Sonic Frontiers is the latest development from Sonic Team, and it’s looking to be the biggest game the studio has ever released. First revealed during The Game Awards 2021, Sonic Frontiers is still shrouded in mystery — but recent gameplay trailers have revealed some tantalizing new details. We’ve also learned that this installment will kick off the third generation of Sonic games, and future titles will follow in its footsteps.
From release date and gameplay to its storyline and multiplayer, here’s everything we know about Sonic Frontiers.
Further reading
- Save your money: 2022 is going to be gaming’s next big year
- The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games
- The best Sonic games of all time
Release date
Sonic Frontiers will launch on November 8, 2022. The news arrived during Gamescom 2022, alongside a new trailer. Prior to the announcement,
Platforms
According to Sonic Team, Sonic Frontiers will be available on the following platforms:
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
- PC
It also sounds as if all platforms will see the game on the same date (November 8) without any timed-exclusivity deals.
Trailer
Clocking in at over a minute in length, the Announce Trailer released in December 2021 shows Sonic speeding through a forest before perching on the edge of a cliff and getting a good look at his surroundings. We also get a glimpse of a few gigantic enemies — check it out for yourself below:
Sonic Frontiers Announce Trailer
Devs also released a teaser trailer on May 31, 2022, giving us a brief look at actual gameplay, some more scenery, and a couple of enemies:
Following the teaser trailer, fans were treated to some combat and exploration gameplay. In one trailer, we see Sonic attacking enemies of all sizes with a variety of melee and ranged abilities. It’s unclear if these will be upgradeable, unlockable, or available right from the get-go, but no doubt it’s great to finally see the highly anticipated game in action.
The other trailer is largely dedicated to Sonic roaming an open world, although we do see a few interesting mechanics at play (such as grinding on rails and using homing attacks to traverse large chasms).
During the latest Nintendo Direct, fans learned more about combat, upgrading skills, and the new Cyber Space Zones.
Gamescom 2022 brought us nearly two minutes of Sonic goodness. You can check out the Story Trailer below, which features more action, more enemies, and what looks to be Amy trapped in some sort of mechanical contraption.
Gameplay
Plenty of Sonic Frontiers gameplay footage has come to light over the past few weeks, showing off a fast-paced game that moves the series in a new direction while paying homage to its past. A description on its official website gives a few more details:
“An experience like never before, accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high-velocity, open-zone freedom,” reads the Sonic Frontiers website. “Battle powerful enemies as you speed through the Starfall Islands — landscapes brimming with dense forests, overflowing waterfalls, sizzling deserts, and more!”
Sonic Frontiers isn’t quite an open-world game. Instead, the team likes to call it an open-zone game. This simply means there’s less emphasis on traveling from point A to point B and more emphasis on turning the entire zone into a playground. You’ll also encounter Cyber Space Zones — which are linear stages scattered throughout the world that offer a more traditional Sonic experience.
Sonic Team isn’t mentioning which antagonist Sonic will be chasing down in this installment, although Doctor Eggman seems like a logical choice. Not only do the gigantic robots in the trailer fit his MO, but offering him as a villain in Sonic Frontiers would offer an easy way to cross-promote the game with Sonic Movie 2 — which was released earlier this year.
As you progress through the game, you’ll earn experience points that can be used to unlock new skills. These are still largely under wraps, but they should provide you with a constant sense of progression as you work through its stages and defeat new enemies. Bosses are also expected to be massive in scale and pose quite a threat to the Blue Blur.
Multiplayer
No information regarding multiplayer has been revealed by Sonic Team. However, the title is currently listed as a single-player action-adventure game on Steam. It’s possible we’ll see co-op added in the future, but for now, it sounds like Sonic Frontiers is strictly a solo outing.
Pre-order
Pre-orders are not yet live for Sonic Frontiers. Check back in the months leading up to launch for more details.
