A brand new 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game is coming this Autumn 2023 and it’s called Sonic Superstars. Featuring co-operative gameplay, this new 2D take on the classic Sonic formula features Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy as playable characters. Dr. Eggman returns as the main antagonist but he’s bringing a returning Fang the Sniper with him. Check out the reveal trailer below:
Sonic Superstars launches on PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in Autumn 2023. Naoto Oshima returns to the Sonic franchise to lend his talents to the design of a brand new character who has not been revealed at this time. The game will be available digitally and boxed.
The Creative Assembly have unveiled the latest entry in the Total War franchise with Total War: Pharaoh which launches in October 2023. As you can imagine with a title like that, the action takes place in ancient Egypt. You can check out the pre-rendered reveal trailer below:
Total War: Pharaoh will be the 16th mainline entry in the Total War series. The game is available to pre-order now and will be available on the Steam and Epic Games Store platforms for PC. There are 3 editions available offering various additional content packs and also a digital soundtrack download.
After teasing a “new direction” for the Sonic franchise earlier in the day, SEGA have surprise-dropped a brand new Sonic the Hedgehog game exclusive to PC via Steam. This new title is a visual novel called The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog where you help Tails and company solve the mystery behind Sonic’s murder. Check out the launch trailer below:
The Creative Assembly’s multiplayer hero shooter Hyenas has finally showcased some new in-game action and a new playable character called Hero-Ki. Hero-Ki is a goofy, comedic character with a penchant for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the Mega Drive, and he dresses in full Sonic cosplay. You can see him in action via the embed below:
We also get a look at some of the actual in-game action of Hyenas, with the various characters floating around the map in anti-gravity and shooting each other in first person. You can see that via the next embed:
Hyenas will be opening a playable alpha build for public play soon. You can register for access to the alpha by clicking here. The full game has no release date at the moment, but is scheduled for release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
A new expanded version of Sonic Origins is coming June 23rd 2023 and it is called Sonic Origins Plus.
This new edition of Sonic Origins will include all the digital bonus content from the first release that was locked behind the various special editions, Amy Rose as a playable character in Sonic 1, 2, CD and 3&K, and 12 emulated Game Gear Sonic titles.
Sonic Origins Plus will be sold as a digital add-on for Sonic Origins as well as a boxed release with an art book and a reversible cover. The boxed release is only available for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, while the digital version is also available on PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam.
SEGA have revealed that the first free DLC pack for Sonic Frontiers will launch on March 22nd 2023 and it’s called Sights, Sounds, & Speed.
This new DLC adds a photo mode, a jukebox mode with 53 songs (which can be unlocked by finding new ‘sound memories’ icons that are strewn across the maps), and 2 new challenge modes. The first new challenge mode is called Battle Rush where players are tasked with battling a horde of enemies in a set time limit. The 2nd challenge mode is called The Cyber Space Challenge and is essentially a series of timed challenges that take place in the Cyber Space stages.
The Sights, Sounds, & Speed DLC pack will become available to download for all versions of Sonic Frontiers at 5pm Pacific time on March 22nd 2023, which translates to midnight 21st March 2023 in the UK. 2 more free DLC packs for Sonic Frontiers will launch at a later date.
A free update to Streets of Rage 4 with the Mr. X Nightmare DLC installed is now available and adds a whole host of new features and balances. The new update boasts 300+ balances and combo adjustments across all characters, new co-operative attacks for different character combinations and a completely customisable survival mode. You can watch the launch trailer below to see all of these new features in action:
Streets of Rage 4 and the Mr. X Nightmare DLC are available for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The game was developed by Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games and published by Dotemu under license from SEGA.
SEGA and Atlus are remastering the first three Etrian Odyssey games as Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection. The collection will launch exclusively on Switch and PC on June 1st 2023. Check out the reveal trailer below:
The Etrian Odyssey games are first person dungeon crawlers with turn-based combat. The games also feature music by Yuzo Koshiro of Streets of Rage fame. In addition to being released as a collection, each of the 3 Etrian Odyssey remasters will also be sold separately.
The official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account has revealed that Sonic Frontiers will continue to see updates and support into 2023. The account has also shared a “content road map” which highlights 3 major updates. These will include the following features:
1) a new juke box mode, a new photo mode and new challenge modes will be added in the first update
2) a Sonic’s birthday event, a new open zone challenge and new koko will be added in the second update
3) a new story chapter and new playable characters will be added in the third update. Tails, Knuckles and Amy are all hinted at being made into playable characters
All of these additions and updates will be made available for free for owners of Sonic Frontiers. This is a surprising and welcome commitment from SEGA that should keep Sonic Frontiers feeling fresh into the new year.
The release of a new Sonic game has become a somewhat sad affair over the course of the last decade, right after it seemed like he was finding his footing with games like Sonic Colours and Sonic Generations. So after nearly two full run-throughs of the game, it brings me great joy to say that Sonic Frontiers is the best Modern Sonic title released in the past 10 years. In fact, there’s elements of it I think I enjoy more than Generations! It’s also, however, a game with no shortage of issues; in ways that often feel much like ‘first game syndrome’ for the ‘open-zone’ concept that Takashi Iizuka believes could form the future of Sonic games.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
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