Sonic Central event sets the stage for EPIC week of SEGA surprises

It’s shaping up to be a big week for Sonic the Hedgehog fans, as SEGA announces plans to hold an extra special Sonic Central event. The upcoming presentation is something of a birthday bash, taking place on the anniversary of the release of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game for the SEGA Mega Drive. The iconic platform game made its North American debut on June 23, 1991. Fans will be given a look at upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog games, as well as future events, projects and partnerships involving the SEGA mascot.

“Surprise! Sonic Central returns this Friday on Sonic’s birthday!” reads a SEGA tweet.

“Tune in for a sneak peek of some of our upcoming projects, partnerships and events happening in 2023.”

The Sonic Central event can be viewed on the SEGA YouTube channel at 4pm BST UK time on June 23.

Expect SEGA to show off more footage for Sonic Superstars, which was announced during the recent Summer Game Fest broadcast.

The event also coincides with the launch of Sonic Origins Plus, which makes its PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC debut on the same day.

Sonic Origins Plus is a compilation of classic Sonic the Hedgehog games, including the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD. 

The Plus edition of Sonic Origins expands the experience with a selection of extras and new features.

This includes 12 classic Sonic the Hedgehog Game Gear titles, such as Sonic Drift 2, Sonic & Tails 2, and Tails Adventure.

Elsewhere, fan favourite character Amy will be playable in Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD, while Knuckles will be playable in Sonic CD.

All post-release content for Sonic Origins is also included, such as Mirror Mode, Extreme Challenges, and lots more.

Sonic Superstars, meanwhile, is an upcoming platformer combining classic Sonic gameplay with stunning visuals.

A first for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, the game supports four-person drop-in and drop-out co-op. It also features a selection of player-vs-player mini-games for up to eight people.

“Adventure through the mystical Northstar Islands in this all-new take on classic 2D Sonic high-speed action platforming,” reads the official description.

“Play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose and harness all-new Emerald powers to move and attack in dynamic new ways.

“Navigate gorgeous, never-before-seen environments solo or with up to 3 other players and stop Dr. Eggman, Fang, and a mysterious new adversary from converting the islands’ giant animals into Badniks before it’s too late!”