Editing Sonic Team

{{Real world}}
:''Not to be confused with [[Team Sonic]].''
[[File:Sonic Team.svg|thumb|Sonic Team's logo.]]
{{nihongo|'''Sonic Team'''|ソニックチーム|Sonikku Chīmu}} is a Japanese video game studio and division of [[Sega]] operating as the chief developer of the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series]]'' of video games. Based in <!--While the studio is technically located in Shinagawa, as it's simply a ward of Tokyo, I opted to leave it out here for readability.-->Tokyo, Japan, Sonic Team comprises approximately 400 employees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://note.com/beep21/n/n6c043a1e1d10|title=The Man Who Created Sonic for 30 Years ─ Creator Reunion File Vol. 4 Interview with Takashi Iizuka|date=May 21, 2023 |language= Japanese |publisher=Beep21|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref> Outside game development, the studio has provided authority for adaptations of the ''Sonic'' franchise, notably the ''[[Sonic X]]'' animated television series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5387184/why-sega-handed-sonic-over-to-western-studios-and-gave-him-a-scarf |title=Why Sega handed Sonic over to Western studios and gave him a scarf |last=Corriea |first=Alexa Ray |date=February 6, 2014 |publisher=Polygon |accessdate=June 9, 2024}}</ref>

Founded in 1990 by [[Yuji Naka]], [[Naoto Ohshima]], and [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]],<ref name="mademan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedesigning.org/experts/yuji-naka/|title=Prolific Game Creator Yuji Naka: How He Started & Life at SEGA|last=Wirtz |first=Bryan |date=December 3, 2021 |publisher=GameDesigning.org|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref> who Sega tasked with creating a company mascot and related game for the [[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive/Genesis]], Sonic Team debuted ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in 1991, a title that would go on to become the console's best-selling<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.svg.com/821431/this-is-the-best-selling-sega-genesis-game-of-all-time/ |title=This Is The Best-Selling Sega Genesis Game Of All Time |last=Anderson |first=Matt | publisher=SVG| date=April 2, 2022 |accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref> and establish Sega as a major developer and hardware manufacturer in the gaming industry.<ref name="mademan" /> Following Naka and Yasuhara's relocation to the United States to join [[Sega Technical Institute]] (STI), a studio founded by Sega producer [[Mark Cerny]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/who-is-mark-cerny/|title=Who is Mark Cerny, the man behind PS5?|last=Ivan| first=Tom|date=February 13, 2020 |publisher=VGC|accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> Sonic Team disbanded. The group would later reform in Japan to develop ''Nights into Dreams'' for the [[Sega Saturn]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://shmuplations.com/nights/|title=NiGHTS – 1996 Developer Interview|publisher=shmuplations.com |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> and later, ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''ChuChu Rocket!'', and ''Phantasy Star Online'' for the [[Dreamcast]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/7/26/21332950/yuji-naka-sega-phantasy-star-online-20th-anniversary|title=Yuji Naka looks back at Phantasy Star Online, 20 years later|last=Mielke |first=James |date=July 20, 2020 |publisher=Polygon|accessdate=June 9, 2024}}</ref> The success of ''Sonic Adventure'' would motivate some members, including [[Takashi Iizuka]], to establish an American division, Sonic Team USA, to develop ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2022/04/07/sonic-team-looks-back-at-the-blue-blurs-first-30-years|title=Sonic Team Looks Back At The Blue Blur's First 30 Years|last=Shea| first=Brian|date=April 7, 2022 |publisher=GameInformer |accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref>

The commercial failure of the Dreamcast prompted Sega to exit the home console market and restructure as a third-party developer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Sega-to-Stop-Production-Of-Dreamcast-2957226.php|title=Sega to Stop Production Of Dreamcast |last=Zito| first=Kelly|date=January 31, 2001 |publisher=SFGate |accessdate=June 6, 2024}}</ref> Following Sammy Corporation's acquisition of the company in 2004, most game divisions and subsidiaries were reintegrated into Sonic Team with greater emphasis on title output.<ref name="toomuch" /> As a result, much of the studio's catalog of ''Sonic'' titles have since been criticized for their variable quality;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/most-underwhelming-sonic-games-ranked/|title=The 20 Most Underwhelming Sonic Games, Ranked |last=Downs| first=Isaac|date=September 11, 2023 |publisher=CBR|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/01/sonic-frontiers-was-originally-planned-for-a-2021-release-but-sega-wanted-to-brush-up-the-quality|title=Sonic Frontiers Was Originally Planned For A 2021 Release, But Sega Wanted To "Brush Up The Quality"|last=Doolan| first=Liam|date=January 1, 2022 |publisher=Nintendo Life|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/games/kishimoto-hopes-sonic-frontiers-will-take-sonic-team-to-the-top-of-the-gaming-industry-r1263/|title=Kishimoto Hopes Sonic Frontiers Will Take Sonic Team to the Top of the Gaming Industry|author=Dreadknux |date=September 16, 2022 |publisher=Sonic Stadium |accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref> Sega would delist those with below-average Metacritic scores in 2010 to increase value of the brand.<ref name="toomuch">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-10-12-sega-looking-to-improve-sonic-strategy-reducing-supply-of-old.html|title=Sega 'looking to improve Sonic strategy,' reducing supply of older Sonic games|last=Grant| first=Christopher|date=October 12, 2010 |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref> The likewise poor reception of ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' in 2017 would inspire Sonic Team to introduce nonformulaic elements into their subsequent release, ''[[Sonic Frontiers]]'', the fastest and best-selling 3D entry of the franchise to date.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/sonic-frontiers-speeds-to-3-5-million-copies-six-months-after-release#close-modal|title=Sonic Frontiers speeds to 3.5 million copies six months after release|last=Carter| first=Justin |date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=June 22, 2024}}</ref>

==Games==
===First-party releases===
<!--Suffixes like (16-bit) or (Xbox/PlayStation 2) are not necessary here. Suffixes are for article headers, not links. -->
'''Console'''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' {{C|1991}}
*''[[Sonic Jam]]'' {{C|1997}}
*''[[Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]'' {{C|1997}}
*''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' {{C|1998}}
*''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' {{C|2001}}<ref name="sonicteausa" group="note">As Sonic Team USA.</ref>
*''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' {{C|2003}}<ref name="sonicteausa" group="note" />
*''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' {{C|2003}}
*''[[Sega Superstars]]'' {{C|2004}}
*''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' {{C|2004}}
*''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' {{C|2004}}<ref name="sonicteausa" group="note" />
*''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' {{C|2005}}
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' {{C|2006}}
*''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' {{C|2007}}
*''[[Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' {{C|2008}}
*''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' {{C|2008}}
*''[[Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' {{C|2009}}
*''[[Sonic Free Riders]]'' {{C|2010}}
*''[[Sonic Colors]]'' {{C|2010}}
*''[[Sonic Generations]]'' {{C|2011}}
*''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' {{C|2013}}
*''[[Sonic Forces]]'' {{C|2017}}
*''[[Sonic Colors: Ultimate]]'' {{C|2021}}
*''[[Sonic Frontiers]]'' {{C|2022}}

'''Handheld'''
*''[[Sonic Battle]]'' {{C|2004}}

'''Mobile'''
*''[[Sonic Cafe]]'' {{C|2001}}
*''[[Sonic Runners]]'' {{C|2015}}

===Co-developed releases===
<!--Suffixes like (16-bit) or (Xbox/PlayStation 2) are not necessary here. Suffixes are for article headers, not links. -->
'''Console'''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' {{C|1992}} with [[Sega Technical Institute]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' {{C|1994}} with Sega Technical Institute
*''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' {{C|1994}} with Sega Technical Institute
*''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' {{C|1996}} with [[Traveller's Tales]]
*''[[Sonic R]]'' {{C|1997}} with Traveller's Tales
*''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' {{C|2002}} with VR-1 Japan
*''[[Sonic Riders]]'' {{C|2006}} with Now Production
*''[[Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PlayStation 2)|Sonic Unleashed]]'' {{C|2008}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' {{C|2010}} with [[Dimps]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II]]'' {{C|2012}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Origins]]'' {{C|2022}} with [[Christian Whitehead]] and [[Headcannon]]
*''[[Sonic Origins Plus]]'' {{C|2023}} with Christian Whitehead and Headcannon
*''[[Sonic Superstars]]'' {{C|2023}} with [[Arzest]]

'''Handheld'''
*''[[Sonic Advance]]'' {{C|2001}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' {{C|2002}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Pinball Party]]'' {{C|2003}} with Jupiter
*''[[SonicN]]'' {{C|2003}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Advance 3]]'' {{C|2004}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Rush]]'' {{C|2005}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'' {{C|2007}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)|Sonic Colors]]'' {{C|2010}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS)|Sonic Generations]]'' {{C|2010}} with Dimps
*''[[Sonic Lost World (Nintendo 3DS)|Sonic Lost World]]'' {{C|2013}} with Dimps

'''Mobile'''
*[[Sonic Advance (J2ME)|''Sonic Advance'' {{C|2011}}]] with [[Gameloft]]

===Supervised releases===
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure]]'' {{C|1999}} with SNK
*''[[Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]'' {{C|2013}} with Big Red Button Entertainment<ref group="note">Released in Japan as ''Sonic Toon: Ancient Treasure''.</ref>
*''[[Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal]]'' {{C|2014}} with [[Sanzaru Games]]<ref group="note">Released in Japan as ''Sonic Toon: Island Adventure.''</ref>
<!--Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice was not supervised by Sonic Team.-->

==Animated series==
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie]]'' {{C|1996}} with Pierrot and General Entertainment
*''[[Sonic X]]'' {{C|2003-05}} with [[TMS Entertainment]]

==Trivia==
*A building bearing the Sonic Team name appears in the [[Central City (Sonic Battle)|Central City]] map of Sonic Battle.

==Gallery==
'''Logos'''
{{Gallery start}}
<gallery>
Sonic 1 (Japanese).jpg|The original "Sonic Team Presents" logo used for the Japanese Mega Drive game covers, as seen on the back of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
Sonic Team Presents logo.png|The updated "Sonic Team Presents" logo, used for ''[[Sonic Jam]]'', ''[[Sonic Team "PowerPlay"]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure]]''
Kaigai.png|The unique "Sonic Team Presents" logo for ''[[Sonic Adventure]]''
Sonic Team Logo white.png|White logo found on the [[Sonic Channel]] website
</gallery>
{{Gallery end}}

==Videos==
<tabber>
Current logo animation = [[File:Sonic Team Animated Logo|350px|left]]
|-|
Logo animation from preliminary to final = [[File:PRODUCTION- Sonic Team Animated Logo - プレビズから完成まで Progress from preliminary vision to final|350px|left]]
</tabber>

==Notes==
<references group="note" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Plain link|http://www.sonicteam.com|Official website|}} (Japanese)
*{{WP link|Sonic Team}}
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