Today Sega announced that the Episode 1 release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been moved to late 2010, with the extra dev time being spent on “tuning and balancing” the game. Nothing more concrete than this window has been announced.
The press release that was released today officially confirms the iPhone & iPod Touch release of the platform that was discovered from the offcial website’s assets earlier in the year. A video is due to be released after tonight’s episode of GameSpot’s On The Spot feature, which will go up at 10pm UTC/GMT (i.e. just over half an hour from this post).
“SEGA is incredibly happy at the overwhelmingly positive response to Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I from both press and fans around the world, and wants to ensure that we’re delivering the best Sonic experience possible,” says the official press release on the Sonic Blognik blog. “With this dedication to quality and the Sonic experience in mind, SEGA has decided to extend the development of the game, and will now release Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I in the latter half of 2010. The additional time will allow the Development Team to focus on ensuring overall high-quality throughout the game by continuing to tune, balance, and maintain the kind of polish that an important title like this demands, and ultimately providing fans with an unrivalled classic Sonic feel.”
In addition, a new Sonic 4 trailer has been released featuring footage from the first level in the game, Splash Hill Zone:
As you may recall, Retro & Stadium exclusively broke the news of this upcoming announcement 3 days ago. Stick with Sonic Retro for future developments on the Q4 2010 release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1.
UPDATE: According to Gamespot’s On the Spot, the iPhone release of Sonic 4 will sport two exclusive levels not present in any of the console releases! No specific details on that yet, but we’ll let you know.
A minor add on, but worth mentioning no less, is a flash animation found–and now removed–within the Sonic 4 website.
The file is a flash of Sonic’s prototype running animation as seen in the trailer. Additional concept art and another SWF available too. Hit the jump for more. Continue Reading
Information on Sega’s upcoming new Sonic title dubbed, “Project Needlemouse” has been rather scarce since a video released online teased the game, sending fans into a murmur.
SEGA’s Constantine Hantzopoulos confirmed to the folks over at the 4Guys1Up podcast at 1up.com that Project Needlemouse will be a downloadable title. However, he didn’t mention which platforms the title will be hitting. Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network were name-dropped later in the cast, though in a slightly unrelated context.
1up: I think that’s why a lot of people are excited about needlemouse too, because it seems like SEGA aren’t trying to make it as mass market
Hantzopoulos: that’s right, thats right. I’ve been playing a lot of XBLA and PSN games lately. Shadow Complex is great.
Hantzopoulos also mentioned this will be a smaller title, but didn’t clarify as to what that exactly meant.
Sonic Retro will keep you up to date as information trickles in.
