SEGA America and SEGA Europe have finally committed to bringing Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game to the West and the game is set for a June 22nd 2021 release.
Originally releasing in Japan on the 24th of July 2019, SEGA America and SEGA Europe seemed to shelve plans to release the game in favour of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which released in November 2019. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game takes a more realistic approach to its presentation and features 18 different events to compete in with up to 8 player online multiplayer alongside local multiplayer features.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game will release for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC and Stadia on June 22nd 2021. Check out the new release trailer below:
The Astro City Mini is released Stateside thanks to Limited Run Games on March 26th 2021. 3500 units will release in this territory with new localised English packaging. There is currently no word as to whether this will mean the US ROMs for the included games are being used, but seeing how the Japanese Astro City Mini has English language support we’re assuming that the only difference is with the system’s packaging.
The Astro City Mini will launch for $129.99 and an additional controller can be purchased for $27.99 as well as the “Style Kit” which turns the whole unit into a miniature arcade cabinet complete with chair, base and top board for $39.99. The full size joystick that was also available to the Japanese market doesn’t appear to be available from Limited Run.
If you’re interested in a US release of the Astro City Mini then set your alarms for 10am Eastern/2pm UK time and bookmark the following links:
Another officially licensed multi-game arcade cabinet from Arcade1Up appears to be on the way as a leak from a poster on Reddit has revealed an image of a cabinet which is made to play Virtua Fighter, Virtua Fighter Remix, Virtua Fighter 2, Fighting Vipers and Sonic the Fighters. The leak appears to have come from some advance promotional material for the cabinet. There is currently no other information on this release at the time of writing or even if this is a genuine leak or a hoax.
Arcade1Up are also due to release a cabinet featuring Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder, Shinobi, Altered Beast, Wrestle Wars and the original Golden Axe. This cabinet was revealed at CES back in January 2020 and is also without a release date or price. However, Arcade1Up cabinets normally retail for around £300.
SEGA’s UFO catchers are a staple of the Japanese arcade. This crane game allows players to win exclusive licensed merchandise from a huge range of properties. While similar games have existed in Western arcades for quite some time, the quality of merchandise is often lower quality to what SEGA offer in their UFO catchers.
SEGA Japan also run an online service where people can play on UFO catchers from their computers and still win physical prizes that are then delivered to your home. This service is going to be expanded outside Japan for the first time ever when it comes to the US on December 3rd 2019.
SEGA Catcher Online can be accessed via this link, but the US site won’t go live until December 3rd. Probably best to bookmark it and come back on December 3rd if you’re interested in winning some exclusive goodies produced by SEGA Japan’s SEGA Toys division.
Thanks to Damian Mougakos from SEGA America, Erinplays and Geoff Keighley, we now have a look at what the SEGA Genesis Mini looks like in action. We get a look at the hardware itself, menus (complete with Streets of Rage sound effects!), sorting options, in-game performance and save state functionality. Check it out in the video below:
I don’t think many of us were expecting any news of a Western release for Phantasy Star Online 2 in 2019, but 7 years after its original Japanese launch, an English language version of the game for North America is finally coming in Spring 2020 for Xbox One and PC.
Announced during the Xbox E3 Conference, the free-to-play MMORPG has been a Japan exclusive since launch with the only signs of an English language version coming with the launch of the South East Asian version. This will be the first officially sanctioned Western release of the game and the reveal trailer promised all content that is currently available in the Japanese version will make its way to this North American port.
This news is unfortunately bittersweet for European fans as SEGA Europe have stated that they have nothing to confirm regarding a release for that region at this time. Porting PSO2 to a European market is likely a more intensive task as it isn’t as simple as supporting the game in English. European games normally support English, French, German and Italian language options as standard so this is likely causing a delay for a European launch.
Fingers crossed European Phantasy Star fans don’t have to wait long for confirmation of the game in their region, but this is still the most promising PSO2 news for quite some time.
Due to the delayed release of games in specific regions, global ranking and competitiveness can at times encounter disruptions. To ensure that players in regions like Europe can catch up and compete effectively in Phantasy Star Online 2, however, those who don’t have the time to spare, can consider enlisting the help of professional game-boosting services. Websites like https://overboost.pro/ offer valuable assistance in leveling up, acquiring resources, and mastering the game, allowing players to bridge the gap caused by regional release disparities and stay competitive in the Phantasy Star Online 2 universe.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is free-to-play MMORPG that supports cooperative gameplay for up to 12 players. There is no level-cap, but the game supports micro-transactions.
The US branch of SEGA have unveiled a new survey which asks fans to determine the next steps for the Sonic The Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles and Phantasy Star franchises.
The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and every entry enters you into a prize draw to win up to $500 in gift certificates. You can complete the survey and enter the prize draw by clicking here.
If you’re a SEGA fan based in the US with a passion for any of the franchises listed, this is an important opportunity to share your love for them and get SEGA to act on that passion. SEGA have been making big steps in terms of quality in recent years and that’s been down to a renewed focus on their legacy franchises. If you want to see the company do more with Super Monkey Ball, Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi, Jet Set Radio, Phantasy Star, Sakura Wars, Altered Beast, Virtua Fighter, Streets of Rage, Puyo Puyo, Shenmue, Golden Axe, House of the Dead, Virtua Tennis and Crazy Taxi then this is the way to let them know.
Those lucky North Americans are getting a limited Collector’s Edition of Sonic Mania which includes a massive box with new classic-style artwork, a 12″ statue, a metallic card with the download key on it and a replica Mega Drive cartridge that’s been cast with a gold ring on it.
If you’re lucky enough to live in North America or want to pay a big postage and packing fee, you can order the Collector’s Edition from the official Sonic Mania hub by clicking here.
BE WARNED: the Collector’s Edition plus shipping to the UK as well as import fees will set you back a whopping $107.35 which currently works out at £81.32 and that’s only if you don’t get a customs charge on top. Also, Xbox One and PS4 download keys are region exclusive so you’ll have to go for a PC version to make sure you can actually play the game.
It’s been a long time since we heard anything about the delayed follow-up to Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, but Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice finally has a new release date of September 27th.
The game was previously delayed because SEGA America wanted to make a game that “fans will continue to play for years after they pick up the game”. SEGA also promised it would “be a stronger, more enjoyable experience” thanks to the extended development period.
There is no new footage or screens to show at the moment, but you can guarantee we’ll be sharing any the moment they drop.
A Sonic the Hedgehog 25th anniversary event has been revealed. The event will take place at the San Diego House of Blues on the 22nd of July. Tickets are available now and can be bought by clicking here.
The event was announced at a recent Sonic the Hedgehog retrospective panel at SXSW. Sonic the Hedgehog social media guru Aaron Webber also hinted at another Sonic game reveal for the event but wouldn’t commit to a definite, “there will be a new Sonic game announcement at this event” so take those comments with a pinch of salt.
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