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Sonic Mania Delayed; Project Sonic 2017 Gets A Name

Sega continued its Sonic celebration at SXSW.

43 Comments

With the Sonic series recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Sega today hosted a panel at South by Southwest where it talked about two upcoming games: Sonic Mania and what's been known as Project Sonic 2017.

On the Sonic Mania front, the key news was that the game has been delayed from this spring to summer. A more specific release date wasn't shared, but Sega did tease new enemies, preorder bonuses, a collector's edition vinyl album, and the return of the Flying Battery Zone. You can watch a video of that above.

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Now Playing: GS News Update: Sonic Mania Delayed & Project Sonic 2017 Gets A Name

As for Sonic 2017, the game is now officially called Sonic Forces. It runs on a brand-new engine called The Hedgehog Engine 2 and is still due out later this year. The name is a reference to the battle between the forces of good and evil. You can see a new piece of concept art for it below.

Additionally, Sega showed off a brief clip of the first Sonic Forces gameplay. It revealed some fast-paced third-person gameplay of Sonic moving through the city seen in last year's reveal trailer. This will be published online for everyone to see tomorrow, March 17. There will be multiple paths through levels and two other styles of gameplay, one of which centers around the classic-style Sonic seen in the aforementioned trailer.

Sonic Forces concept art
Sonic Forces concept art

Both games are slated to arrive for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

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nini200

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Sonic Mania looks beyond epic!

Sonic Forces seems like Unleashed daytime stages part 2. That's ok but the control sucked. Couldn't make sharp turns unless you drifted etc. Left and right movement seemed incredibly stiff. Made the player seem like all they has to do was hold the up direction and jump at the right time.

I'm getting Mania day 1. Forces I'm going to wait on.

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nini200

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Sonic Mania looks beyond epic!

Sonic Forces seems like Unleased daytime stages part 2. That's ok but the control sucked. Couldn't make sharp turns unless you drifted etc. Left and right movement seemed incredibly stiff. Made the player seem like all they has to do was hold the up direction and jump at the right time.

I'm getting Mania day 1. Forces I'm going to wait on.

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MaxBlaze

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Sonic Mania looks insane. The modern Generations style game that's coming look great too. Generations is so underrated and under-touted.

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SilentAssassin

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Edited By SilentAssassin

I always get excited for a new Sonic game and then somehow.. I am let down. I won't lose faith though.. I hope these games are great!

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RapidFirE53211

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I have a feeling this game is gonna go fast....to the bottom of the bargain bin.

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hystavito

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@RapidFirE53211: :)

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Tom_Tucker

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Let Sonic rest.

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JoannaDark360

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@tom_tucker: Both Sega & Sonic are ZOMBIES!!!

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Domiddian

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Edited By Domiddian

@tom_tucker: Nah, I honestly think Mania will take Sonic back to its roots, which is exactly what the franchise needs. I really enjoyed Sonic Generations and Sonic Forces looks very reminiscent of that.

If was another crappy offering like this shit they put out on Wii and Wii U and to a lesser extent the 360 and PS3, I would absolutely agree with you, but I'm actually excited for these two games.

3 • 
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tom_cat_01

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Sonic Forces basically seems to be Sonic Generations 2.

Which is fine by me. That game was awesome.

7 • 
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Dark_sageX

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Checked out the game play of Sonic Forces, liking what i'm seeing so far, keep it day stages/generations/colours style, please don't try anything stupid like Werehog or any other crap.

2 • 
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manoo205

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@Dark_sageX: The question is "what is going to be the third gameplay mode?"

From what I underdtood they will add a 3rd one to those in Generations.

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Simulator_Shock

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Sonic Adventure 3 would have been a better name amirite?

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LouiXIII

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The new Sonic looks pretty cool

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sakaiXx

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Welp sonic forces totally gonna suck. That image is edgy as fk.

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dirthurts

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Gameplay of Sonic Forces is on Youtube now. Looks just like the last 10 on rails games they've made...sigh...

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SonictheHeg

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Sigh still the boost formula it seems... Oh well not that bad either..

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Lodmot347

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@SonictheHeg: Perhaps you'd enjoy Sonic Mania more? o:

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Moonco

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Edited By Moonco  Moderator

Currently live on Twitch - gameplay video of Sonic Forces looks awesome!

2 • 
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LouiXIII

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@moonco: link?

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Durack

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@louixiii: https://twitter.com/instalyssa/status/842511534383423488

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csward

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@Durack: Wow that looks like Sonic Adventure to me. That's okay I guess..

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LouiXIII

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@Durack: Thanks for the link. Much appreciated

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Moonco

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Edited By Moonco  Moderator

@louixiii: https://www.twitch.tv/sonicofficial - Panel is over

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LouiXIII

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@moonco: Crap...I wanted to see this :(

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Vilified_Signals

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Edited By Vilified_Signals

I've been taken with Sonic Team's shenanigans for years, but after this whole asinine fiasco of, just... The worsts games... I have decided to forgo playing Sonic anymore. I'm tired of it. I'm done.

I implore you all to do the same and allow Sonic to die a quiet death he doesn't deserve.

5 • 
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Lodmot347

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@vilified_signals: I love how you outright admit that he doesn't deserve a quiet death, yet you want us to give that to him. Contradictory much? o u o

6 • 
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Vilified_Signals

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@lodmot347: It's the only way he'll go out. Would you rather it be kicking and screaming with worse and worse games?
Incoming Minecraft clone! Sonic Style!!

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NaturallyEvil

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@vilified_signals: A Sonic Minecraft ripoff might actually not be bad if it had a well-implemented twist. You could play as Dr. Eggman trying to build zones that will stop Sonic, and then you could play as Sonic to try to defeat other players' levels.

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xdude85

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The power of delaying could've benefited so many other Sonic games. At least Sega is learning from their mistakes and taking their time with these games.

Also F.Y.I., Sonic's 25th anniversary was in 2016, not this year.

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