Sega’s Sonic Frontiers has set a new launch record in Japan, with the biggest launch for the series in Japan in 18 years.
Based on sales stats, not only has Sonic Frontiers set a new launch record in Japan, but it is also the biggest debut for the series since 2003’s Sonic Heroes. Coupled with digital sales, it is expected to be at least the series’ 3rd biggest launch to date.
While these sales stats don’t factor in the first three Sonic games, including Sonic & Knuckles, it is estimated that their combined launch sales fall below 100k. Therefore, they are irrelevant as far as these charts are concerned. Sonic Heroes was the last game in the series to have sold 100k copies in Japan, which is an indicator of how popular the series is in the country.
Sonic Frontiers is a 3D platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. After Sonic, Miles “Tails” Prower, and Amy Rose separate when falling through a wormhole, the player takes on the role of Sonic the Hedgehog and explores the mysterious Starfall Islands in order to gather the Chaos Emeralds.
This is the series’ first open world, where players will solve puzzles to gather items, battle robot enemies, and incorporate platforming and classic Sonic elements like rings and grind rails. Players will also be able to fine-tune Sonic’s speed, turning, acceleration, and resistance in Sonic Frontiers. It’s worth appreciating that this is the first time a Sonic game has received such in-depth customization setting for movement and control.
Following the release of Sonic Forces, development of Sonic Frontiers began in 2017. Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team, wanted Sonic Frontiers to establish a new standard for future Sonic games. The Sonic Team decided on an open-ended design and concentrated on adapting Sonic’s abilities to an open world setting. Sonic Frontiers will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on November 8, 2022.
