JAKKS Pacific and SEGA of America Renew Global Toy Partnership for Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise

Today, SEGA and JAKKS Pacific announced a partnership renewal for the core Sonic the Hedgehog Collection, maintaining JAKKS as the franchise’s lead global toy partner.

JAKKS will continue to design, manufacture, market, and sell Sonic the Hedgehog branded toy product lines worldwide.

This multi-year partnership extends until 2029, allowing JAKKs to continue to design and produce action figures, playsets, vehicles, plush, collectibles, and other categories.

Check out the full press release for more details!

Enter the World Stage! Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage Now Available!

SEGA has officially launched Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam with the Nintendo Switch 2 version coming later this Winter.

The game features support for cross-play and rollback netcode, an improved training mode, and the brand-new single player World Stage mode where players will challenge powerful rivals on a solo quest to become the ultimate fighter!

In addition, for the first time since Final Showdown, the enigmatic Virtua Fighter series antagonist Dural is now available as a playable character via a paid DLC.

Current owners of the Steam version of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. will automatically be upgraded to Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage at no added cost, with no impact on any purchased content. Those who own the PlayStation 4 version of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown will be able to purchase the PlayStation 5 version of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage at a discount.

Check out further details on the game in the press release below!

Joker Available To Play Now In Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds; CrossWorlds Surpasses 1 Million Copies Sold!

Today, SEGA officially released the free Joker content for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Players can now jump in and race alongside Sonic and friends as the leader of the Phantom Thieves, Joker from Persona 5! The free Joker Content Drop includes the following:

  • Joker as a playable character
  • Joker’s vehicle, the Arsène Wing
  • Three new Joker-themed songs added to the Jukebox
  • “Take Over”
  • “Wake Up, Get Up, Get out There”
  • “Victory”
  • Special emotes and sounds

Joker fans will also get to celebrate his arrival with the Joker Festival coming soon, starting October 24 until October 27! Players will get to collect Festival Points during the limited time event to claim exclusive rewards.

In other news, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has surpassed one million copies sold with tremendous accomplishments since release as players have:

  • Raced over 74.5 million times
  • Played in over 31.5 million Grands Prix
  • Played in over 13 million Ranked Matches

SEGA News Bits Live: Sonic Christmas Ornaments!

What better time than the Halloween season to look at Christmas ornaments! On this SEGA News Bits Live, Barry takes a look at the many Hallmark Sonic ornaments released over the past years.

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Goro Majima Comes to SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance in SEGA Villains Stage DLC

A ninja vs a mad dog. The final guest villain for the SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance SEGA Villains Stage DLC has been revealed! The Like a Dragon & Yakuza series’ charismatic ‘mad dog’ of Shimano Goro Majima will take on Joe Musashi in the game’s upcoming DLC.

The SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance SEGA Villains Stage features some of SEGA’s most legendary foes, including Dr. Eggman and Death Adder in addition to Majima. Get ready to battle all three villains by playing SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance! Purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition of SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance now to unlock the SEGA Villains Stage when it releases early 2026.

 

Total War Celebrates 25 Years with Tides of Torment Expansion

SEGA and Creative Assembly have announced Tides of Torment, a new content pack for Total War: WARHAMMER III launching December 4th. The release arrives the same day as the Total War 25th Anniversary Showcase, a special presentation celebrating the franchise’s legacy and revealing what’s next for the series. Tides of Torment introduces three new Legendary Lords representing the High Elves, Slaanesh, and Norsca, each with unique campaign mechanics, units, and stories. The announcement trailer teases a dark maritime theme with chaotic energy and plenty of new challenges for Immortal Empires players.

Alongside the paid content, all WARHAMMER III owners will get The Masque of Slaanesh as a free Legendary Lord in Patch 7.0. The update also includes legacy improvements for the High Elves, Slaanesh, and Norsca factions. SEGA confirmed that the 25th Anniversary Showcase will feature new fantasy and historical project reveals along with developer commentary. More details on how to watch will be shared December 1st, so mark your calendars. December 4th is shaping up to be a big day for Total War fans.

[Via Sega Press Release]

Sonic Rumble Officially Launches This November

After numerous delays and updates, we have good news that Sonic Rumble – the ultimate arcade royale – will be arriving on iOS, Android, and PC globally this November. We don’t have an exact date for the game’s release in November, but I believe the developers are finally finalizing everything to prepare for a proper launch with new features and brand new stages.

The extra development time for Sonic Rumble allowed the developers to roll out several, player-focused updates that refined the core game from the ground up for a super smooth, intense, and incredibly fun game right from the jump.

Are excited to finally play Sonic Rumble on launch? Check out the full update regarding the game on the official website.

Jam To Remixed Classic SHINOBI Tunes With Tee Lopes’ SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance DJ Set

If you are a long time fan of SHINOBI, sit back, relax, and enjoy the SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance DJ SET by Tee Lopes as he spins remixed classic tunes from each game in the series and pays tribute to SEGA’s legacy franchise.

Composed by Tee Lopes and Yuzo Koshiro, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance boasts a stylish and magnetic soundtrack, inspired by the game’s original score, but with a modern flair.

Tee Lopes has previously worked with SEGA to compose soundtracks for Sonic Mania, Streets of Rage 4 and more. What is your favorite SHINOBI tune from the DJ Set? Let us know in the comments!

THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2: Remake Launches on PlayStation and Xbox on October 24th!

Originally released for Nintendo Switch and Steam a few months ago, The House of the Dead 2: Remake is officially launching on PlayStation 4 & 5 and Xbox One & Series X|S on October 24th for $24.99. The House of the Dead 2is a remake of the second entry in the well-known and popular rail-shooter series. Take on the lone role of a secret agent as James or Gary, or team up in co-op mode to neutralize the dangerous creatures standing in your way. The remake also includes:

  • Remastered music (with the classic soundtrack also available in the game)
  • Modern graphics
  • Gameplay faithful to the original game
  • Co-op mode
  • Multiple endings and branching levels
  • Classic Campaign
  • Boss Mode
  • Training Mode

Wishlist the PlayStation or Xbox versions today! The House of the Dead 2: Remake is available now for Nintendo Switch and Steam.

 

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Minecraft Pack Officially Available Now!

Today, SEGA officially released the Minecraft Pack for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Players can now hop in and play as fan-favorite characters including Steve, Alex, and a creeper while racing through the Minecraft World course, immersing them in the pixelated and blocky world. The Minecraft Pack includes the following:

  • Steve, Alex, and a creeper as playable characters
  • Minecart Vehicle
  • Six decals for the Minecart Vehicle
  • Minecraft World Course
  • Five original Minecraft Music Tracks
  • New remixes of original Minecraft Music Tracks
  • Six different emotes per character

Players who own the Digital Deluxe Edition will automatically receive the Minecraft Pack as part of the Season Pass. For those who want to take part in the Minecraft action, the entire Season Pass is separately available for $29.99 USD, which includes access to even more upcoming exciting Season Pass characters, vehicles, and courses. Players can also purchase the standalone Minecraft Pack for $5.99 USD.

Players who do not own the Minecraft Pack will still be able to compete online against those who do and will be able to race on the Minecraft World course against the Minecraft characters.

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SEGA News Bits Live: Miku Festival + Sonic’s Olympic Return?

We had our first festival in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, and on this News Bits we talk about how it went! Also, news has dropped that Sonic is teaming back up with the Olympics!

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SEGA Teams up with the IOC on a New Multi-Year Licensing Agreement Celebrating the Olympic Brand and Sonic the Hedgehog

Today, SEGA announced its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for a multi-year licensing agreement. SEGA & IOC are seeking key partners for a full merchandise collection to launch in 2026.

The first look at the upcoming “Five Rings” collaboration is available now, featuring the Olympic rings with a supersonic Sonic the Hedgehog spin. This sneak peek into the custom art highlights the connection with Sonic and the core Olympic values, including excellence, respect and friendship.

Check out further details in the press release here!

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Review – A Ninja Legend Reforged

The Shinobi legacy returns with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, a modern reimagining of SEGA’s iconic ninja action series. Released earlier this year, the game slices its way onto PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, bringing a mix of stylish combat, retro-inspired flair, and fresh design sensibilities. Behind the project is Lizardcube, the Paris-based studio best known for revitalizing another SEGA classic with Streets of Rage 4. Having earned widespread praise for blending hand-drawn artistry with tight, old-school gameplay, Lizardcube now turns its attention to one of SEGA’s most enduring heroes, aiming to reintroduce Shinobi to a new generation while respecting the series’ stealth-and-slash roots.

But will their trademark flair fit seamlessly with the iconic Shinobi franchise? I spent time with Art of Vengeance, and in this review, we’ll talk about what works, what doesn’t, and whether this revival lives up to its legendary name.

Golden Axe Villain Death Adder Invades SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

SEGA has announced another iconic SEGA villain that will be appearing as a guest in the upcoming SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance DLC.

That villain is none other than the mighty Death Adder, the fearsome giant from the Golden Axe series, responsible for murdering the loved ones of Yuria’s heroic warriors.

Take on Death Adder, Dr Eggman and another mysterious villain as Joe Musashi in the SEGA Villains Stage DLC for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, coming later in 2026!