Sonic the Hedgehog is far from a niche franchise, but even the biggest video game franchises have room to grow. Sonic seems to be doing just that right now. The recent Sonic the Hedgehog movies have generated a ton of publicity for Sega's star platformer series, and the upcoming Sonic Frontiers seems like it could hold some widespread appeal too. Sonic Frontiers appears to be tapping into the current open world trend, at least in part, meaning it could pick up a lot of players who haven't played many Sonic games in the past. Between these two projects, things are looking up for Sonic.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movies and Sonic Frontiers shouldn't be held as separate entities, though. On the contrary, they're closely tied, since they're both refreshing the Sonic IP in their own ways. The first Sonic movie was a highly positive contribution to the video game franchise's image, and fans' positive response to the sequel is a good sign for the burgeoning cinematic universe. Sonic Frontiers could see major sales thanks to these films, meaning it should find some way to acknowledge them. Even if it's only in the form of subtle Easter eggs, Sonic Frontiers ought to include a nod or two to its cinematic cousins.
Possible Sonic Movie References in Sonic Frontiers
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Because Sonic Team has shown so little of Sonic Frontiers so far, it's hard to say what kind of Easter eggs the game might be able to include. At minimum, Sonic Team could probably add some subtle environmental details referencing the film. For instance, Sonic Frontiers supposedly features lots of lost, mysterious technology, so maybe there'll be a ruin somewhere that looks suspiciously similar to Dr. Robotnik's giant mech from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic Team could also come up with some subtle dialogue or off-handed joke that references some recognizable moment from the Sonic movies.
Depending on the kinds of mechanics Sonic Frontiers features and how bold Sonic Team wants to get with its references, the game could even feature some kind of cosmetic or collectible item that directly relates to the Sonic movies, albeit in a non-canonical way. Sonic Frontiers probably won't get much closer to referencing the Sonic movies than that, since the movies tell a different story from Sonic canon, but it would still be a fun way to tie the two major Sonic projects together. As long as Sonic Team gets a little creative, there are plenty of ways to establish a relationship between Sonic Frontiers and the recent movies.
Why Sonic Movie References Matter
The Sonic movies deserve a place in Sonic Frontiers because they're doing the same thing as Sonic Frontiers in a very different way. Both the movies and the upcoming game experiment dramatically with the Sonic formula; one tells a highly atypical Sonic story, while the other reimagines Sonic the Hedgehog mechanics. So far, the response to both of these experiments has been positive. Even if the Sonic movies aren't perfect, they're hailed as solid video game adaptations, meaning they create optimism and excitement in the same way as Sonic Frontiers' promised innovation.
While it remains to be seen if Sonic Frontiers' big ideas pay off, the Sonic movies are already working out well. Plans for a third movie and a TV show about Knuckles mean that there's a rich Sonic cinematic universe in the making. Future Sonic shows and movies could maintain a high level of interest in Sonic the Hedgehog games for years to come. Sonic Frontiers therefore owes the movies a lot. While fans wait for Sonic Frontiers to release, the movies are keeping fans in high spirits. The least that Sonic Frontiers could do to thank the films for their contribution is to reference them somehow, even if it's in little ways.
Sonic Frontiers releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
