Sega Says Sonic Movies Are Bankrolling Better Sonic Games

Sonic's recent run of games hasn't always landed the way fans hoped, but Sega says the franchise is healthier than it looks, and it credits the big screen.

Speaking to Automaton at Tokyo Game Show, series producer Takashi Iizuka pointed to director Jeff Fowler's three live-action movies as the main driver behind Sonic's renewed visibility. According to Iizuka, the films have made more people around the world curious about the character and the games, and that curiosity has translated into game sales.

Iizuka framed it as a feedback loop. Stronger sales mean more resources for the next title, which in turn lets the team aim higher on quality. "In that sense, multimedia and transmedia expansion are majorly beneficial for the games," he said.

The movies aren't the only outside project getting credit. Iizuka said anime has helped too, as has Netflix, which he described as a game changer for how Sega approaches screen adaptations. Previously, an anime meant courting television broadcasters and waiting for their sign-off. With Netflix, once a deal is struck, the project can be distributed worldwide. He called that a major advantage for expanding the brand.

The comments line up with what Iizuka told One More Game on September 21, when he said the first movie was the biggest milestone of his tenure. "That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise," he said.

For fans who aren't sold on the films, there was one reassurance. Iizuka stressed that Sega doesn't pull game developers' resources for transmedia work, so a new Sonic game shouldn't slip because the company is busy with a movie or an anime. The teams are separate, he said.

Whether or not you enjoy the movies, Sega's message is clear. In its view, they are a big part of why Sonic is still a going concern, and they help pay for the games that follow.