Author Archives: Barry

SEGA makes newsletters cool again with Sonic Frontiers Soap shoes DLC offering

by

E-mail newsletters used to be all the rage. Heck, here at SEGAbits we had one for a time. But as time goes on, people’s methods of taking in updates on brands and franchises they love shift and more and more social media becomes the place for such information. NOT ANYMORE. Thanks to SEGA, the company who innovated online home console gaming, 360 degree arcade gaming and 3D fighting games comes the latest innovation: free DLC with a newsletter sign up!

That’s right, if you click on over to the Sonic Frontiers website and scroll to the bottom you will see Sonic in his iconic Soap shoes from Sonic Adventure 2. Why is he wearing these relics of the early 2000s? Because he wants to wear them again in his new game, but he needs your help! If you sign up for e-mail updates from SEGA, you will receive free DLC on the platform of your choice. Pro tip: sign up using multiple e-mail addresses so you can snag DLC for all the major platforms. It’s cool to see Sonic back in his guady grinding shoes, and it opens the door for more throwback shoes in the upcoming game. Fans are already asking for his movie shoes and his Riders shoes. What shoes would you like Sonic to wear in Frontiers? Sound off in the comments below!

1 Comment

ESPN NFL Football was the SEGA All-Stars Football game we never knew we had

by

Thanks to Shenmue AM2 Podcast, I was reminded of an obscure little game called ESPN NFL Football which just happened to include hidden cameos from several beloved SEGA characters. I am of course kidding about ESPN NFL Football being obscure, as the game was the first 2K sports title to carry the ESPN license. However the secrets found within the game might be new to many SEGA fans.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

Shenmue the Animation season two cancelled as season one is delisted from the Adult Swim website

by

According to Shenmue the Animation executive producer Jason Demarco, who is also the SVP of Anime and Action series at Warner Bros. Discovery, Shenmue the Animation has been cancelled following a successful first season. You read that right, a successful first season and a second season is not happening. Such an ass backwards decision makes total sense given the news coming out of Warner Bros. Discovery in recent months. The news broke as Demarco quoted a tweet which revealed season 1 was being removed from the Adult Swim website. Demarco went on to say that the anime will continue to be available on Crunchyroll. The team was “gearing up” for a season 2 but now, as Demarco says, “it’s looking like no S2”.

It seems Shenmue cannot catch a break these days, with a fourth game nowhere in sight and the anime cancelled. Hopefully YS NET, SEGA and Crunchyroll can work something out. Perhaps a truncated second season or a movie covering the events of the third game? Warner Bros. Discovery is a dumpster fire right now and SEGA can do better. Here’s hoping!

7 Comments

Sonic Prime releases this winter to Netflix – watch the new teaser trailer now!

by

A new teaser for the upcoming Netflix animated series Sonic Prime has released, and with it we have confirmation of a winter release. The trailer itself shows Sonic racing Shadow while causing Big the Cat to fall over. Poor Big. Also teased is Doctor Eggman in a new mech and the show’s plot of reality being shattered. It’s all very “Into the Spider-Verse” of them, but still cool. Check out the trailer for yourself and drop your thoughts in the comments section.

No Comments

SEGA News Bits Live: Like a Dragon 8 & Sonic Frontiers reveals Super Sonic

by

On this News Bits Live, Barry reacts to the news of three new Yakuza titles as well as… wait, they’re not Yakuza games anymore? Okay, let’s talk about that too. Also, Super Sonic and a new island is revealed for Sonic Frontiers! All this and the past week’s news on SEGA News Bits Live!

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

No Comments

SEGA Talk #104: Sonic R (1997)

by

Can you feel the sunshine? Strap yourself in to your… uh… I mean grab the controller as you race as Sonic and his friends (and foes) in the SEGA Saturn and PC classic Sonic R! We talk about the history, the game, the tracks and of course the awesome soundtrack.

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, tell us what games to cover, and have your SEGA memories read at the end and more!

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – RSS – Download]

If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

No Comments

Sonic Forces for mobile adds Darkspine Sonic from Sonic and the Secret Rings to roster

by

Usually we don’t news every new addition to Sonic Forces for mobile (originally titles Sonic Forces: Speed Battle), but we’ll make an exception for today’s reveal. It’s always fun when a long dormant character or super form is revived, and in this case Darkspine Sonic from 2007’s Sonic and the Secret Rings has made a return as a playable character in Hardlight’s multiplayer take on their Sonic Dash series. Darkspine Sonic also has three new flame-based abilities. So tap on over to Sonic Forces for mobile tomorrow and check out the new event to unlock Darkspine Sonic!

No Comments

Tokyo Game Show 2022 Sonic Frontiers trailer showcases new island and Super Sonic gameplay

by

Super Sonic has had a raw deal for the past decade or so. While Sonic’s super form showed up in 2D titles as expected, yes I even consider Sonic 4 to be a title that presents Super Sonic in the proper way, the 3D titles largely used the super form of Sonic as an end boss reveal and omitted him from being playable in the game’s main levels. Worse still, Sonic Forces initially debuted Super Sonic as paid DLC before realizing how crummy a move that was and making him free to download. Still, Super Sonic should be baked into the game! And thankfully, Sonic Frontiers latest gameplay trailer showcases Super Sonic within the open zone setting powering up upon collecting all seven emeralds. Just as Chaos intended. While it remains to be seen if you can play as Super Sonic while just running around and exploring the islands, his appearance in an open zone boss battle is a good sign.

What more, the trailer shows off a new fiery mountainous island and sports the new theme song “Vandelize” from ONE OK ROCK.

No Comments

Judgment and Lost Judgment available NOW on PC

by

The time has come! It looks like any and all issues have been resolved and Judgment and Lost Judgment are now available for PC. That’s right, they are listed right now! Click on over for Judgment and Lost Judgment or download the bundle which includes free DLC. It has been a big day for RGG Studio fans, as we have had three titles revealed in the past 24 hours as well as two PC ports. How excited are you to play the Judgment games on PC?

No Comments

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name releasing 2023 to Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms

by

In another surprise at the RGG Summit, a new game was announced for 2023: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. The game stars Kazuma Kiryu in a story that takes place between Yakuza 6 and 7 with classic gameplay elements returning. The game is said to be smaller, about half the size of a mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon title.

The game will release in 2023 to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC platforms.

No Comments

Like a Dragon 8 announced for 2024, releasing to Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms

by

In the early morning hours, at least here in the USA, SEGA of America dropped the trailer for the eighth game in the Yakuza franchise: Like a Dragon 8. The news dropped at Japan’s RGG summit event. Due out in 2024, the game will release globally to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC platforms. Ichiban Kasuga returns, and he brought a friend with him. Wait, it’s Kazuma Kiryu with a new haircut! Also, notably, the game drops the Yakuza name, which we also noted yesterday with the Like a Dragon: Ishin! reveal. It looks like the Yakuza franchise is now the Like a Dragon franchise!

What are your thoughts on the trailer? Did Kazuma get a haircut?

No Comments

Like a Dragon: Ishin! remake announced, releasing February 2023 to Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms

by

During Sony’s State of Play today it was announced that RGG Studio was working on a Like a Dragon: Ishin! remake of 2014’s PS3 and PS4 game Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!. The remake, created in the Unreal Engine, is set to release on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, as well as PC in February 2023. What is exciting is that this is the first time a historical Yakuza title released to the West.

Continue Reading ➜

3 Comments

Judgment and Lost Judgment PC versions appear on ESRB website

by

Several Twitter accounts have spotted Windows PC versions of RGG Studios’ Judgment and Lost Judgment listed on the ESRB website. The news is significant, as it was previously rumored that the franchise had come to an end due to a disagreement between the talent agency for the franchise’s real life star, Takuya Kimura, and SEGA over the actor’s likeness appearing in PC releases of the game.

This news, however seems to point to either the two parties reaching an agreement OR (worst case scenario) Takuya Kimura has been recast and a new model for a new actor will appear in the PC versions of the game. The second scenario, while possible, is in no way confirmed and is just speculation on our part. We’re sure to learn more soon!

[Source: @Wario64]

No Comments

ChuChu Rocket! Universe pulled from App Store as three year Apple Arcade exclusivity ends

by

Fans have noticed that ChuChu Rocket! Universe, the semi-sequel to the Dreamcast puzzle game ChuChu Rocket!, had disappeared from Apple’s App Store. The game, developed by SEGA’s Hardlight studio, was a worthy follow-up to the Sonic Team original, featuring new and returning puzzles, inventive 3D maps, a story mode and a classic multiplayer mode. The game was also exclusive to Apple Arcade, Apple’s pay to play collection of apps which were all free to download and free of any micro-transactions and in-app purchases.

It appears that the game was pulled due to a three year exclusivity window closing, as fans on Twitter have pointed out other Apple Arcade apps that debuted alongside ChuChu Rocket! Universe have also been pulled. If you still have the game installed, it can still be played. However the game cannot be redownloaded if your device offloads apps that go unused.

Continue Reading ➜

2 Comments