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!

 

 

ATLUS Releases New Prologue Demo Today for Metaphor: ReFantazio

Studio Zero Game Director Katsura Hashino announced today at the Metaphor Launch Event in Tokyo, Japan, during the week of Tokyo Game Show (TGS), that the Prologue Demo for ATLUS’ highly-anticipated fantasy RPG Metaphor: ReFantazio is now available on Xbox for free. The free demo will also be available for PlayStation and PC today at 9am PT.

In the Prologue Demo, players can experience some of the early-game narrative, explore social elements and discover the city as they get a head start on their adventure ahead of the October 11 launch. Progression from the demo will carry over to the launch version so players can get a head start on their adventures in the United Kingdom of Euchronia.

The Prologue Demo includes:

  • The beginning of the journey to lift the curse of the prince.

  • The first four dungeons.

  • The ability to unlock seven of the 40+ classes called “Archetypes”.

  • Meet six followers, including party members that will support the Protagonist’s journey.

  • And much more!

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an all-new fantasy RPG from the creative minds of Persona 3, 4, and 5. Players will write their destiny and rise above fear as they step into a fantasy world unlike any other in a perilous race for the throne.

Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Steam. For more information and for links to pre-order, visit metaphor.atlus.com.

In addition to today’s demo release announcement, Jack Frost is confirmed to be included later in the game (not in the demo) as a demon an Archetype from the Summoner lineage can summon.

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 Talk #148: The Best SEGA Saturn 3D Games (1994-1998)

Prepare to be amazed as we unearth the hidden gems of the SEGA Saturn’s 3D library. From classic favorites to underrated masterpieces, we’re covering it all. Tune in to SEGA Talk for a wild ride through time.

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Download]

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!

Rocket Panda now available to purchase on Genesis/Mega-Drive cartridge

 

Looking for a new game in a functioning cartridge for your Genesis/Mega-Drive console? Rocket Panda is finally available to purchase as a physical cartridge complete with a box and manual to play on your original Genesis. The game was made available on September 16th, 2024. (Please excuse our tardiness in reporting the news.) 

Rocket Panda was made by Space Pants Games and published by Mega Cat Studios. Both companies collaborated on a Kickstarter campaign to develop this game back in February of this year, and now the game is complete and available to ship to buyers. If you backed that Kickstarter, chances are you may have received your own copy by now if you pledged enough money for one, or you may receive it soon. Be sure to keep up with updates on the Kickstarter page. Everyone else can now buy their own original copy complete in box or just the cartridge on its own. A special Limited Edition, coming with a cartridge of its own unique design, is also available.

For links to purchase directly from Mega Cat Studios, and to learn more about the game, dive on in past the break.

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Secret Debug Menu discovered in Golden Axe: The Duel on Saturn

Bo Bayles strikes again!

This Saturn fan will stop at nothing to uncover all the hidden secrets of old Saturn games, and now they’re back with a secret debug menu in Golden Axe: The Duel (1996). While not one of the more fondly remembered Saturn classics, but not one of the worst either, depending on who you ask, it had quite a lot hidden under its hood these past 28 years. By going deep into the game’s code, Bo found a normally inaccessible debug menu left behind that, after being unlocked, can change all sorts of things at any point during gameplay.

Normally, menus like these are only used during development to test certain parts of the game, hence why it’s called a “debug” menu. Occasionally, cheat codes are set up to allow players to access the menu and mess around with it at their leisure, but no such code was programmed into Golden Axe: The Duel. Thus, Bo Bayles has created a patch for the game to make the menu easily accessible. More info about the menu and the download link to the patch can be found right below the break.

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

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and Metaphor: ReFantazio™ announce new partnership for the Singapore Grand Prix

Today, ATLUS and the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team announced a race partnership bringing gaming entertainment to racing fans.

The one race partnership will see Metaphor: ReFantazio logo adorn the top nose of the cars for Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen during the Singapore Grand Prix. The logo will feature the in-game characters’ Hulkenberg for Nico Hülkenberg’s car (no relation) and the Protagonist for Kevin Magnussen’s car.

More details and press release on the partnership can be found at the jump!

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.

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.

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.

SEGAbits Presents Arcade Adventure 3: Arcade meetup at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, IL on November 2, 2024

With the third Sonic movie on the horizon, it only makes sense to have a third entry of our own: SEGAbits Presents Arcade Adventure 3! Meet up with fellow SEGA fans at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois on November 2nd, 2024 to play hundreds of arcade games in the world’s largest arcade!

Let us know you will be attending by clicking “Yes” on this form
(this is not a ticket or official commitment, it is simply a gauge for us to know how many will be attending)

This event requires no advance ticketing or advance access, simply show up to the arcade and pay them $25 for all day play. The arcade is open from 11am to 2pm the following day, and you are free to come and go as you please – just hang on to that receipt. The meetup will take place between 1:30pm and 6:30pm and will feature impromptu tournaments, arcade and world record attempts and the chance to meet and hang out with fellow SEGA fans.

Want to grab something to drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and eat before the hang? We are planning a pre-game meetup from 12pm to 1:30pm at Imperial Oak Brewing, which is across the street at 9526 Ogden Ave. The venue is all ages (until 10pm) and allows customers to order food delivery from local restaurants. This is a great way to meetup before the meetup and gives us a chance to talk about Sonic X Shadow Generations and Prime Video’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza!

For those unaware, Galloping Ghost Arcade is HUGE. Want to play The House of the Dead 1 through 4? How about Monkey Ball with that ridiculous banana joystick? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to play SegaSonic the Hedgehog starring Sonic, Ray and Mighty? They have all those, plus nearly every super scaler game, Sonic the FightersVirtua FighterFantasy ZoneGhost Squad, L.A. MachinegunsGunblade NYShinobiAltered Beast, The Revenge of Death AdderAll-Stars Racingand many, many, many more! Heck I’m just naming off a handful of the SEGA titles. There are OVER 1,000 games!

Hope to see you there!

Artwork credit: Pseudochel

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.

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis -The Answer- Available Now + New Launch Trailer

Today, ATLUS launched the final content release for the Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass, Episode Aigis -The Answer- on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Steam, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Added to the game 16 years ago with the release of Persona 3 FES, Episode Aigis -The Answer- (originally known as “The Answer” in North America) is a major post-ending DLC that expands the story of Persona 3 Reload. Delve into a modern version of the final chapter with over 30 hours of new gameplay, now with cutting-edge graphics, updated quality-of-life features, fresh animations and UI, and a rearranged soundtrack.

In Episode Aigis -The Answer-, after unraveling the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fighting epic battles through Tartarus, and all the unforgettable events of Persona 3 Reload, the S.E.E.S. members find themselves trapped in a never-ending March 31st. Journey through the Abyss of Time as Aigis, undertake new challenges and uncover the cause of this strange fate and the truth of what happened on that day…

Special to Persona 3 Reload’s version of the epilogue is the return of a fan-favorite character and iconic music from Persona 5 Royal as a challenge battle boss fight. Watch the “A Familiar Foe” trailer here to unveil the face behind the mask.

The Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass includes Episode Aigis -The Answer-, the Velvet Costume & BGM Set, and the Persona 5 Royal EX & Persona 4 Golden EX BGM Sets. The Expansion Pass is available on digital storefronts for $34.99 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The Expansion Pass is available at no extra cost to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers through January 31, 2025.