Summary
Developer for theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise and head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, recently suggested that pixel art doesn’t have much of a long-term future in the video game industry and that his team is preparing for the change. Pixel art is as old as gaming itself, and there will always be a certain charm to the simple designs for many who grew up with classic games of the 1970s and 1980s. Even plenty of younger gamers have come to love the style, and there are still lots ofgreat games to play for those who love pixel artbeing released today.
The classicSonic the Hedgehogseries began as a 2D side-scroller with pixel art, and while it has seen updates to its gameplay and design, it will always have a connection to the older aesthetic. Even asSonic Frontiershas given fans a slick, open-worldSonictitle, the upcomingSonic Superstarswill be paying homage to the pixelated roots of the franchise. However, it seems that some on Sonic Team don’t think this will be the ultimate future of the series.
RELATED:Sega Reveals Sonic Superstars Release Date, Teases Sonic Frontiers DLC
In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Iizuka argued that going forward, 2D pixel art will not “be a viable art style or presentation.” While stating that he likes the classic design, Iizuka also acknowledged that, within the next couple of decades, it won’t be whatSonicgames are based on.Previews ofSonic Superstarsindicate that it will be offering 2D nostalgia with some new twists and updates, and Iizuka appears to think that it will serve as the beginning of a transition for the series away from pixelated designs and towards more updates over time.
Iizuka also emphasized thatSonic Frontiersrepresents the future of the series, explaining that its gameplay and design are things that Sonic Team “can build on for the next 10–20 years.” Some observers have argued thatthe division between modern and classicSonicis a double-edged sword, offering both positive and negative elements. For his part, Iizuka appears to think that this split is necessary for the continued success of the series. While games likeSonic Superstarsoffer something for fans of the classics,Sonic Frontierswill carry the franchise forward in the coming decades.
Earlier this summer,update 2 forSonic Frontiersadded new features, and Sonic Team appears committed to building on the title with more improvements and DLC over time. This would seem to support the idea that Iizuka sees this game as the future and the base from which to build on. While players who love the classic design of old games will likely be upset to hear that pixelated art may not be the future of the industry, others will surely be excited to see what new styles developers have in store. Still, those who want a taste of 2D style and pixel art need not despair entirely. There are plenty of interesting games that feature the older aesthetics, andSonic Superstarswill look to offer some of the old gameplay and design while moving on from pixelated art when it launches later this year.
Sonic Superstarswill release on October 17 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
