SXSW 2018: Sega Announces Upcoming Sonic Games

During this year’s SXSW gaming expo, Sega discussed in their Gotta Go Fast: The Official Sonic the Hedgehog panel about the legendary gaming character and upcoming projects based on him. The panel was helmed by Sonic Product Development Director Austin Keys, Sonic Mania Animation Director Tyson Hesse, and TV Animation Production Coordinator Jasmin Hernandez.

During the panel, it was revealed that Sonic Mania Plus will be arriving this summer at the low price of $29.99. It will include two new playable characters, an expanded four player competition mode, and a new Encore mode. The physical release will include a holographic slip cover, 32-page art booklet, and a reversible Genesis/Mega-drive sleeve.

Check out the physical packages of Sonic Mania Plus and the consoles it will be launching:

Sega also announced a new short animation series for Sonic Mania. Sonic Mania Adventures will debut soon on social media, including YouTube. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles will be featured. It’s styled after Sonic Mania’s opening, and will take place in the game’s universe. Sonic Mania Adventures will consist of five animated shorts. Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes is back on board to create music.

The first episode will debut within the next month. New episodes will then continue to appear in the consecutive months that follow.

Check out the sneak peek of Sonic Mania Adventures, featuring a teaser of the upcoming animation:

Sega also announced a collaboration between Sonic and the footwear company PUMA, in a teaser video of an upcoming Sonic-themed footwear:

At the end of today’s Sonic the Hedgehog panel, Sega teased a game that could be a new Sonic racing game. Unfortunately, the teaser only lasts for 22-second and doesn’t tell us much, other than that Sonic and cars are likely involved.

This teaser consists of some car engines sounds and the silhouette of a logo. The letter R — the same R from the logo for Sega Saturn racing game Sonic R — is highlighted, and that’s about it.

Sega’s YouTube upload of the video doesn’t help, as they called the project “Top secret.”

Check out the teaser video of Sonic Racing, where we can see an R lighting up with the word racing pretty dimmed: