Summary
Sonic the Hedgehogand Sonic Team executive producer Takashi Iizuka commented on the recently revealed PlayStation 5 Pro, saying that the developers are going to continue focusing on the previous console generation. The ninth generation of video game consoles was heralded with the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S systems, both released in November 2020. A lot of long-running gaming franchises, likeSonic the Hedgehog, have released its titles on the more powerful hardware, which has seen some noticeable performance benefits.
Some franchises have moved exclusively to the newer hardware hardware, as seen with games likeTekken 8,Monster Hunter Wilds, andDragon Ball: Sparking Zero. The PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch consoles of the previous generation, however, are still being supported and going strong today. Discussions about the ninth generation of consoles have been mixed, especially with events such asSony’s controversial PlayStation 5 Pro console revealearlier this September.
In an interview withIGN, some developers, including Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka andMonster Hunterseries producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, were asked about their thoughts about supporting the PlayStation 5 Pro system. Unlike Tsujimoto, who would love to make the upcomingMonster Hunter Wildstake advantage ofthe PS5 Pro’s enhancements, Iizuka stated that he is keeping his focus on the previous generation, saying he wants “as many people as possible” to play theSonicseries, which means continuing to support the PS4, which still has a very large installation base.
Sonic the Hedgehog Will Continue Supporting Older Systems
Iizuka remarks that, despite howhigh-end consoles can improve the sense of speed Sonic is known for, Sega and Sonic Team also want to support consoles that have “lower specs” as well. This can be seen with how some of the more recent mainline games, likeFrontiers,Superstars, and the upcomingSonic X Shadow Generations, are all on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Iizuka says that theSonicfranchise will continue pursuing a middle path between high-end consoles like the PS5 and lower-end consoles like the Switch, with any enhancements or compromises being made for the series along the way.
Iizuka also commented onthe PS5 Pro’s incredibly controversial price point, which has been a heated topic of discussion among gamers. Admitting that the console is “really expensive” on the face of it, he acknowledges it might be worth it for high-end users. While theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise will likely see the same high-end benefits down the line, fans can be assured they won’t need to shell out for the newest system to continue playing the series.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.
