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So uh, I'd say it's been a pretty good time to be a Sega fan lately, what with all these brand new revials of past sega franchises. Whether it's remasters, revivals, or long awaited localizations made in house at Sega like Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD, Sakura Wars 2019, or Phantasy Star Online 2 finally coming over, in addition to all the other stuff they're making like Yakuza. Stuff that Sega licensed to other developers like Shenmue 3, Streets of Rage 4, and that Panzer Dragoon remake. Or spiritual successors that have some of the original staff involved like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to Jet Set Radio, or Balanwonderworld to Nights (at least in aesthetics, not so much in gameplay). Sure not all these new revivals are great or even good for that matter "cough"BananaBlitzHD"cough", but my point is that as of right now, we're seeing a ton of Sega franchises in some away or another get support ... yeah except for Sonic.

I mean it's not like we haven't any Sonic stuff recently, we had Team Sonic Racing (which was forgotten after Crash Team Racing came out), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (which also kinda came and went), and then .. well aside from some mobile stuff that's pretty much it. There is also the IDW comics and of course the movie which recently just got a release date for the sequel in 2022 (so long as things go according to plan which who knows if that'll happen). But as far as the games go, we really don't have any idea on what's going to happen in the future.

Now we were probably going to know all this stuff at this year's SXSW panel, but then you know what came and ruined those plans. They did say they were working on something in April that would serve as a replacement to the SXSW panel, but then they said that they needed more time. So most of us assumed we'd find out what's going on sometime in May or June ... we're now in the beginning of August and we still don't know anything. Now I know every company's situation around the pandemic is different, some are doing just fine, while others not so much, and for a while I assumed Sega's situation was preventing them from talking about what they have in store for Sonic, but now, I'm not so sure about that anymore.

Lately they've been coming out to promote Yakuza Like a Dragon at some events like that one Microsoft conference in May, as well as IGN's summer of gaming in June, and sure some might argue that game's been out in Japan since January, so it would't take that much effort to talk about it. Well okay, but what about Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis? Despite some confusion on what it was at first, it seems to be a new standalone game that'll co-exist with the current PSO2. If Sega can announce that with gameplay included, then I don't know why they can even show a little teaser for the next Sonic game.
Now I'm going to stop right here on why we haven't gotten an update cause I don't want to make this sound like I'm complaining about not getting any new games right now, cause I'm sure we will get it eventually, heck they could even say tomorrow on twitter "Tune in this friday to see what's next for the blue blur."

Really, the main point I want make here is how I think it's interesting how we're in a bit of a role reversal when it comes to Sonic and other Sega franchises. For awhile to seemed that the only legacy franchise that Sega was still actively supporting was Sonic, while others series like all the ones I mentioned before were left to the wayside, only being brought out when Sega needed games for their latest Genesis compilation or crossover racing game. But now things at the moment at least are kinda different, we're seeing tons of Sega franchises get a new leash of life through new games, old games getting a fresh coat of paint, or new franchises that replicate the ones that came before it, while Sonic is just kinda sitting on the bench, waiting for the coach to let him back in the field. Sure you could argue that Sega's still kinda ignoring these franchises since they only outsourced some of them to other developers, but even if they aren't actively involved with the development of them, that doesn't change the fact that they are back in some form or another, while Sonic's waiting for his chance to shine once again.

Now one more thing, if we really are in a new age of Sega revivals ... can we please get a new Crazy Taxi? I don't care if it's made by Sega, a third party, or some of the original staff decide to make their own successor, we're long overdue for a new installment that isn't a shitty mobile game.

Description
So uh, I'd say it's been a pretty good time to be a Sega fan lately, what with all these brand new revials of past sega franchises. Whether it's remasters, revivals, or long awaited localizations made in house at Sega like Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD, Sakura Wars 2019, or Phantasy Star Online 2 finally coming over, in addition to all the other stuff they're making like Yakuza. Stuff that Sega licensed to other developers like Shenmue 3, Streets of Rage 4, and that Panzer Dragoon remake. Or spiritual successors that have some of the original staff involved like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to Jet Set Radio, or Balanwonderworld to Nights (at least in aesthetics, not so much in gameplay). Sure not all these new revivals are great or even good for that matter "cough"BananaBlitzHD"cough", but my point is that as of right now, we're seeing a ton of Sega franchises in some away or another get support ... yeah except for Sonic.

I mean it's not like we haven't any Sonic stuff recently, we had Team Sonic Racing (which was forgotten after Crash Team Racing came out), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (which also kinda came and went), and then .. well aside from some mobile stuff that's pretty much it. There is also the IDW comics and of course the movie which recently just got a release date for the sequel in 2022 (so long as things go according to plan which who knows if that'll happen). But as far as the games go, we really don't have any idea on what's going to happen in the future.

Now we were probably going to know all this stuff at this year's SXSW panel, but then you know what came and ruined those plans. They did say they were working on something in April that would serve as a replacement to the SXSW panel, but then they said that they needed more time. So most of us assumed we'd find out what's going on sometime in May or June ... we're now in the beginning of August and we still don't know anything. Now I know every company's situation around the pandemic is different, some are doing just fine, while others not so much, and for a while I assumed Sega's situation was preventing them from talking about what they have in store for Sonic, but now, I'm not so sure about that anymore.

Lately they've been coming out to promote Yakuza Like a Dragon at some events like that one Microsoft conference in May, as well as IGN's summer of gaming in June, and sure some might argue that game's been out in Japan since January, so it would't take that much effort to talk about it. Well okay, but what about Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis? Despite some confusion on what it was at first, it seems to be a new standalone game that'll co-exist with the current PSO2. If Sega can announce that with gameplay included, then I don't know why they can even show a little teaser for the next Sonic game.
Now I'm going to stop right here on why we haven't gotten an update cause I don't want to make this sound like I'm complaining about not getting any new games right now, cause I'm sure we will get it eventually, heck they could even say tomorrow on twitter "Tune in this friday to see what's next for the blue blur."

Really, the main point I want make here is how I think it's interesting how we're in a bit of a role reversal when it comes to Sonic and other Sega franchises. For awhile to seemed that the only legacy franchise that Sega was still actively supporting was Sonic, while others series like all the ones I mentioned before were left to the wayside, only being brought out when Sega needed games for their latest Genesis compilation or crossover racing game. But now things at the moment at least are kinda different, we're seeing tons of Sega franchises get a new leash of life through new games, old games getting a fresh coat of paint, or new franchises that replicate the ones that came before it, while Sonic is just kinda sitting on the bench, waiting for the coach to let him back in the field. Sure you could argue that Sega's still kinda ignoring these franchises since they only outsourced some of them to other developers, but even if they aren't actively involved with the development of them, that doesn't change the fact that they are back in some form or another, while Sonic's waiting for his chance to shine once again.

Now one more thing, if we really are in a new age of Sega revivals ... can we please get a new Crazy Taxi? I don't care if it's made by Sega, a third party, or some of the original staff decide to make their own successor, we're long overdue for a new installment that isn't a shitty mobile game.