There was a time when Sonic could match Mario in terms of game quality, popularity, and commercial success. However, those days seem distant now. Examining Japanese video game and console sales for the week of October 16-22, 2023, it is evident that SEGA’s blue hedgehog has diminished significantly from his former status. According to figures reported by Famitsu magazine, only 4,128 copies of Sonic Superstars were sold in Japan over one week across all platforms. This starkly contrasts with the sales performance of Super Mario Wonder, which achieved 638,634 units sold during the same period, exclusively on Switch. SEGA appeared quite confident launching their game simultaneously with direct competitor Mario, alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, another notable release that week. The PlayStation version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 saw sales of 77,348 copies in Japan over its first week, a figure notably lower compared to American sales. Nevertheless, Sonic Superstars represents a disappointing start for SEGA, following the earlier performance where they managed to sell only 26,067 copies of Sonic Frontiers during the same period. Does this indicate that Sonic is no longer a reliable brand in his home country? The data suggests otherwise.
If you’re a fan of classic Sonic games and eager to see what the future holds for SEGA’s iconic blue hedgehog, be sure to check out “Sonic Superstars: New Trailer and Release Date Revealed, Coming Soon” by Carlos Mendoza (August 23, 2023). This post teases a new neo-retro 2.5D game that promises to bring back the nostalgia with its cooperative multiplayer mode and beloved characters. With the release date set for October 17th at gamescom 2023, fans are buzzing with anticipation. Dive in to learn more about what this exciting title has in store [Read the article].
