Sega Announces Sonic Collections, Crossworlds Content for 35th Anniversary
The lack of a new game announcement and the modest scope of the collections suggest Sega is prioritizing low-risk re-releases and cross-promotion over a major new title for the franchise's 35th anniversary.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, GAME Watch (Impress).
Sega held a livestream on June 26 to mark Sonic the Hedgehog's 35th anniversary, announcing two game compilations, new content for *Sonic Racing: Crossworlds*, and a limited-edition cartridge set. The Classic Sonic Collection, releasing in October, bundles *Sonic Origins*, *Sonic Mania*, and *Sonic Superstars*. The Modern Sonic Collection, also out in October, compiles *Sonic Frontiers*, *Sonic Colors: Ultimate*, and *Sonic Forces*. A Definitive Edition of *Sonic Frontiers* for the Switch 2 was announced separately. For *Sonic Racing: Crossworlds*, Sega revealed that August from *Crazy Taxi* and Amigo from *Samba de Amigo* will join the roster, along with Classic Sonic. The game has not sold as well as Sega hoped, according to the company. Sega also announced a worldwide *Crossworlds* competition with qualifiers starting June 30. Two limited-edition Sega Genesis cartridges of the original *Sonic the Hedgehog* and its sequel will cost US$100 each, with a one-in-eight chance of receiving a "Chaos Emerald" variant. A new *Sonic Pico Park* update adds Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Pico Cat. A Sonic Live in Concert tour begins in September. The article notes that no new mainline Sonic game was announced.
Jean-Karlo Lemus of Anime News Network called the announcement lineup "rather lackluster." He noted that the Classic Sonic Collection bundles Sonic Origins, which has been out for years and includes the proper combined version of Sonic 3 & Knuckles (with Michael Jackson's music replaced), alongside Sonic Mania and Sonic Superstars-games he argued are not "classic" in the traditional sense. The Modern Sonic Collection, he wrote, is "anemic" at only three games, none of which are a decade old, and notably omits the Sonic Adventure titles, the Sonic Storybook games, and even Sonic Boom.
Lemus also pointed out that Sonic Frontiers is included in the Modern Sonic Collection for the Nintendo Switch at the same time Sega announced a Sonic Frontiers Definitive Edition for the Switch 2 with improved graphics and all DLC. "This is just plain weird," he wrote.
For Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, Lemus noted that the new update includes music from deep Sega cuts like Burning Rangers, The Rub Rabbits, Feel The Magic: XX/XY, and Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure. He also criticized the growing roster of third-party crossover characters-including SpongeBob SquarePants, Aang, Katara, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Asuka and Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Godzilla-as "a bit much."
Separately, a life-size "DNA figure" of Sonic went on display at SEGA STORE TOKYO in Shibuya PARCO starting June 23. The figure, created with biotechnology company LOM BABY, encapsulates synthesized DNA based on Sonic's characteristics inside the figure. It is part of the 35th anniversary project.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network This Week in Games A Very 35th Birthday for Sonic The Hedgehog
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ」等身大“DNA”フィギュア、SEGA STORE TOKYOにて公開！ 実物フォトレポート