Sega: Sonic Movies Keep the Games Alive, Like It or Not

Sega producer Takashi Iizuka says the live-action Sonic movies boosted game sales and resources, creating a positive cycle for future titles.

Ever wondered if those Sonic movies actually do anything for the games? Turns out, they might be the reason your favorite blue hedgehog keeps speeding back onto consoles.

Sega knows Sonic games have had a rough patch lately, but the franchise is back in the spotlight—and according to series producer Takashi Iizuka, the live-action movies are a big reason why. Speaking with Automaton at the Tokyo Game Show, Iizuka explained how director Jeff Fowler's three films helped repopularize Sonic around the world.

"Thanks to the movies, awareness of the Sonic series has grown, and more people around the world have become interested in Sonic as a character and in the games," Iizuka said. That interest isn't just good vibes—it translates directly into sales. And strong sales mean more resources for the next game, which leads to higher quality. As Iizuka put it, that creates a positive cycle, making multimedia and transmedia expansion a major win for the games themselves.

But movies aren't the only medium helping out. Iizuka also pointed to anime and Netflix as key players. In the past, Sega had to get TV broadcasters on board before an anime could air, which slowed everything down. With Netflix, once a deal is made, the content can be distributed worldwide—a huge advantage for expanding the brand.

His comments echo what he told One More Game earlier this month: the live-action movies essentially saved the franchise. "The biggest milestone for me was the first movie," he said. "That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise." So whether you love or hate those films, Sega credits them with keeping Sonic from fading away.

And before you worry about your next game getting delayed because of a movie shoot, Iizuka has some good news: "Also, we don't use the game developers' resources for transmedia projects, so you don't have to worry about a new game being delayed because we're making movies or anime."

So, will you be picking up the next Sonic game, or are you just here for the movies? Let us know in the comments!