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Spoilers for Sonic Frontiers have started cropping up online after retailers broke the street date and sold the game early.
Reddit user ImBuGs posted on the GamingLeaksAndRumors subreddit to inform fans that a complete ROM of Sonic Frontiers for Nintendo Switch had begun circulating, going as far as posting screenshots of the game's main menu screen as proof. Another user commented on the thread with a link to a YouTube livestream in which a gamer was actively broadcasting themself playing the leaked version. However, SEGA quickly shut down all non-official videos of Sonic Frontiers by issuing copyright claims to any channel airing the game.
Some fans shared their thoughts on the Blue Blur's latest title in the Reddit thread, with one saying that the ROM runs "super poorly" and has various issues, such as constant crashes and long loading times. Another commented saying they were playing the ROM on a jailbroken, overclocked Nintendo Switch and claimed it ran fine, though they were unsure how it would run on other consoles. Opinions on the game's performance were generally mixed, with some fans finding it sub-par while others said it ran smoothly at 720p at 30fps.
Sonic Goes Too Fast
In the run-up to Sonic Frontiers' official release, long-time franchise followers have expressed cautious optimism that the new SEGA title could be a welcome return to form. While the Sonic series has seen great success with its 2D outings, like Sonic Mania, many fans have found the franchise's 3D iterations wanting, with critics often divided on the quality of the gameplay and combat. After the initial unveiling of Sonic Frontiers, many felt the game's first trailer struggled to differentiate the project from the spate of other open-world titles. However, as several more Sonic Frontiers trailers have been released, fans have seemingly warmed to the game and believe it might deliver a worthwhile platforming experience.
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the longest-running gaming franchises and has seen tens of series entries released since its debut on the SEGA Mega Drive in 1991. While initially starting as a 2D platformer, the franchise has expanded to include comic books, animation and movies, with the most recent Sonic the Hedgehog 2 film becoming the highest-grossing video game movie in the United States. The video game franchise has sold over 90 million units in its 30-year history, though it is also known for its infamous misfires, such as the notoriously broken Sonic '06 that drew much ire upon its release.
Sonic Frontiers releases on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Windows on Nov. 8, 2022.
Source: Reddit