Sonic Forces Japanese debut sales barely surpass 10k units sold

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We all know that Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t a very strong brand in Japan, but I don’t think a lot of people know just how unpopular it is. According to this weeks Media Create Sales, Sonic Forces sold 10,624 units, counting both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions. That’s rather low, seeing Call of Duty: WWII has a staggering second week with sales passing 60k! That’s a game based on the American viewpoint of the war Japan lost and they rather play that by a large number than Sonic Forces. That says something.

But is that a bad thing? Sonic Generations never charted in Japan when it came out in 2011. If anything Sonic Forces is selling higher in the region than expected. The Sonic brand usually makes most of its money in America and Europe, so we will have to see how it performs in those regions before we call it a bomb. You can check out the top selling software titles of the week in Japan by hitting the jump.

[Via: Gematsu]

SEGA News Bits: Sonic Forces Launch Day Patch Hides Super Sonic Transformation & Sanic Shirt

Welcome to another episode of the SEGA News Bits, this time around we are looking a bit deeper into Sonic Forces’ launch day patch. According to people who dug through the data, there is a Super Sonic transformation and Sanic shirt for the avatar hidden within the data. Will we ever get to play as Sonic Sonic and avatar in a Sanic shirt? Well, maybe.

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SEGA announces Shining Resonance Refrain for PlayStation 4

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The latest issue of the Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu has revealed Shining Resonance Refrain for the PlayStation 4, which is a remaster of the PlayStation 3 game simply titled Shining Resonance. Shining Force Refrain is set to launch in Japan on March 29, 2018 and come out with two different versions: Standard Edition for 5,990 Yen ($52 USD) and a Premium Fan Box limited edition for 9,490 Yen ($84 USD) which will come with a fan book, drama CD and theme son CD.

This PlayStation 4 ‘remaster’ of Shining Resonance will come with all 150 pieces of DLC already in the game and feature a new ‘Refrain Mode’ which will feature a lot of in-game ‘What if…’ scenarios including characters like Excela Noa Aura and Jenius Aeon becoming party members. Something that wasn’t possible in the previous version of the game.This remaster of the game will also have a lot of improvements, the following are some that Weekly Famitsu revealed:

SEGA launches a teaser site for ‘Valkyria Project’

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I guess SEGA wasn’t kidding when they said that the Valkyria franchise wasn’t dead after Valkyria Revolution debuted as the worse selling entry for the franchise. SEGA has more in store for players and they will reveal what ‘Valkyria Project‘ is on November 20th. You can check out the Valkyria Project teaser page here. 

Outside of the date, there is also a blurry background picture featuring a clue but I can’t make it out. SEGA did reveal shortly after Valkyria Revolutions came out that they where still open on doing another SRPG focused entry, but who knows what this is. I mean, it could possibly even be a mobile game. Oh god, I hope not!

Sonic Forces launch patch includes infamous Sanic shirt and Super Sonic transformation

If you have picked up Sonic Forces and agreed with our review that the game is rather low on content, then no fear because SEGA has been hiding content via their day one patch. According to data miners, who shifted through the data in the launch patch, there will most likely be a special ‘Sanic’ shirt released and a Super Sonic transformation.

I’m a bit surprised that the launch patch included this data on it and it wasn’t at least teased by the marketing team. As of right now, SEGA nor the Sonic the Hedgehog have ever hinted at the possibility of future updates to the game.  I really hope that SEGA focuses some attention on polishing the game up via some updates and adds new content along the way.

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[Source: Siliconera]

SEGA releases new concept art on Sonic Forces release day

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Sonic Forces releases today and following yesterday’s early launch trailer we have some new concept art direct from SEGA. The art shows off Sonic and friends battling Eggman’s squad of villains, Sonic in prison, the avatar character on a mission, Eggman’s lab, and more! Check out the additional concept art after the break.

Remember you can still order the Sonic Forces Bonus Edition to receive SEGA and Atlus avatar costumes, controller skins and Episode Shadow: PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Switch | PC

SEGA debuts Sonic Forces launch trailer in anticipation of tomorrow’s release

Sonic Forces releases tomorrow to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC and via SEGA we have a launch trailer for the game. Narrated by Knuckles, the trailer lays out the storyline and introduces the heroes and villains. Also detailed is Episode Shadow, a side-story featuring our favorite edgy black hedgehog featuring new stages and the ability to play as Shadow in over 10 modern Sonic stages.

Order the Sonic Forces Bonus Edition and receive SEGA and Atlus avatar costumes, controller skins and Episode Shadow: PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Switch | PC

SEGA News Bits: Sonic Forces Demo Impressions (PS4 & Switch)

Just the other day Sonic Forces Japanese demo hit both PSN and Nintendo’s eShop, unsurprisingly today we get to talk about our thoughts on said demo. Today on the SEGA News Bits we discuss Sonic Forces demo including Modern Sonic gameplay, Classic Sonic Gameply, Avatar style gameplay and of course discuss the differences between the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions of the game. So listen in on the episode and let us know in the comments below what you thought of the Sonic Forces PSN & Switch demo.

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Sonic Forces demo hits PS4 and Nintendo Switch’s Japanese stores

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SEGA has released the Sonic Forces demo in Japan on both the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. The demo will let you play through three separate stages, one for each playable version including Modern, classic Sonic and avatar hero. Each stage is on a timer.

As for both demos, the Nintendo Switch version is 573MB in size while the PlayStation 4 version comes in at 1.9GB in size. That’s quite the difference. Will you be making a Japanese account on either consoles to try out Sonic Forces? Or will you just wait for it to be released in English?

Sonic Mania physical version coming to Nintendo Switch, hints ESRB

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Sonic Mania has been out for a few months and while the game got physical collector’s edition, the game itself was never available in a physical medium. There is still a pool of gamers that are hoping SEGA does a physical version of the game and that might be happening. Earlier today, the ESRB twitter account posted a updated ESRB rating for Sonic Mania. If you look into the replies, someone already asked what we are all thinking: Why re-rate a game that has been out for months? ESRB’s reply:


When the ESRB account was pressed more on its reply, it said they don’t know if Sonic Mania is going to be released physically and that they only rate games. But they did say that all physical games need a ESRB summary, which is why the rating had been updated. We could be seeing a physical version of Sonic Mania, at least on the Nintendo Switch. Would you buy Sonic Mania again and if so, how much are you willing to spend on a physical version of the game?

Update: According to Sonic the Hedgehog social media manager Aaron Webber, this ESRB update actually has to do with the Collector’s Edition. Still not adding up why they would update the ESRB summaries months after the game released.

SEGA News Bits: Sonic Forces Hooters Japanese Promotional Event

Today on the SEGA News Bits we will be going all the way to Japan to look at the Sonic Forces x Hooters crossover promotional event that is going on right now! Well, maybe we won’t be going there in person but thanks to the power of the internet we can see what the Sonic Forces x Hooters crossover event has to offer. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we look at the Sonic Forces Hooters event, talk chili dogs, and give our thoughts on the promotion. What do you think of Sonic Forces having a promotional event at Hooters? Let us know in the comments below.

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Sonic Forces “Rental Avatar” hero mode, boss battle and Space Port gameplay footage released

New Sonic Forces details have been released today by way of gameplay footage, screens and a press release detailing the “Rental Avatar” Hero Swapping feature. The new mode – which may be a sly nod to the classic SEGA Mega Drive game Rent-A-Hero – allows players to swap out their hero avatar character with a hero avatar character created by another player, seemingly pulled at random from players worldwide. This allows you to see their unique designs and utilize their wispon weapon. This allows you to use your own selected wispon weapon and the one set by another player. You can see the “Rental Avatar” mode in the Infinite boss battle footage above.

Also released is B-roll gameplay footage of the hero avatar in the Space Port stage which takes place in the frigid north of Sonic’s world where a chemical plant is supplying a space port. You can see the footage, as well as Infinite boss battle screens, after the break.

SEGA News Bits: Sonic Forces PSN Trophies Leak, Reveals New Info

Welcome to a new SEGA News Bits, today we will be discussing the Sonic Forces early PSN trophies leak that happen yesterday. On this episode I’ll be going through all the interesting information that the leaked PSN trophies revealed including Silver Moon Rings, Secret Stages, Daily Missions, and lots more. So tune in and let us know what you think of Sonic Forces’ PSN Trophies and are you planning on getting a Platinum on it? Let us know in the comments below.

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Sonic Forces PSN trophies leak early, teases at unannounced in-game content

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It seems that Sonic Force‘s PSN trophies have now leaked via PSN Profiles, a website dedicated to listing PSN trophies for easy tracking. According to the website Sonic Forces will have 46 trophies in total including: 32 bronze, 10 silver, 3 gold, and of course 1 platinum. The trophies hint at the game having more in-game content, including ‘secret stages’ and ‘EX stages’. It seems that the game will also have a lot of things to collect in-game from red rings, number rings, silver moon rings, wispons, parts, and a lot more. Seeing what the trophies are made up of, I’m pretty sure this listing is legit. But since its not 100% confirmed by SEGA, believe at your own risk.

Another interesting thing on Sonic Forces is some of the ‘daily missions’ and ‘SOS missions’ that have been revealed via the trophies. I assume the daily missions will have some sort of online functionality where you get different rewards for completing missions given by the game? It seems that the big three trophies to collect are the gold ones and those are collecting all wispons, beating all challenge missions and collecting all the silver moon rings. You can check out the Sonic Forces PSN trophies over here for yourself. Are you planning on getting a platinum in Sonic Forces?

[Via: PSN Profiles]