Get ready to rumble, gamers! The iconic blue blur is finally making his grand entrance into the world of
Fortnite, but not without a few creative compromises. Takashi Iizuka, head of Sega’s Sonic Team and lead producer of the video game series, recently revealed the surprising logic behind bringing Sonic to Epic Games’ massively popular battle royale title.
The Gun-Shy Hedgehog
You might have noticed that the character on the first page of the current
Battle Pass isn’t actually Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s a lookalike, because, according to Iizuka, the real Sonic would never hold a gun. He’s no
However, this “Android Sonic” has absolutely no problem wielding weaponry. While it might seem like a bit of a stretch, this reasoning was key in convincing Sega to allow their beloved mascot into the world of
Fortnite
.
Enter Android Sonic
The Sonic recently added to
is an android. That’s right, it’s Android Sonic blasting fools in Epic’s battle royale game.
is known for its relatively kid-friendly atmosphere. With cartoon graphics, vibrant colors, and a battlefield filled with fun points of interest, strange weapons, gimmicky items, and quirky NPCs, it’s a unique experience in the battle royale genre. While reaching top 10 can still get your heart pounding, it doesn’t feel as high-stakes as other games in the same genre. Nevertheless, it’s still a third-person shooter with all sorts of weapons, and your ultimate goal is to eliminate everyone on the island and send them back to the lobby. This is why, even though there have been many collaborations over the years, some
highly requested characters haven’t made an appearance in Fortnite
.
Chapter 7 Season 4: A Gamer’s Paradise
Chapter 7 Season 4 of
is a video game-themed extravaganza, bringing several fan-favorite characters to the roster of available skins. And Sonic the Hedgehog is one of them, but he’s not just any character; he’s the first skin players receive when they purchase this season’s Battle Pass. This essentially makes him the face of
Chapter 7 Season 4.
The Logic Behind the Blur
Players were understandably surprised to see Sonic in
because, while his games have some mild violence, he’s generally considered a family-friendly hero. However, it seems getting the deal done wasn’t easy.
According to an IGN interview with Iizuka, Epic Games had been trying to collaborate with Sonic the Hedgehog for some time now, but similar to
Disney’s Mickey Mouse and other friendly characters, Sega was hesitant to allow Sonic’s image to be defiled by putting a gun in his hands. This is where the creative solution of “Android Sonic” came into play.
“Epic Games approached us more than a couple of years ago about potentially bringing Sonic into
Fortnite, but Sonic is a character that will never hold a gun. When we considered the gameplay design of
Fortnite, it was difficult to imagine Sonic fitting in and playing effectively. However, this time, we took a creative liberty and created Android Sonic. Because we made this android version of Sonic, we were able to get him into
Fortnite, have him hold a gun, and allow him to fully integrate into the
gameplay.”
Even though his skin is titled “Sonic the Hedgehog” in players’ in-game item lockers, it’s important not to be fooled; this is none other than an android version of Sonic. The logic might seem a bit convoluted, but it was enough for Sega to justify adding the face of their company to a shooter game.
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