SEGA Releases First Episode of “SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Dark Beginnings” Animation

Today, Sonic Team released the first episode of the new SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Dark Beginnings prologue animation, following Shadow the Hedgehog as he dives into his tragic past to confront the origins of his haunting nightmares of conflict and loss. The first episode centers around Shadow’s memories with his childhood friend, Maria.

The release schedule for the remaining SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Dark Beginnings episodes will be released on the following days:

  • October 3, 2024 – “Episode 2: Finding the Way”
  • October 10, 2024 – “Episode 3: To the Ark”

What did you all think of the first episode of SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Dark Beginnings? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

SEGA Reveals SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Pack Included in Digital Deluxe Edition

Today, as part of PlayStation’s State of Play broadcast, SEGA revealed the SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Pack which will be included in the game’s Digital Deluxe edition.

On December 12, all SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Digital Deluxe owners can take on a new look as Shadow and play through a unique level inspired by the new movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, featuring the voice of Keanu Reeves! Read how Sonic Team were able to bring the big screen version of Shadow to the newest Sonic game on the PlayStation Blog here.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is set to release both digitally and physically on October 25, 2024, starting at $49.99 USD on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, and PC. Fans can pre-order today and receive a legacy skin for Modern Sonic based on his look from Sonic Adventure!

Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can play the game three days early and receive additional content. Also, players who pre-order the Physical Day One Edition will also receive Gerald Robotnik’s 28-page journal, chronicling his experience creating Shadow and the Ark Space Station.

SEGA Reveals Latest Slate of Sonic the Hedgehog News at 4th Annual Sonic Central

Earlier today, SEGA has revealed a slew of Sonic the Hedgehog announcements for upcoming titles including SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS™, Sonic Rumble™, Sonic Dream Team™, as well as details on upcoming partnerships and more.

Several highlights of Sonic Central 2024 included:

  • SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS – A new story trailer was unveiled that featured a new look at the story of Shadow’s standalone campaign, along with a teaser trailer for the upcoming Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings animation and a look at Gerald Robotnik’s Journal.
  • Sonic Rumble – Get ready for the all-new mobile Sonic party game, Sonic Rumble, coming this winter to both mobile and PC! Play with up to 32 friends and face new challenges, race through the various stages, and collect rings to win and unlock a huge selection of cosmetic collectibles.
  • Sonic Dream Team – A new playable character, Shadow the Hedgehog, will be arriving in the mobile game later this year!
  • Chao Tales – Sonic Team announced a new animated web-series, Chao Tales, which will include eight-episodes of whimsical shorts featuring the adorable fan-favorite chao.
  • Sonic the Hedgehog, DC and Warner Bros – Kicking off in 2025, the DC x Sonic collaboration launches with an all-new, five-issue comic series published by DC Comics. Merchandise developed by SEGA and WBDGCP, spanning numerous categories including apparel, toys, and more, will follow in late 2025.
  • Partnerships – SEGA revealed a variety of partners they will be collaborating with this year, to create a wide range of all-new, Sonic-themed products and experiences, including LEGO, Topgolf, JAKKS Pacific, PDP, First 4 Figures, HJC Helmets, Louis de Guzman and Bushiroad Creative.

But that’s not all! Please find the official press release below for additional announcements from Sonic Central by clicking the jump.

SEGA and RGG Studio announces Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii; Available Now for Pre-Order!

During the recent RGG Summit stream, SEGA and RGG Studio dropped an electrifying announcement that has fans buzzing: Goro Majima, the beloved and eccentric character from the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, is getting his very own spin-off game titled Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This thrilling new chapter will see Majima, the notorious ex-yakuza, shipwrecked on a remote Pacific Island, where he embarks on a quest to recover his lost memories alongside a young boy named Noah, who saved his life. As they navigate their way through a vibrant and dangerous world, Majima and Noah become embroiled in a fierce conflict involving ruthless criminals, modern-day pirates, and other colorful scoundrels vying for a legendary treasure.

Pre-Order on Amazon

Standard Edition: PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X

Collector’s Edition: PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X

SEGA News Bits Live: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Toy Guide

The third Sonic movie is on the horizon, and with it is merch! Toys, plush, playsets and more are releasing right now – and on this video, Barry breaks down what is releasing, where to find it all, and what to pass on.

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HJC Helmets Unveils New Shadow the Hedgehog Helmets

Today, SEGA has announced its partnership with HJC Helmets for the release of a brand-new Shadow the Hedgehog themed helmet, following the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog helmet. Fans can now bring their favorite brooding hedgehog along with them on their own Dark Rider adventures this October 2024.

The RPHA 12 helmet features Shadow the Hedgehog’s distinctive mischievous smile, including his trademark red eyes, complemented by a striking black and red color scheme that captures his fearless and intense personality.

The transition from the RPHA 11 to the RPHA 12 showcases HJC’s commitment to continuous improvement. The RPHA 12 is designed for both racetrack and street use, making it a choice for riders looking for exceptional performance in various riding conditions.

The new RPHA 12 helmet is lightweight, which will play a role in the all-new aerodynamics of the helmet. The new aerodynamics will help with less wind resistance and head movement, allowing riders to experience less drag. Additionally, the new vents keep the rider cool and help prevent fogging.

SEGA Releases New Content Update for Sonic Dream Team

Today, SEGA announced the latest jam-packed content update for Sonic Dream Team – the latest 3D Sonic the Hedgehog action-platformer, playable exclusively on Apple Arcade. This update brings some overhauls to the popular Tails Challenges, as well as newly added Powers including Stomp, Super Glide, and more!

Here is what the update has to offer:

Powers Have Arrived!

Unlock and equip Powers to grant Sonic and team powerful new abilities including Stomp, Super Glide, Wall Boost, and more. These are unlocked via Tails’ Challenges and let you customize your loadout to suit your playstyle. There are 16 Powers to unlock and experiment with!

Daily Rewards and More

Tails’ Challenges now refresh daily and deliver more rewards! Players can also earn rankings on every Challenge mission, with the coveted S-Rank awarding bonus XP for faster unlocking of rewards and Powers.

Score Attack Levels Now Available

In Tails’ Challenges, players can dive into new Score attack levels. Smash through targets, destroy enemies and obstacles, and chain together moves for combo streaks. Post high scores to the leaderboards and see who gets to the top!

Rock Out to More Sonic Tunes!

Fan favorite music tracks from other Sonic games can now be unlocked through Tails’ Challenges, and players can now groove to any of their unlocked songs during gameplay!

Sonic Dream Team is available now exclusively on Apple Arcade and is playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.

SEGA Releases New ‘Fearless’ Takashi Iizuka Interview All About Shadow

Today, SEGA released a new, exclusive interview with Sonic Team Creative Officer Takashi Iizuka, who sat down to answer questions from fans in the Sonic community about Shadow the Hedgehog and the Fearless: Year of Shadow campaign.

Sonic Team’s Fearless: Year of Shadow campaign spotlights Shadow, who is set to star in the upcoming video game, SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS, which is set to be released on October 25, as well as the highly anticipated movie, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”, heading to theaters on December 20 this year. The campaign celebrates what it means to be Fearless and embracing your inner Shadow by bravely facing challenges head on.

Celebrate the SEGA Dreamcast 25th Anniversary with the Dreamcast Anniversary Collection from Limited Run Games

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the SEGA Dreamcast. To celebrate the console release, SEGA has teamed up with Limited Run Games once again to provide new merchandise such as trading cards, apparel, and many other items.

This Dreamcast Collection will feature 200 premium trading cards featuring art from the system’s most iconic games and franchises along with hoodies, t-shirts, pins, keychains and a Dreamcast coin.

In addition to the trading cards, every month starting in October, new trading card merchandise will be available for pre-order focusing on games from the Limited Run Dreamcast Trading Card set which includes:

  • Skies of Arcadia 
  • Shenmue 
  • Shenmue II
  • Phantasy Star Online
  • Sonic Adventure
  • Sonic Adventure 2
  • Crazy Taxi
  • ChuChu Rocket!
  • Jet Set Radio
  • Space Channel 5
  • Virtua Fighter 3tb
  • Samba de Amigo
  • House of the Dead 2
  • Zombie Revenge
  • Dynamite Cop!

Pre-orders are available now here until October 13th.

SEGA News Bits Live: Sonic Movie 3 Trailer Breakdown and Analysis

SEGA News Bits Live is back! When big news drops, we have to jump on and talk about it. This week, the first trailer for the Sonic 3 movie dropped, and Barry breaks down and analyzes the trailer.

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Shadow Creator Disavows Vegeta Comparison, Not Friends with Sonic

The comparisons between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dragon Ball aren’t new; the two series share a lot of similar aspects in terms of tropes between their characters and power-ups. At this year’s Gamescom 2024, Catherine Lewis from GameRadar asked Shadow the Hedgehog creator Iizuka if he thinks the character has been interpreted differently over the past decade than he originally conceived him. His answer didn’t surprise anyone: ‘Yes.’

“So yes, there are some ways that people interpret Shadow that are not how the team is intending,” Iizuka begins (via translator). “I think the biggest one, if you look online, everyone’s like, ‘Oh, this is Dragon Ball Vegeta.” states that Shadow is “not Vegeta in any way. Vegeta really starts out as an enemy and then later becomes a friend and an ally and kind of, like, fights for justice and trying to save the world and whatnot. Shadow is not like that. I never want him to be like that. Shadow is doing his own thing, he’s not friends with Sonic, and he’s gonna go off and, you know, do whatever he feels is correct or right, or what he needs to do. And it’s not like, ‘Well, okay, we used to be enemies, but we’re friends now. Let’s save the world.’ He’s not that kind of character, and [I don’t] want him to be that kind of character. 

“So when people are always online saying, ‘Oh, it’s Vegeta, it’s Vegeta,’ it’s like, it’s not Vegeta,” he laughs.

It’s quite interesting that he seems to be suggesting that he doesn’t agree with this sort of characterization that has been given to Shadow the Hedgehog by fans. While Shadow the Hedgehog isn’t really friends with Sonic the Hedgehog, they do save the world together when their goals align and would say they have a more ‘rival’ type of relationship, which I think Iizuka shouldn’t be afraid of promoting. I think it gives Sonic and Shadow an interesting dynamic.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 adds Dreamcast classics Power Stone, Power Stone 2, Project Justice, & more

HIT THE BELL! Its finally here, the grand return of Power Stone. Are you ready for the Power Stone wars once again? I guess this new Capcom Fighting Collection 2 marks the end of an era, the era of the such titles like Power Stone, Power Stone 2 and Project Justice finally getting a ‘superior’ release to the SEGA Dreamcast. I know some people will say that Power Stone Collection from 2006 would be considered ‘better’, but quite frankly found the loading and graphics superior on Dreamcast.

Though this new collection is set to make all that a thing of the past and…. I’m all for it! I think if you want a new generation of gamers to fall in love with your amazing older franchises you need collections like these with all new additions like online rollback netcode. Let’s be honest, when this releases playing with your discord friends across the country.

I’m excited. Let’s go!

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 theatrical trailer FINALLY premieres

The moment everyone has been waiting for has finally come. Paramount Pictures has at last unleashed the movie trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the long awaited third chapter in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie universe, as well as the movie debut of everyone’s favorite edgehog, Shadow, shown above doing the famous Akira motorbike slide. He does more than slide though. He also speaks for the very first time, sounding a lot like a certain movie star we all know and love who’s quite experienced with firearms himself.

This trailer’s also the movie debut of another very well known Sonic character with an intimate connection to Shadow, which I won’t spoil. Just motorbike slide in below the break to see for yourself, then contain your excitement and your holiday spirit until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 debuts in theaters on December 20th, 2024.

Yakuza Kiwami announced for Nintendo Switch; Available on October 24th!

During the last bit of the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase stream, Yakuza Kiwami was announced to be ported to the Nintendo Switch for the first time and will be available digitally on October 24th.

New players can experience the early adventures of Kazuma Kiryu as he emerges from prison 10 years later after taking a fall of a murder to yakuza clans on the brink of a war that hurtles him on an intense journey of love, humanity, and betrayal, fueled by his fists and unyielding resolve, set against a bustling red-light district in modern day Japan.

This is also a great way to promote the upcoming live action TV adaptation of the game coming to Amazon Prime Video on October 25th. Will you get the Nintendo Switch version of Yakuza Kiwami? Let us know in the comments below!

Retro-Bit Gaming shows off its upcoming SEGA Saturn Fight Stick

Retro-Bit Gaming has been releasing high-quality, officially licensed SEGA controllers for years. From Genesis to Dreamcast, they’ve had a strong lineup. However, they haven’t unveiled a major product like this until now.

Introducing Retro-Bit Gaming’s high-quality SEGA Saturn fight stick. Inspired by the Japanese SEGA Saturn Virtua Stick, this sleek controller features a black finish instead of the traditional white. For more images, check out Sega Saturn, Shiro!’s tweet after the jump. It has also come to my attention that the fighting stick is non-working and more of a pitch by Retro-Bit to SEGA, as its not ‘officially licensed’, well yet. I mean, we need one of these babies!