SEGA answered investor queries after the release of their FY2024/Q3 financials in late February, providing a glimpse into the company’s prospects for Sonic’s current and future projects.
Will synergies with Rovio be visible from the next financial year onwards?
Development has started for a new Sonic mobile title. We are also working on specific initiatives to create synergies, such as incorporating Rovio’s Beacon CRM system into SEGA’s existing mobile titles.
SEGA Sammy Holdings
Alongside announcing the production of new Sonic mobile titles, SEGA previously emphasised their dedication to mobile gaming in their “transmedia” initiative, while planning to expand their other flagship franchises in this manner.
It has yet to be known if the development studios at Rovio will be involved in the production of the upcoming Sonic mobile title. As reported in December, SEGA planned to use Rovio’s Beacon technology to augment future releases.
How do you assess the performance of Sonic Superstars, which has fallen short of the plan?
Although the game has generally been well received by those who have played it, the timing of its launch coincided with that of a competing title in the same genre, and it has fallen short of the plan made at the beginning of the period.
SEGA Sammy Holdings
The expansion of Sonic IP, which is being strategically promoted, is progressing well, and we will continue to work on increasing repeat sales of this title.
Referencing the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, SEGA admits that Superstars did not sell as well as expected, with the company previously predicting that sales could hit the highs set by Frontiers. This is despite an increase in sales over the holiday season, where Superstars shot to the top of sales rankings on retailers like Amazon.
It’s not all gloom and doom for SEGA though, as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Persona 3 Reload were breakout hits within their genres, each garnering one million sales on launch week. These two titles are set to contribute to repeat sales of their respective franchises.
New titles in the Sonic series will be released in the next fiscal year. Will releasing them one after another damage the value of the IP?
The recently announced Sonic X Shadow Generations is scheduled for release to coincide with the release of the third Sonic film, which has been a hit, and is positioned as an important title in our transmedia strategy. We are developing a variety of genres within the series, and we believe that the key to our strategy is to continue to deliver the appeal of our IPs with the aim of expanding our IP portfolio.
SEGA Sammy Holdings
Sonic X Shadow Generations, bundling a remastered version of Sonic Generations and the new campaign Shadow Generations, is set to release this fall, while the third Sonic movie is confirmed for December 2024. The sales of the incoming game will no doubt be helped by the movie’s traction and the holiday season.
Despite some setbacks within the past financial quarter, SEGA is continuing with series expansion for Sonic across consoles, PC, and especially mobile – an initiative that is sure to generate buzz amongst the fan community.
