A job listing has confirmed Hardlight is working on a new Sonic mobile game. The listing states: All I really can say is that it's 100% a Dash-style Frontiers tie-in game. They did Dash-style tie-ins for Boom and Forces, given how successful the Dash games have been they're 100% doing the same thing for Frontiers. Who knows what the unique gimmick here will be though!
I would hope it's not a Dash esq title, because they have 2 that are still supported and successful (and 1 that wasn't so much, looking at you Boom) and Frontiers is an open world game (sorry, "Open Zone" cant forget the cutsey branding), it'd be kinda dumb for it's tie in to be extremely linear.
It’s a minor, subtle difference, but honestly temple run’s/earlier versions of Astro boy dash style of left and right movement is much preferable to me than the lane switching of the subway surfer’s clones of stuff like Sonic Dash. In the end however, neither of them are particularly deep and it is honestly really funny to me they made a competitive PvP game using such mechanics. The only time I particularly have cared for these types of games was Wheel rush. I don’t even know if I’d play that today… …but alright. It said it is a platform game. Might be pure cope but maybe that means things will be different this time?
Maybe I'm naive, but this might not be another Dash maybe? Ambitious and narrative driven hardly describe auto-runners, and I'm pretty sure these listings are supposed to be accurate.
But fans keep buying this stuff!! I didn't get Monkey Ball re-release or Sonic Origins for that reason. I'll pick up origins when it's like on a £2.99 sale or something, I'm in no rush to pay 40 quid for 20+ year old games I've already paid full price for a ton already. This mobile game will probably be a frontiers tie in. You earned 5 gems!! You only need 2000 more to unlock Tails!!
It's not another Sonic Dash. According to the listing: - narrative driven - Platformer - Aiming for "console quality" 3d assets while staying within the limits for mobile. - still in unity, which is Hardlight's engine of choice. Personally I think it's gonna be something cross platform, and has a 50/50 shot at being live service, unless it's another Apple Arcade exclusive. (please don't let it be another Apple Arcade exclusive)
Say, didn't the very original leak regarding Sonic Frontiers also contained info on a separate, multiplayer focused game? If it's gonna be cross-platform + live service like shilz said, maybe this could actually be that concept finally realized?
Honestly, I'm hoping it explicitly isn't. I like what they did with the Forces racing and especially the fantastic cosmetics but at the end of the day, it's really dull and made even worse by the fact that the Whitehead ports of full classic Sonic games are completely free on the same app store these mobile games are for. There was a concept for a one button Sonic game that was pitched to Sega here (https://twitter.com/Nitrome/status/1473781829358473226?t=VHf9UmL-gjMhUEMvDEzN-w&s=19) and I hope this gets realized as opposed to yet another game in the Dash format, but that might be a tall order given the "narrative-driven" aspect, which I assume will only cut as deep as the Sonic Runners text scenes.
Might not be related but... Super Spline Studios have announced they're working with Hardlight. https://twitter.com/SuperSpline/status/1552928188942123008 They do have Sega listed on their website, but it's specific to Two Point (Hospital/Campus) https://supersplinestudios.com/ Edit: OH! They seem to be responsible for the Sonic Costumes that appeared in Two Point Hospital, there's actually some footage on their site that appears to be early animation testing, it's under the 'Demo Reel' tab (TO THE WIKI!)
I want Fortnite but Sonic. I will emphasize that live service is total speculation from my end. But yes it was partially because of that.
