SEGA Retrospective: SEGA of America and SEGA Europe in the modern age – a battle for relevancy

SEGA has its roots in the Western world and that influence is still ever so present today. It all started in Hawaii, went to Japan, then was bought by Gulf + Western, but then settled on Japanese ownership in 1984. But all those years of influence from Western staff and ownership never completely went away even after being staunchly Japanese for most of its life. Selling arcade machines, making your own consoles and even dabbling in in-door theme parks requires tons of investment that won’t be recouped in Japan, so it’s good to have international roots. 

Data Discs announces Fantasy Zone vinyl soundtrack, releasing this Saturday

Data Discs is back with an all new SEGA vinyl, this time featuring the soundtrack to the arcade classic Fantasy Zone! The release, set to go live on Saturday at data-discs.com, features the full 1986 soundtrack from Hiroshi “Hiro” Kawaguchi of OutRun and Space Harrier fame. The release will be available in two editions and include new liner notes from the composer as well as a lithographic art print.

Click on over to the Data Discs website to learn more!

SEGA Unveils Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE Cover

Today, SEGA revealed the cover for an upcoming digital comic, Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE. As a prologue to Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE is a two part digital comic prologue and dives into the events taking place for Sonic, Tails, Amy and Dr. Eggman right before they begin their journey to the Starfall Islands in search of the Chaos Emeralds.

Part 1 of the comic prologue will launch next Tuesday. Sonic Frontiers will launch starting at $59.99 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems and Steam on November 8.

Source: Sonic Official Twitter

Sonic Frontiers “Combat & Upgrades” trailer gives an in-depth look at the game’s battle system

Sonic Frontiers is less than a month away, so now is the best time for SEGA to make their closing arguments to fans for why the game is worthy of a pre-order. In the latest trailer for the game, the combat and upgrades system is explored in a bit more depth as fans can see how the skill tree unlocks new abilities for in-game combat. There are some fun easter eggs to be found, including moves that appear plucked from Sonic’s history of media including an attack seen in the unreleased Sonic X-Treme and moves straight out of the live action movies.

Sonic Frontiers will launch starting at $59.99 on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch family of systems and PC on November 8. To pre-order Sonic Frontiers, visit: https://frontiers.sonicthehedgehog.com.

SEGA delays HUMANKIND console release “until further notice”

Citing “unique challenges”, SEGA Europe has announced that the PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series console releases of HUMANKIND has been delayed until further notice. Developed by Paris based Amplitude Studios, which is owned by SEGA, HUMANKIND released to PC in 2021 and is a turn-based strategy 4X game. The game was set for consoles in November 2022 but now that is no longer the case.

I’ll admit, here at SEGAbits we struggle to cover the SEGA Europe PC strategy games. Maybe it is because they feel so far removed from what we come to expect from SEGA? Still, a console release was something we were anticipating and it is a shame the game saw a setback. SEGA will share a new release date when they can.

SEGA and Capcom announce Monster Hunter x Sonic Frontiers DLC

As the release of Sonic Frontiers approaches, SEGA has been revealing bonus content fans can enjoy on and after the game’s release. We’ve already seen the return of Soap shoes, and now we have our first collaboration DLC! Anybody who owns Sonic Frontiers will receive free DLC on November 14th which features content from Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise. Sonic can dress as Rathalos and Felyne Rathalos and a meat grilling mini-game will be added which will help Sonic power up. To celebrate the collaboration, SEGA and Capcom’s respective art teams drew up some fun artwork featuring the two franchises.

This DLC is exciting, as it gives us an idea of just how far SEGA can go with the game’s DLC. Sonic being able to wear a full costume opens up so many doors for future content and the addition of a mini game shows us that SEGA is open to expanding gameplay with future DLC.

But the question remains, what is Sonic cooking?

Review: MobyFox SEGA Genesis Smartwatch Band and Digital Faces

Let’s take a look at the latest SEGA smartwatch band from MobyFox which also includes a sizable library of digital faces. In the unboxing and review video above we showcase the 3D designs that mimic the look of the original hardware as well as some of the cool little touches MobyFox added. Like what you see? You can pick up a smartwatch band for yourself on their shop starting today!

After the break, you can also watch our unboxing and review of the MobyFox line of Sonic the Hedgehog smartwatch bands.

SEGA News Bits Live: Shenmue Anime Cancelled & Sonic’s Soap Shoes Return

Shenmue the anime has been cancelled after a successful first season, Sonic’s Soap shoes are back and Barry has beef with Sonic clothing collabs. All this and more on SEGA News Bits Live!

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

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!

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

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.

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

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!

SEGAbits @ EGX London 2022: Sonic Frontiers Hands-On Preview

Thanks to the Eurogamer Expo, I finally got my hands on Sonic Frontiers. There are so many questions to be answered. How are the controls? Does the game flow well? Is the Open Zone packed full of activities or is it a barren wasteland? Now after getting my hands on the game, I can finally get some answers and find out if Sonic Frontiers is more than meets the eye.

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

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.

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

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!

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