SEGA Japan are officially teasing a Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration with LOM BABY – a company that basically exists to grift NFTs, cryptocurrency and generative AI slop.
While there is no official word on what this collaboration will entail, the fact that SEGA are happy to associate their franchise all about fighting back against an evil dictator who is looking to pollute the enivornment with a company that thrives on producing “transmedia” based around cryptocurrency, NFTs and AI generated imagery seems misjudged on a massive scale.
Regardless of what becomes of this collaboration, I think SEGA need to try harder to work with companies that don’t work in speculative markets like crypto and NFTs, or generative AI which is proving to be massively damaging to the environment. It’s also a technology that steals the work of human creatives and regurgitates it into something soulless and wasteful.
I know that SEGADriven is a fan site and we normally don’t highlight subjects we aren’t passionate about, but to ignore collaborations like this and not call it out is to betray the thing we love. If you can’t criticse something you love then it will never improve, and this is a prime example of that. SEGADriven will not support this endeavour and we urge SEGA to withdraw their involvement with LOM BABY urgently.
SEGA Japan have entered a deal with New One Studio to publish it’s FMV game The Rise of the Empire: The Road to Empress II on PC and Switch in Japan later in 2026.
Described as a “court adventure”, The Rise of the Empire: The Road to Empress II sees you navigating a highly volatile period environment as you try to work your way to becoming a Chinese Empress. The game features extensive 4K live action video sequences starring a cast of famous C-drama talent. You can watch the first trailer for the game below:
The Rise of the Empire: The Road to Empress I released in September 2025, selling over a million copies within 2 weeks of being on sale. The first game is available in English on Steam and was published by New One Studio and Ariel in Western territories. This arrangement will continue for The Rise of the Empire: The Road to Empress II, but only in Western territories. SEGA will only publish the sequel in Japan and certain Asian territories. A bundle of the first 2 games will be made available too.
You can wishlist The Rise of the Empire: The Road to Empress II on Steam right now.
The Web Design Museum has preserved a collection of flash games that were previously available on the Cartoon Network website.
Of note for SEGA fans is the preservation of a 2015 Sonic Boom flash game called Sonic Boom: Link ‘n Smash! This simple puzzle game is very similar to Baku Baku Animal in that you have to link the characters with their appropriate item in order to clear them from the playfield. For example Sonic has to be paired with a ring, Knuckles with his fist, Amy with her Piko Piko Hammer and so on.
We’ve added another swathe of SEGA game scans to the website, this time focusing on 8th generation software. In this update we’ve specifically focused on PS Vita and Wii U games. See below for the full list of additions:
Another day, another round of SEGA game scans. In this update we have largely focused on 7th generation SEGA software, but we have added one 6th generation 3rd party release that we previously missed. See below for the full list of additions:
We’ve populated more game entries in our 6th generation third party SEGA software section. This time we’re largely focused on scans of SEGA GBA games. Here’s the full list of additions:
We have now opened up a huge swathe of the 6th generation game entries in our 3rd party software catalogue. Each new entry is accompanied by a selection of high quality cover, instruction manual and disc scans. See below for the full list of additions:
Inin Games have showcased the first in-game look at Shenmue III Enhanced. Alongside this first look, the publisher have revealed the game is coming in 2026 to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2. The Switch 2 version will even include the full game data on cartridge.
Shenmue III Enhanced will include new gameplay features like enhanced stamina so you don’t have to spend so much time making Ryo eat. There are also multiple new video options and a classic camera that apes the look of the original 2 games.
In addition to these features, the game will also receive a special edition that comes with a making of book and a ‘Definitive History of Shenmue’ documentary. There will also be a collector’s edition which includes a Ryo Hazuki statue, wooden scroll, keychain and art print bundle. The making of book and documentary are also included.
Shenmue III Enhanced is being released under license from SEGA, but Inin Games are handling publishing duties. The game is once again being developed by YsNet.
SEGA and Paramount have revealed the release date for the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 movie. The movie will hit theaters on March 19th 2027. Alongside the announcement is a new teaser trailer which features a new rendition of Sonic CD’s US title theme ‘Sonic Boom’:
In addition to the release date news, Variety have confirmed the full cast list which includes the return of Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, and Keanu Reeves. New cast members include Kristen Bell (confirmed to be voicing Amy Rose), Ben Kingsley, Matt Berry and Nick Offerman in unconfirmed roles. You can see the full cast list below:
– Jim Carrey
– Ben Schwartz
– Kristen Bell
– Idris Elba
– Keanu Reeves
– James Marsden
– Tika Sumpter
– Ben Kingsley
– Matt Berry
– Colleen O’Shaughnessey
– Lee Majdoub
– Nick Offerman
– Richard Ayoade
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will release March 19th 2027. Jeff Fowler returns as director.
We finally have an official release date for the Mega Man DLC pack for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Mega Man, Proto Man and a Dr. Wily’s Castle circuit will arrive in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on March 26th 2026 – the same day as the physical Switch 2 edition of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
This DLC pack is a part of the game’s Digital Deluxe Edition and season pass, so you’ll need to fork out for a season pass if you only have the base game. You can watch a teaser trailer for the DLC pack below if you like:
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is out now on PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. A physical Switch 2 release will arrive on the same day as the Mega Man DLC pack – March 26th 2026.
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