One of the more obscure titles in Sonic’s long gaming legacy just made a major leap toward preservation and potential rebirth. Sonic the Fighters, the 1996 arcade-exclusive 3D fighting game, has officially entered the early stages of decompilation.
The news comes from GitHub contributor and project lead biggestsonicfan, who shared that a functioning decompilation of the game’s assembly code is now live on the repository. While the current codebase is still entirely in assembly language—making it tough for casual contributors to tinker with—this is a vital first step in the long process of turning the arcade binary into readable, editable source code.
For fans unfamiliar with the term, decompilation refers to the process of reverse-engineering a compiled game into something closer to its original source code. This doesn’t automatically mean a PC port is on the way, but it significantly improves the chances of fan-made projects like native PC builds with modern resolutions, enhanced frame rates, or mod support down the road.
Originally developed by SEGA AM2 and running on Model 2 arcade hardware, Sonic the Fighters marked the Blue Blur’s first foray into 3D fighting. Despite its quirky one-on-one mechanics and limited roster, it gained a cult following. After a long absence from home consoles, it made its way to Sonic Gems Collection on PS2 and GameCube in 2005, later appearing on Xbox 360, PS3, and even as a playable extra in Lost Judgment and Like a Dragon Gaiden.
While the decompilation project is still in its early stages, this progress may one day make Sonic the Fighters more accessible than ever before. For now, retro Sonic fans and tech-savvy developers alike can check out the project over on GitHub.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more updates on Sonic game preservation, fan ports, and community breakthroughs!
