In an interview with Video Games Chronicle, Sonic Series Producer Takashi Iizuka confirmed that Sonic Superstars is being developed by Arzest, the video game development studio led by Naoto Ohshima, with Sonic Team playing a supporting role.
Naoto Ohshima, known for his role in designing Sonic and providing art for the franchise’s early games, is returning to the series after over 20 years with Sonic Superstars.
Iizuka explained that originally, Sonic Team had intended to collaborate with Christian Whitehead, the director of Sonic Mania, for the next 2D Sonic game. However, those plans fell through. Subsequently, Iizuka approached Ohshima and his development team at Arzest, which is known for titles like Hey! Pikmin and Yoshi’s New Island, to lead the development of the new 2D Sonic game.
Iizuka clarified that Sonic Mania developers Headcannon and Christian Whitehead are not involved in Sonic Superstars.
While Arzest is taking the lead in the development of Sonic Superstars, Sonic Team in Japan is working with them on design and other elements. Ohshima and Arzest are the primary developers of the game.
Iizuka expressed his trust in Ohshima’s team due to their valuable experience working on the original Sonic games. Ohshima, known for creating Sonic’s character design, also had a hand in level design for Sonic 1. His classic Sonic experience and level design expertise contribute to making a true classic Sonic game.
Additionally, it was revealed that Jun Senoue, the composer for Sonic 3, will be leading the audio development for Sonic Superstars. Senoue, along with internal teams at Sega and external contributors like Tee Lopes, aims to create music in the classic Sonic vibe.
Sonic Superstars is shaping up to be a collaborative effort between Arzest, Ohshima, Sonic Team, and Jun Senoue, bringing together their expertise to deliver a nostalgic and authentic Sonic experience.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more Sonic Superstars News and Updates!
Source: Video Games Chronicle
