'm talking about games that got players EXCITED, that hooked them immediately and held on. When was the last time you could honestly say that about this company?
Lastly, my remarks aren't borne out of hatred for Sega; just the opposite. I know what they used to be and how important they were to me as a hobbyist for more than a decade during their heyday, and I believe that with the right direction and risk-taking, they can be that way again. Maybe the sales will reward such risks and maybe they won't, but you can bet it won't be for lack of support on my part (I showed no less than four friends Valkyria Chronicles after I purchased the PS3 version; every one of them bought their own copies!). And they may just find a happy middle ground where not every game is a platinum seller, but finds enough new fans to make it profitable; just imagine if Nintendo had never given Fire Emblem that chance, for example.
But as it stands Sega's in genuine danger of running the one "safe" cash cow they have into the ground with middling, mediocre entries. If that happens then we ALL lose, for good.
Man, the last few years has really invigorated my love for Sonic. Bravo Sega!
@Hemibear I think the console request is a bit much but you hit the nail on the head about other franchises. Glad to see someone appreciate Sonic but stay level headed about other Ips.
Sega is an underrated, under-appreciated, great developer. I really like how a lot of their games are unapologetically Japanese and they have a certain style & creativity to them that’s their own, which I cherish and adore.
Nintendo should really lend them some more IPs for them to develop games for (with some oversight) like they did with F-Zero GX. Also Nintendo instead of (or in addition to) the Genesis should add the Sega DreamCast (please, its representation is long overdue on any modern platform), Saturn & Game Gear to their Nintendo Switch Online Apps.
Btw Sega, it’s long overdue and time for a new:
etc. please & thank you.
… Wun can only hope!
SONIC ADVANCE ORIGINS COLLECTION OR SONIC ADVENTURE REMAKE PLEASE OH MT GOSCLDODJDKDLDKSB PLS I'M BEGGING SEGA
For Christ's sake, how about making plans for all the other incredible IP's you're sat on. Sonic has been done to death.
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