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Sega Wants Sonic to Become an "Entertainment Icon"

"Sega is really--as of this last year--putting a huge emphasis on quality."

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Sonic the Hedgehog is already one of the most recognizable gaming characters ever, but Sega has even bigger plans for the blue speedster.

Chief brand officer Ivo Gerscovich recently spoke with MCV about Sega's plans for Sonic, saying it's the company's intention to elevate the character to "entertainment icon" status.

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"We are really focused on turning Sonic into an entertainment icon, not just a games icon," he said, according to GameZone. "We want to go across all platforms and elevate his status even further, which explains why we are doing so much. Sega is really--as of this last year--putting a huge emphasis on quality."

A Sonic movie, which will blend CG and live-action, is scheduled to come out in 2018. The untitled film is being produced by Sony Pictures, though there is no word yet on a cast or director, and the story, too, is not being discussed at this juncture.

Just because Sega is pushing Sonic to become an "entertainment icon," that doesn't mean the company is backing away from games. Just recently, the Sonic Team confirmed a new Sonic game is in the works and will launch in 2017.

As rumored, more information about the game will be shared as part of Sonic's big party at San Diego Comic-Con in July. This event, which will also include live performances by the bands Crush 40 and Hyper Potions, will thankfully be livestreamed for all to watch.

The next Sonic game is Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, which will arrive for Nintendo 3DS on September 27. The game was previously expected to come out in 2015 before it was delayed so the team could improve its quality. For more on Fire & Ice, check out GameSpot's preview from E3 2016.

2016 marks the 25th anniversary of Sonic.

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