Sega has announced today that several of their classic Sonic games are to be axed from a handful of digital storefronts. This news comes as the company is preparing for the release of the upcoming Sonic Origins, which will be released on June the 23rd. This means that some of those childhood classics will have their standalone digital versions delisted from most online stores.
What are these classic Sonic games set for the chop?
The classic Sonic games that will be getting delisted on May the 20th, as it stands, will be the original Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD. When the new Sonic Origins collection comes out, all those mentioned titles will be included in this new release, so it’s not quite goodbye just yet. The Sega Ages versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 will be the only exceptions, though, as they will still be available to play on the Nintendo Switch, while people can also play the second one on Nintendo Switch Online+.
So, what has brought on this planned exodus of games, we hear you ask? Well, these classic Sonic games are just following a recent trend of several other Sega games that are rumored to be leaving the PlayStation Now platform in May. Now, if you didn’t know already, Sonic CD is actually related to the upcoming Sonic Origins – think of them as long, long-lost relatives – which is why it makes sense to keep it included.
In addition to those previously mentioned titles, there is a boatload of other Sonic games that are to be pulled from digital storefronts, these games include the Sonic Adventure games, Sonic Generations, and Sonic Mania, and it’s not just the games starring the speedy hedgehog either because some other prominent Sega franchises like the Yakuza series, and House of the Dead – so animal rescue can wait because Sonic is not being unfairly targeted.
