SEGA Wonders Whether Releasing Sonic Superstars Next to Mario Was a Good Idea | Push Square
06.12.2023 - 23:00
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Sonic Superstars is a side-scrolling platformer available on multiple consoles, but it was always going to have a hard time in 2023 against a critically acclaimed Super Mario title. Speaking as part of its latest financial sales report, publisher SEGA hinted that launching the co-op outing against Nintendo’s latest – as well as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – may not have been the brightest idea.
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“We believe that the impact of other companies’ major titles released at the same time is significant, but we plan to expand the promotion towards the holiday season, especially in the overseas market,” CFO Koichi Fukazawa admitted. “Both the Metacritic score and user score are higher than Sonic Frontiers, and we would like to continue to sell firmly.”
The game deployed on 17th October, just days before Sony’s web-slinging sequel and Nintendo Switch exclusive Super Mario Wonder. The good news for SEGA is that early indications suggest the price drops during Black Friday have had a profound impact on the release, and it’s likely to be one of November’s better selling titles as a result.
A true PlayStation veteran, Sammy's covered the world of PS gaming for years, with an enormous Trophy count to prove it. He also likes tennis games way more than you.
Doh!!! It wasn’t clever or smart but I’m sure the game has legs and overall should sell well once it hits the sales. Mario Wonder was £35 most places in run up to release, Sonic was £45!
Both are fun games, I did enjoy sonic more to be honest. I felt the Mario levels were really short and the wonder flowers were to much, would have been better if they weren't mandatory in each level, in my opinion.
I think its price point was a bigger problem, Sonic Frontiers launched at a lower price point and is the better game too (metacritic score be dammed) but its lower price made it more likelythat peoplewould try it. Bumping this up to £55 was a big mistake and did it no favours whatsoever in a crowded release schedule.
To be fair I also feel Mario Wonder is a bit overrated, the Wonder gimmick grew tiresome, bosses are either a bit dull or just don't exist and a lot of the levels I wouldn't want to replay. It's fun the first time through but DK Tropical Freeze is a much better 2d platformer
They should be questioning whether releasing it at all was a good idea.
@johncalmc yeah, they chose this over a sonic mania sequel
It was a bad idea.
I don't think it was going to be a massive sales hit but launching it next to the first genuinely fresh Mario sidescroller since 2006 (or was it 2005?) was ill advised.
I'm waiting for it to be £20 or less before I pounce
Simple solution — make better Sonic games.
@hypnotoad that isn’t simple at all
I thought at