A Future Multiplayer Sonic Game Will Reportedly Use Unreal Engine 4

Sega boasts a portfolio of alluring IPs, with its mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, shaping the landscape of the platforming genre as we know it. Despite having periods of drought, it is no surprise that the franchise is still flourishing. A part of the reason behind the popularity of its recent games has to do with the Hedgehog engine.

However, the team at Sega is reportedly switching the Hedgehog engine in the favor of widely used Unreal Engine 4 for its upcoming project. The report stems from a job listing discovered by the ResetEra user, Dooble, which notes an unnamed multiplayer Sonic game. The job opening lists some specifics for the alluring project.

Major Takeaway

• Sega is looking to hire a client programmer to develop its upcoming Sonic game. The project in question is ostensibly a 3D multiplayer title that will be brewed in the Unreal Engine 4 game engine.
• The title is “assumed” to be a Sonic game in the job listing, which could suggest it’s for a different Sega IP.
• The game in question is unlikely to be a major installment like Sonic Frontiers. It could be a follow-up to the 2020 Olympics game or Sonic the Fighters series, as hinted in the job listing.
• The unnamed game could feature elements like PvP and online battles. Moreover, it may release on the next-gen consoles, as specified in the listing.

As per the job listing, the team is looking for a client programmer to work on the future title. The recruit is expected to develop system designs that “control the game progress of the titles in charge, system designs such as player behavior, enemies, UI, etc., object creation.”

As per the description, the title may include PvE aspects. The game may also feature PvE and “P2P online battles,” elements, as discussed in the experience section. Moreover, the applier is also expected to have experience in Unreal Engine 4, in “3D,” and “action game development.”

All the aforesaid info seems to imply that the proposed Sonic game could be 3D action PvPvE multiplayer in nature. However, we suggest taking it with a huge grain of salt; the discussed title could only include a few of those elements.

Additionally, the reason to switch the commonly used in-house Hedgehog game engine for Unreal Engine 4 is not specified. The rest of the particulars regarding the project are pretty vague, and it appears to be in the skeletal stages of development.

Furthermore, the listing also lists that the title is “assumed” to be Sonic, which suggests that it is possible the listing points towards a different IP.

Nevertheless, the job opening also links to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics game. It is probable that this project is not for a main Sonic entry like Sonic Frontiers, and could be the follow-up to the 2020 Olympics game. However, it does not make sense to transition to Unreal Engine 4 for an Olympics game.

The fans have theorized that the listing refers to a new Sonic the Fighters rendition. Analyzing the various details listed in the job opening also points towards a new entry in the neglected series. However, nothing else concretely suggests the following theory, and the link to the 2020 Olympics game also waters down that prospect.

All in all, the game could be slated for the next-gen platforms as elaborated in the job opening. The Playstation 5 and PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and the Series S, and Windows (Steam) are listed in as the development environments.

No information about the title’s release window has been specified. We may have to wait for years before we hear anything official about the project. The latest entry, Sonic Frontiers, has proven to be a success for the IP, which had been recently lacking due to stagnant releases. 

The blue hedgehog has amassed millions of fans spanning all ages and eras through its many media, including games, shows, and merchandise. The discussed multiplayer Sonic title brewed in Unreal Engine 4 could go down as one of the prominent entries in the well-beloved series we receive in the coming years.

What are your thoughts about Sega ditching its hedgehog engine for the Unreal Engine 4 game engine for its future Sonic title? Do you think the game would be vastly different in Unreal Engine 4 compared to its in-house engine? Do let us know your opinions in the comments below.

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