Shadow the Hedgehog returns as a playable character in a Sonic game via a new, free DLC chapter that will be added to Sonic Forces on day one. Episode Shadow will include 3 exclusive stages for Shadow to explore and they will explore the character’s backstory and his connections to new villain, Infinite. Shadow will also be available to play in many of the game’s Modern Sonic stages as an added bonus. Check out the video below to see Shadow in action in Episode Shadow:
Sonic Forces and Episode Shadow launch worldwide on November 7th 2017 for PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.
The mobile Virtua Tennis title Virtua Tennis Challenge is the next game to be given the SEGA Forever treatment. This now means the game is free to download and play with ads, with an optional one-off payment of £1.99 to remove the ads.
Virtua Tennis Challenge was originally released on the 13th of March 2012 and this update essentially brings it in line with other SEGA Forever titles i.e. a new yellow-bordered icon, the new SEGA Forever logo at start-up and ad support.
In a move that is probably going to bring The Ban Hammer down pretty strongly, a social media application developer called Narvii Inc. have released a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed social media app called Rings without any approval from SEGA themselves.
The app is available now on iOS and Android devices and is completely free, but it requires registration using either your email, mobile number of Facebook login. It’s pretty comprehensive and features support for things like your own profile, complete with a comments wall and gallery, chat rooms, quizzes and various feeds that allow you follow the latest Sonic news and much more.
Narvii Inc. have rolled out a lot of similar social media apps with a similarly niche focus. The iOS app store currently shows similar apps powered by Narvii Inc.’s Amino social media platform that are themed around wrestling, video games, K pop, anime and much more.
If this sounds like something you’d like to check out, you can download the iOS version by clicking here or the Android version by clicking here. Please be aware that these are not officially sanctioned SEGA products and we will not be held responsible for any negative user experiences you may have.
E3 2017 is here and it’s brought lots of new details regarding Sonic Forces, Sonic Mania, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. First up we have a new trailer for Sonic Forces which shows us a little more gameplay of each of the 3 gameplay styles as well as the reveal of a new villain. The new villain looks like a Sonic-styled hedgehog but he has a glitchy look about him. His reveal is prefaced with the symbol for infinity which has many speculating the character is called Infinity or Infinite. Check out the trailer below:
IGN have also posted 7 minutes of direct feed Sonic Forces gameplay that showcases the PS4 Pro version of the game. Worth mentioning is the brief look at the avatar menu which sees the customer character wearing some rather snazzy Mega Drive-branded footwear. Sonic Forces launches on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch in Q4 2017. You can watch the new gameplay here:
Now we move onto Sonic Mania and more specifically the Nintendo Switch version. IGN have had some hands-on time with this version and shared 6 minutes of gameplay which features Act 2 of Green Hill Zone complete with a reveal of the stage’s boss. We also get another look at the Mirage Saloon stage. Sonic Mania launches on PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One on August 15th 2017. Take a look below:
Next up we have a new trailer of the PS4 Yakuza remake, Yakuza Kiwami. The game will release on August 29th 2017 and if you pre-order now you can secure a limited edition steelbook case. Check out the new trailer below:
Finally we have a new trailer for Yakuza 6 which also reveals the game’s subtitle, The Song of Life. The trailer reveals a portion of the game’s story which sees Kiryu discovering that Haruka has had a baby and Kiryu is trying to learn who the father is. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is due for release in early 2018 for PS4. You can watch the new trailer by clicking the embed below:
Okay so Bubsy is not a SEGA property but the original 2 games did appear on the Mega Drive and publisher Accolade are intrinsically connected with a big part of SEGA history (click here to read more), so we have to let you know that Accolade are back and they’re publishing a brand new Bubsy title called Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back. Yes, really.
Developed by Black Forest Games who are responsible for the rather good Giana: Twisted Dreams, Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back is clearing riffing on the first two Bubsy titles and offers a 2.5D aesthetic, a whole host of yarn-based gimmicks and a snarky attitude to boot.
Check out the announcement trailer by clicking below:
Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back will launch on PC and PS4 in Autumn 2017.
The inevitable Shenmue III delay has arrived! Shenmue III will now release in the 2nd half of 2018.
It had previously been slated for a December 2017 release but as was previously revealed, Shenmue III was not scheduled for an appearance at this year’s E3 which put a 2017 release into doubt.
Yu Suzuki announced the delay himself in the latest Kickstarter update and has said, “By utilising new technologies, we have been able to discover new possibilities and expressions. In many ways, the game has become bigger and more beautiful than I initially expected. We do, however, need more time to deliver the game to you.”
Shenmue III will not be published by SEGA but instead by Sony. The game will eventually launch on PC and PS4.
SEGA’s new Crazy Taxi mobile title, Crazy Taxi Gazillionaire, is out now for iOS and Android mobile devices.
The Demiurge-developed title is a “clicker” game where you control a fleet of taxis in an attempt to make as much money as possible. Do you think the Crazy Taxi license is a good fit for this type of game? Let us know in the comments below.
In the meantime, why not watch the launch trailer?
In addition to this new title, the iOS and Android port of the original Crazy Taxi has now been updated to be free-to-play so if you’ve been tempted to try it, now you can except with ads in the menu transitions.
There is also a gorgeous new trailer full of hand-drawn animated sequences by Tyson Hesse and it also includes the reveal of Stardust Speedway (past) as a new stage. Check it out:
In one of the most self-aware moves I’ve ever seen from SEGA, Sonic Forces will include a customisable character that you can create. This custom character is the third playable character option that was teased for inclusion in Sonic Forces and they come with additional abilities that include a grappling hook and a flamethrower.
The customisable character will have 7 species for you to build your character from and each of them has specific extra abilities. The 7 species are listed below:
Rabbit — Has longer invincible time after receiving damage
Wolf — Automatically draws in rings when near them
Cat — Keeps one ring after being hit
Dog — Restarts with five rings after the player dies
Bear — Blows away enemies with a homing attack
Bird — Flies high with double jump abilities
Hedgehog — Collects rings when getting damaged
You can check out the first footage of the customer character in action via the trailer below:
We also get an extended look at the custom character in action in the dilapidated city stage which is now officially known as Park Avenue. Check it out below:
Platinum Games’ over-the-top, third person shooter Vanquish will launch on PC on May the 25th. This new port comes with enhancements like an uncapped framerate and support for 4K displays.
Pre-ordering on Steam also gives you access to a Digital Deluxe Edition that includes a digital art book, a downloadable sample soundtrack, avatars and wallpapers. Owners of the recently released PC version of Bayonetta are also entitled to 25% off when they purchase Vanquish. Check out the announcement trailer below:
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