Sega recently announced a Sonic the Hedgehog showcase entitled Sonic Central, in which Sega plans to announce the Blue Blur's upcoming projects alongside other anniversary celebrations. Sega has maintained near-complete radio silence on Sonic's 30th birthday for what feels like an eternity, so fans are more than excited. This is especially true since Sonic has been in a tricky spot lately. Sonic Forces was the last main series game and was released back in 2017 to unfavorable responses from fans and critics. Whatever is revealed during the upcoming showcase, it has a lot to prove.
Sega's silence has led to a wealth of rumors and leaks about what exactly it is planning. Expectations for the series are at an all-time high and fans are ravenous for a new Sonic title that's truly worth the wait. Some of the more frequently rumored anniversary projects are a brand new collection, a sequel to Sonic Mania and even a Sonic Adventure sequel or remake.
While Sonic's video game outings have been rather disappointing, in other mediums the character has been exploding. The IDW comic book series has proved very popular, especially given how well it handles the characterizations of the cast, which have suffered immensely within the games. The Sonic the Hedgehog film proved far more successful than anybody expected and has seemingly kickstarted a new interest in video game movies as a whole. The announcement of Sonic Prime, the new animated series, also pleased many fans who have been waiting for the character's return to television.
With all this in mind, the series is in the perfect position to capitalize on its multi-media dominance with a brand-new quality video game. At this point, just one strong entry in the series may be enough for Sonic to reclaim his place at the top of the mountain of platformers. Another dud, however, may well cause fans to give up on the video games entirely and interact with the franchise solely through other mediums.
This is a tough spot for Sega to be in. Fans have become so disillusioned with the so-called "meta era" of the video games. They have been waiting so long for an inkling of what's coming next. So, anything less than Sonic Adventure 3 may prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for many.
What exactly Sega will reveal this week is anybody's guess. The wording of the announcement implies that fans will see more than just video game news at the event. A trailer for the movie's sequel seems plausible alongside some more information on Sonic Prime. After being leaked by retailers, the long-rumored Sonic collection seems incredibly likely to be revealed at the show as well.
In regards to new titles, anything is possible. If the rumor regarding the new collection proved true, will the same apply to the heavily talked about Sonic Adventure remakes? For the first time in years, Sonic Adventure 3 even seems like a possibility. A sequel or spiritual successor to Sonic Mania would also be an obvious choice, but fans will just have to wait and see for now. All eyes are on Sega to see if its showing is as exciting as it should be.