Sonic fans across Japan are thrilled to finally be able to see Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in theaters. The popular series isn’t only finding success on the big screen, however, but also within the world of the Metaverse. 

In April 2022, the Sonic Speed Simulator was uploaded to Roblox, a global game creator connecting tens of millions of people each day. The game has surpassed 500 million plays worldwide as of August 21, 2022. The official Sonic game is completely free and was created by Gamefam, a leading game developer and publisher, in collaboration with Sega.

The title attracted more than 6 million daily active users worldwide in its first week after launching on April 16, 2022. Sonic Speed Simulator is currently the top-ranked Roblox game of 2022.

The game takes place in six immersive 3D worlds. In addition to regular gameplay, events, and mini-games, users can unlock player skins of popular characters such as Tails and Knuckles as they progress through the game.

Sonic Frontiers Teaser Site

https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicFrontiers

In conjunction with the Japanese release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in theaters, the Japanese version of Sonic Speed Simulator has been unveiled. Japan had the highest daily active user growth on Roblox in the first quarter of 2022 among the 25 largest internet markets worldwide.

Comment from Sonic Series Producer at SEGA, Takashi Iizuka

“Since its launch in April, Sonic Speed Simulator has seen a massively positive response from the global Roblox community, and I’m so happy to see a new fanbase growing in the Metaverse. With Sonic’s popularity spreading around the world with audiences both young and old following the release of the film series, I hope that more fans will enjoy the world of Sonic with the release of Sonic Frontiers later this year!” 

A trial version of Sonic Speed Simulator has also been released on the Japanese App Store in cooperation with Apple Japan.

While Sonic the Hedgehog 2 isn’t coming to theaters until April 8, Paramount has confirmed that a third film is already in the works. A Paramount+ streaming series based on Sonic’s sidekick Knuckles is also coming soon, and will star Idris Elba. 

The first Sonic the Hedgehog film is the highest-grossing movie based on a video game to ever be released in the US, grossing $320 million worldwide. The sequel is scheduled to release in the west on April 8 and in Japan this summer. The cast from the first film has returned for the second installment, with Jeff Fowler directing and Josh Miller and Pat Casey providing the screenplay.

Inspired by Sega’s video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog tells the story of Sonic, the world’s fastest hedgehog, and his adventures after arriving on Earth. The first live-action adventure comedy film was released in 2020 and starred Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. 

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The Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands livestreamed the Vincent Van Gogh & Tokyo Olympic online event in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan on July 9.

Curators and researchers at the Van Gogh Museum took part in the digital event which was hosted on TeamNL Tokyo Expo. In addition, researcher Joost van der Hoeven and Olympic athletes Candy Jacobs and Keet Oldenbeuving will make a sporty contribution to the livestream. Their sport skateboarding is an Olympic discipline for the first time.

The event served to strengthen Netherlands-Japan ties at the upcoming Olympic Games.

Lacoste has announced the release of a new collection themed on the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee. The collection arrives in time for the new run of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics which was originally set to run last year but was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be held from July 23 to August 8. Lacoste’s collection will go on pre-sale in Japan on April 29 before rolling out at Olympic Museum stores in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, and Mexico on July 15.

1964 was a historical year for Japan as the country saw rapid innovation and evolution in art, lifestyle, fashion, and many other areas. The Lacoste capsule collection respects the traditions of the Olympic Games at the time while adding a contemporary touch. It features the Tokyo 1964 logo created by Japanese graphic designer Yusaku Kamekura and fuses it with Lacoste’s French style, turning the emblem an eye-catching gold and adding Lacoste’s iconic crocodile. The line-up includes polo shirts, tees, nylon hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, and more. The items are made from materials like pique fabric, fleece, cotton, and water resistant nylon.

For the Japan pre-sale of the capsule collection, Lacoste Japan is holding a campaign called “THE POWER OF TOKYO 1964” which hopes to charge the athletes of Tokyo 2020 with the energy of Tokyo in 1964, a year of innovation. A special video was released for the promotion featuring background music by Towa Tei who was born in the year 1964. The song, entitled MAGIC, is a bridge connecting the years 1964 and 2021.

The Nintendo Switch™ title Ninjala finally rolled out its collaboration with Sonic the Hedgehog on Thursday (September 24).

In the world of Ninjala, players blow bubble gum to craft different weapons and fight using the fighting style of ninjutsu. Players can also transform into nearby objects, and they must use parkour to traverse different landscapes while aiming to take down their opponents.

Players can get their hands on Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles costumes for their avatars, as well as turn into a Dr. Eggman Gum Utsusemi.

There are also IPPON decorations and stickers for players to use. All of these items are available to purchase via the in-game shop.

Enter the world of Sonic the Hedgehog in Ninjala today!

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© GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

It was revealed in Developer Diary #9 for the Nintendo Switch title Ninjala by both the game’s director and game designer that the previously promised highly-anticipated Sega collaboration is really happening, with Sonic the Hedgehog set to speed his way into the gum world.

In the world of Ninjala, players blow bubble gum to craft different weapons and fight using the fighting style of ninjutsu. Players can also transform into nearby objects, and they must use parkour to traverse different landscapes while aiming to take down their opponents. Released on June 25, 2020, the game has been downloaded over 4 million times worldwide.

In the latest Developer Diary, the team revealed not only the Sonic collaboration—which comes in the form of costumes you can obtain in-game—but details on the upcoming “Featured Battle Mode” too

The new game mode will first bring the “Beast Attack!” limited-time event which is an 8-player game of tag where one player becomes a Beast and must defeat other Ninjas to earn points. Likewise, Ninjas must avoid being defeated for themselves to earn points.

You can check out the full details in the Developer Diary episode below.

© GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

©SEGA

In the latest developer’s diary (Dev Diary #8) for the Nintendo Switch title Ninjala, it was revealed that the game will collaborate with Sonic the Hedgehog.

In the world of Ninjala, players blow bubble gum to craft different weapons and fight using the fighting style of ninjutsu. Players can also transform into nearby objects, and they must use parkour to traverse different landscapes while aiming to take down their opponents. Released on June 25, 2020, the game has been downloaded over 4 million times worldwide.

More details about the Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration will be revealed at a later date. It will be the first in-game collaboration for the game.

© GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

Airbnb, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have announced a five-day summer festival which will see more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences hosted virtually by some of the world’s best athletes. The festival will begin on July 24, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin, and is a way for athletes to earn an income while they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their individual sport with guests.

The five-day line-up, which will take place across multiple time zones, will showcase a variety of interactive Online Experiences that guests can book on Airbnb from July 22. Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on the Airbnb Olympic and Paralympic YouTube channels. While many hosts will continue to offer their activities after the event ends, several will be once-in-a-lifetime Online Experiences available exclusively during the festival. These exclusive experiences are the following:

25 July: Build resilience to overcome obstacles with Yusra Mardini (swimming, IOC Refugee Olympic Team Rio 2016); learn about returning to sport after motherhood with Allyson Felix (athletics, USA); and work up a sweat in an inclusive session with Tatyana McFadden (athletics, USA)

26 July: Cook up a storm with legend Colin Jackson (athletics, Great Britain); join a scenic training ride with Jonny Brownlee (triathlon, Great Britain); discover velodrome secrets with Elia Viviani (track cycling, Italy)

27 July: Chat mind, body and spirit with Jackie Joyner-Kersee (athletics, USA); push through boundaries and level up in life with Meb Keflezighi (marathon, USA); get vulnerable to unlock greatness with Kerri Walsh Jennings (beach volleyball, USA); and Zumba beachside in paradise with Tom Hintnaus (athletics, Brazil)

28 July: Get a glimpse into quarantine training with two-time Grand Slam-winning Naomi Osaka (tennis, Japan); run, breathe and connect with a sprinter Zhenye Xie (athletics, China); learn a Grand Slam-inspired training regime with Sania Mirza (tennis, India); and master perseverance with Pita Taufatofua (taekwondo and cross-country skiing, Tonga)

29 July: Fall in love with sneaker culture with Rui Hachimura (basketball, Japan); get up close and personal at home with Jordy Smith (surfing, South Africa); see beyond the boundaries of vision with blind champion Lex Gillette (athletics, USA)

Rui Hachimura | Comment

“Representing Japan in the Olympics is one of my biggest dreams. I had trained and prepared to participate in the Games this year, but Tokyo 2020 was unfortunately postponed due to COVID-19. The world is facing tough challenges right now, but I believe the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will be a wonderful chance to celebrate everyone’s determination through this time. I’m looking forward to celebrating together with my teammates in front of fans in my home country. The Olympics as I know them won’t have an effect on motivation to perform, even if they’re hold a year later. As an athlete, I want to see the happy figures of my fans around the world. Let us come together and keep on fighting. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Tokyo next year.” *Comment translated from Japanese by MMN.

Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences will provide economic opportunities for athletes to help support them.

Sonic the Hedgehog’s 29th anniversary is set to fall on June 23, 2020, so to celebrate, SEGA has launched a new collection of merchandise called “Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha.”

The new Sonic The Hedgehog DJ Style “Party” mix album will also be released on June 17, 2020 as the first in a series of albums. All of this is part of the “SONIC 2020” project in which new Sonic content will be released each month.

Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha

The merchandise line-up features the Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha artwork taken from the Sonic The Hedgehog DJ Style “Party” album cover. The collection includes a T-shirt, pin badge, and full colour acrylic stand.

Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha T-Shirt: ¥3,000 (Tax Included)

The T-shirt features fluorescent colours in full DJ Popcultcha style, the perfect design to don while listening to music and enjoying the summer sun.

Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha Pin Badge Set (2 Pins): ¥800 (Tax Included)

Add these pins to your bag, hat, or anywhere else to add some summertime Sonic spice to your items.

Sonic the Hedgehog DJ Popcultcha Acrylic Stand: ¥1,700 (Before Tax)

The acrylic stand features Sonic in full colour, ready to decorate your desk or shelf.

Click here to see the product page.

Sonic The Hedgehog DJ Style “PARTY” Album

The DJ mix album features a list of 33 tracks from across the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The album cover design was illustrated exclusively for the album.

Click here to see the product page.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and Airbnb announced in December last year a major long-term partnership to support the Olympic Movement which will run from 2020-2028. During this period, Airbnb will offer unique accommodation and experiences, and experience tours hosted by Olympians and athletes will also take place.

The IOC, IPC, and Airbnb are currently actively recruiting hosts to offer these services. These Olympic and Paralympic hosts include not only those who have participated in previous Olympic games, but those set to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics (henceforth Tokyo 2020) too.

Olympians and Paralympians will not only share their wisdom about the games and their sports, but their skills, knowledge, and experiences with things other than sports that they are also passionate about, e.g. the best way to brew delicious coffee, useful business self-motivation tips for setting goals and building confidence, and so on. Athletes will also be able to freely pick the dates and times they can offer these experiences that best align with their schedules.

Daichi Suzuki, Sports Director and the President of the Japan Olympians Committeeーwho also has experience as an Olympic athlete himselfーsaid: “I think it’s a really wonderful thing that athletes in Japan are helping to grow the value of the Olympics and Paralympics through sports with the support of Airbnb while using the opportunity to think about their careers to give rise to new experiences. I expect Olympians and Payalympians will use the Tokyo 2020 games as a framework to carve a second career for themselves, and that it will be part of the legacy of the games.” *Translated from Japanese

To date, Airbnb’s ‘Experience’ service in Japan has provided new careers for people and has been an opportunity for people to earn an income. This is done by people opening up their houses to travellers, or vacant properties being shared by travellers, to teach them a new skillーall of which is done under the support of Airbnb. The Experience service has garnered huge popularity around the world from foreign travellers for the diversity activities offered; there is something for everyone, no matter their age nor gender. Airbnb’s collaboration with IOC will provide the opportunity for people to experience interacting with athletes, while also providing a second career for Japanese Olympians and Paralympians, whether they are competing this year or have retired.

It has been revealed that the Sega-published Sonic the Hedgehog movie has broken $200 million in the box office worldwide. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Sonic the Hedgehog was released worldwide on February 14, 2020. It hit up 4,167 theatres in the US, and in its three-day weekend debut amassed $58 million, breaking Detective Pikachu‘s record ($54.3 million) for the biggest opening weekend for a movie adapted from a video game.

In its second weekend, the film made $26 million and retained its top spot in the box office. After 10 days, it had garnered $107.7 million in the US and $102.2 million elsewhere for a total of $209.9 million.

Sonic the Hedgehog will be released in Japan on March 27, 2020.

©︎2019 PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND SEGA OF AMERICA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

As excitement is on the rise worldwide in anticipation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, the world just cannot wait for the release of the iconic Nintendo Switch™ game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which is due to be released very soon. Sega has just unveiled a small snippet of information on five events that are going to be included in the game which we are sharing with you today.

Tokyo 2020 100m

Aim for nothing but first place in the Tokyo 2020 100m. Increase your speed with the rapid push of a button. By building up your speed before the race starts and releasing it at the correct moment, you will get off to a dashing start. The “special dash” is a way to rapidly cut down on your time. 

Tokyo 2020 Rugby Sevens

This game will plunge you straight into the action. Work with your team of seven and use a range of tactics such as passes, strong tackles and kicks to get the upper hand. Carry the ball to the goalline to watch those points roll in. When your special gauge reaches its max power, you will be able to use a “super dash” ability to get the ball to the goalline if on the offense. If on defence, your special ability is the “special tackle”, which will provide you with the power to whip the ball away from your opponent. These special abilities have the power to drastically turn the tables and are not to be taken lightly. This game features guest character Diddy Kong!

Tokyo 2020 Canoeing

Get your heart pumping with the thrill of competition while staying synchronised with your partner in a canoeing race. If your timing is perfect, you will pick up speed straight away. Team up with your friend and dive right into the fun. If you are falling behind, don’t let your heart sink in despair. Paddle as much as you can and you will be able to catch up with the others in no time!

Toyko 2020 Equestrian Jumping

Let no hurdle taint your gracefulness as you soar through the sky and clear each one. You can take part in Equestrian Jumping individually or as part of a team. Be careful of sharp turns and hurdles! When you increase your speed, your stamina will drop, however, you will recover lost stamina with every hurdle you successfully clear. If you manage to clear lots of hurdles in succession, you will gain enormous amounts of speed and will be on your way to a record-breaking winner. You can also use a special dash once in this game. If you manage to use it while successfully striking a difficult pose, you will continue to zoom off to the finish line at high speed. This game features Larry Koopa as a special guest!

Tokyo 2020 Table Tennis

Face off in a singles match or team up with your friend for a doubles match. Your avatar will move automatically, allowing you to fully dedicate your brain power to using a range of techniques. Build up your power to change the speed and spin of the ball.Zazz has infiltrated this game to take part as a guest character!

Join in the Tokyo 2020 celebration fun with these new epic games!

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