Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers[lower-alpha 1] is an upcoming platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It is the first Sonic the Hedgehog game to feature open-world gameplay; as Sonic, the player explores the Starfall Islands, which comprise various biomes.

Sonic Frontiers
Developer(s)Sonic Team
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Morio Kishimoto
Producer(s)
Writer(s)Ian Flynn
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)
ReleaseQ4 2022
Genre(s)Platform, action-adventure
Mode(s)

Development began after the release of Sonic Forces (2017). Frontiers is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in late 2022.

Gameplay
Sonic in the game's open world, the Starfall Islands

Sonic Frontiers is a 3D platformer and action-adventure game,[1][2] and the first Sonic the Hedgehog game to feature an open world.[3] As Sonic, the player explores the Starfall Islands, which comprise various biomes including flowery fields, forests, ancient ruins, and deserts.[1][3] Multiple writers compared the open-world design to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017).[4][5][6][7]

Development

Following the release of Sonic Forces (2017), Sonic Team began exploring multiple approaches for its next Sonic the Hedgehog game. In addition to celebrating the series' upcoming 30th anniversary, Sonic Team also sought to define what a modern Sonic game should be and solidify the series' direction for the next decade.[8] Sonic Team head and Sonic series producer Takashi Iizuka wanted the next Sonic game to inform future games, similar to how Sonic Adventure (1998) set a template that following games continued to emulate for 20 years.[9]

Development was underway by March 2019,[10][11] and that month Sega opened a fan survey to help determine the series' "next steps".[12] Morio Kishimoto, director of Sonic Colors (2010), Lost World (2013), and Forces, returns to direct Frontiers,[7] while Sachiko Kawamura is producing.[2] Ian Flynn, who wrote Sonic the Hedgehog comics published by Archie Comics and IDW Publishing and episodes of the Sonic Boom TV series, is writing the script.[2][1]

Marketing and release

Sega unveiled a teaser trailer, featuring Sonic running through a forest, at the end of a 30th anniversary livestream on May 27, 2021.[13] The title was not announced then, but the trailer's metadata and a Sega press release were discovered to have titled the game Sonic Rangers.[14][15] Iizuka later said that he felt the game was teased prematurely, but believed it was necessary given that it was the 30th anniversary and Sonic Team had not announced a game since Forces' release.[16]

In November 2021, Sega trademarked the name Sonic Frontiers,[9] and set up the subdomain frontiers.sonicthehedgehog.com the following month.[17] Frontiers was announced at The Game Awards 2021.[2] It is scheduled for release in late 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[14][2]

Notes
  1. Japanese: ソニック フロンティア, Hepburn: Sonikku Furontia

References
  1. Stewart, Marcus (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers Drops The Blue Blur Into His First Open World Game". Game Informer. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  2. Diaz, Ana (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers sends the hedgehog on a new 3D adventure". Polygon. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. Fahey, Mike (December 9, 2021). "Sega Reveals Sonic Frontiers, The First Open-World Sonic Game". Kotaku. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  4. Gartenberg, Chaim (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers teases an 'open-zone' redemption for the franchise's 3D legacy". The Verge. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. Maher, Cian (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers looks like Sonic meets Breath of the Wild". USA Today. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  6. Epps, DeAngelo (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers is basically Breath of the Wild with hedgehogs". Digital Trends. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. Watts, Steve (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers Is An Open-World Game Coming In 2022, First Screenshot Has BOTW Vibes". GameSpot. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  8. Shea, Brian (June 13, 2021). "Sonic Team Head Talks Sonic Origins, Next Mainline Game, And 30th Anniversary". Game Informer. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  9. Ivan, Tom (November 8, 2021). "Sega's 'Sonic Frontiers' trademark seemingly corroborates open-world claims". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  10. Romano, Sal (March 16, 2019). "Next major Sonic the Hedgehog title in development". Gematsu. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  11. Blake, Vikki (March 17, 2019). "A new Sonic game is in development". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  12. Romano, Sal (March 18, 2019). "Sega hosting Player Survey to determine the next steps for Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles, Phantasy Star, and more". Gematsu. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  13. Wales, Matt (May 27, 2021). "Sega confirms Sonic Colors Ultimate plus a retro Sonic compilation for next year". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  14. Capel, Chris (May 27, 2021). "New Sonic game may be called Sonic Rangers, press release accidentally reveals". Game Revolution. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  15. Skrebels, Joe (May 28, 2021). "The New Sonic Game May Be Called Sonic Rangers". IGN. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  16. Doolan, Liam (July 22, 2021). "Takashi Iizuka Admits The Sonic 2022 Reveal Was Probably A Bit Too Early". Nintendo Life. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  17. Bellingham, Hope (December 6, 2021). "A new Sonic the Hedgehog game called Frontiers could be set for an imminent announcement". GamesRadar+. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
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