Sega Announces Discontinuation of Support for Sonic Forever Mobile Ports on iOS and Android
Sega has officially confirmed it will be ending support for its popular Sega Forever mobile versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, signaling an imminent delisting for these acclaimed classics on iOS and Android devices.
This decision is expected to affect fans and preservationists, as these ports have long been celebrated for their accessibility and faithfulness to the original Genesis releases. The announcement, initially observed by the gaming community and reported by Wario64 on social media, appeared as an in-game notification within the menu of both mobile titles.
Both Sonic the Hedgehog Classic and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic are available for free download on iOS and Android under the Sega Forever brand, but with this notice, Sega has advised users to claim the games while still possible. Launched in 2013, these mobile adaptations were carefully crafted by renowned developers Christian "Taxman" Whitehead and Simon Thomley of Headcannon, leveraging the Retro Engine.
This technology, originally created for Whitehead’s Sonic fan project Retro Sonic, provided the smooth gameplay and polished visuals that set these ports apart.
Their expertise later propelled them to collaborate with PagodaWest Games on the award-winning Sonic Mania for the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. For years, the Sega Forever editions of Sonic the Hedgehog titles have stood out as some of the most approachable versions available, offering the core gameplay experience at no monetary cost, with ads supporting ongoing availability.
In response to the discontinuation news, Sega has issued an update to the iOS version, removing advertisements entirely, creating a final, ad-free experience for latecomers.
Whether a similar update will be applied to the Android edition remains unconfirmed by Sega as of this writing. Beyond iOS and Android, these Sonic the Hedgehog adaptations were previously released for Amazon Fire Stick.
Additionally, the passionate Sonic community has produced unofficial PC versions, such as Sonic the Hedgehog Forever and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Absolute, built using decompiled versions of the Retro Engine by RubberDuckyCooly and stxticOVFL.
However, those alternatives require access to original APK files and are not officially recognized by Sega. The mobile delisting echoes Sega's previous actions to remove certain digital Sonic titles and highlights the ongoing challenge of digital game preservation.
While Sonic fans can still access the series' classic titles on newer platforms like Nintendo Switch via the eShop, these specific Retro Engine-powered versions represent a unique chapter in the franchise’s legacy.
Players interested in securing the Sega Forever editions are encouraged to act promptly before support and downloads are officially discontinued.
This decision is expected to affect fans and preservationists, as these ports have long been celebrated for their accessibility and faithfulness to the original Genesis releases. The announcement, initially observed by the gaming community and reported by Wario64 on social media, appeared as an in-game notification within the menu of both mobile titles.
Both Sonic the Hedgehog Classic and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic are available for free download on iOS and Android under the Sega Forever brand, but with this notice, Sega has advised users to claim the games while still possible. Launched in 2013, these mobile adaptations were carefully crafted by renowned developers Christian "Taxman" Whitehead and Simon Thomley of Headcannon, leveraging the Retro Engine.
This technology, originally created for Whitehead’s Sonic fan project Retro Sonic, provided the smooth gameplay and polished visuals that set these ports apart.
Their expertise later propelled them to collaborate with PagodaWest Games on the award-winning Sonic Mania for the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. For years, the Sega Forever editions of Sonic the Hedgehog titles have stood out as some of the most approachable versions available, offering the core gameplay experience at no monetary cost, with ads supporting ongoing availability.
In response to the discontinuation news, Sega has issued an update to the iOS version, removing advertisements entirely, creating a final, ad-free experience for latecomers.
Whether a similar update will be applied to the Android edition remains unconfirmed by Sega as of this writing. Beyond iOS and Android, these Sonic the Hedgehog adaptations were previously released for Amazon Fire Stick.
Additionally, the passionate Sonic community has produced unofficial PC versions, such as Sonic the Hedgehog Forever and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Absolute, built using decompiled versions of the Retro Engine by RubberDuckyCooly and stxticOVFL.
However, those alternatives require access to original APK files and are not officially recognized by Sega. The mobile delisting echoes Sega's previous actions to remove certain digital Sonic titles and highlights the ongoing challenge of digital game preservation.
While Sonic fans can still access the series' classic titles on newer platforms like Nintendo Switch via the eShop, these specific Retro Engine-powered versions represent a unique chapter in the franchise’s legacy.
Players interested in securing the Sega Forever editions are encouraged to act promptly before support and downloads are officially discontinued.
