A brand new Sonic the Hedgehog title is scheduled to drop next year, and while we've received some possible leaked details, we're still unsure what the game will look like. However, the Sonic Team leader and series game producer Takashi Iizuka believes it will be a title that lays the foundation for many years to come.

Speaking to Sonic Central, Iizuka says the game is "new and challenging", and compared it to having the same impact Sonic Adventure did. While he says this is not necessarily an anniversary title, it will "lay the foundation for the following future Sonic titles", as did Sonic Adventure.

“The new title in development is progressing towards a 2022 release, so I can’t really call it an Anniversary title. However, Sonic Adventure laid the foundation for 20 years of Sonic titles after its release, so in the same way I really hope that this new title releasing in 2022 lays the foundation for the following future Sonic titles – that is the idea behind the challenge for the team.”

He also elaborated on the challenges the team are facing with the game to ensure it's something "new and challenging", additionally mentioning that it's currently in mid-development.

“Since this title is still mid-development there is nothing I can speak to, but I did want to say that the development team has been spending their time to do something new and challenging. Through a lot of trial and error the team is looking to present to everyone a new Sonic game, and I hope your warm support of their work can motivate them to really deliver against that challenge.”

Leaks have suggested the game will be called Sonic Rangers and will include an open world adventure filled with enemies, puzzles and challenges to complete. As for confirmed details, all we have so far is one teaser trailer, which didn't really give us much to go on.

As for Sonic's anniversary this year, we have a remastered version of Sonic Colors on the way, along with his appearance in multiple other SEGA titles. While it would have been great to see the new game launch this year, we're still excited to see where it goes and hopefully see more of it soon.

What do you think about SEGA delivering a "new and challenging" Sonic experience? Let us know below.

[source sonicstadium.org]