Why Sonic Mania 2 Never Happened: Insights from SEGA, Sonic Team, and Evening Star

Following the acclaimed success of Sonic Mania on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop, fans were eager to see what Classic Sonic's next adventure would look like.

Despite strong critical reception and commercial results for Sonic Mania, a direct sequel never materialized.

Instead, SEGA and Sonic Team chose to steer the franchise in a new creative direction, leading to the development of Sonic Superstars. Sonic Superstars, led by developer Arzest with the involvement of Sonic co-creator Naoto Ohshima, represents the latest evolution of Classic Sonic.

Notably, the original Sonic Mania team, including Christian Whitehead and Evening Star, is not involved in the project.

The shift comes after a period of collaborative brainstorming between SEGA, Sonic Team, and Evening Star to define the future of Classic Sonic after Sonic Mania's launch. In an interview with Game Informer, Takashi Iizuka, creative officer of Sonic Team, clarified the circumstances around the absence of Sonic Mania 2.

Iizuka explained that, following Sonic Mania's release, SEGA held discussions with the Mania team to explore fresh concepts for the next phase of Classic Sonic.

According to Iizuka, while both sides shared an interest in advancing the series with new visuals and all-original level design—moving beyond pixel art and reused assets—these concepts did not proceed beyond the initial planning stages.

Ultimately, production on a Sonic Mania sequel was never initiated.

He added that many of the innovative ideas exchanged during these meetings inspired the direction taken by Arzest and Ohshima in developing Sonic Superstars, aiming for originality and a departure from retro aesthetics. Christian Whitehead, founder of Evening Star and a key architect behind Sonic Mania, echoed this sentiment.

Whitehead noted that Evening Star always intended to expand beyond 2D pixel art and focus on developing new intellectual properties, including 3D games.

During their conversations with SEGA, the studio and publisher agreed that the next Classic Sonic title should break new ground, potentially utilizing hand-drawn 2D or 2.5D art.

As Evening Star dedicated resources to developing their Star Engine, they produced a Sonic prototype experimenting with 2.5D depth and fresh gameplay mechanics.

However, Evening Star did not move forward with full production on a sequel, and SEGA handed the reins to Arzest, who progressed with Sonic Superstars in partnership with Sonic Team. Sonic Superstars is set to launch on Nintendo Switch and other major platforms in fall 2023, with early previews indicating a positive reception from both fans and critics.

Meanwhile, Evening Star has embarked on an original project, Penny’s Big Breakaway, a vibrant 3D platformer also scheduled to release on Nintendo Switch in early 2024.

For now, the legacy of Sonic Mania lives on through its innovative approach, while Classic Sonic continues to evolve in new and exciting directions.

SEGA Sonic Sonic Mania Evening Star Sonic Superstars Superstars Sonic Team developers Sonic Mania 2 Christian Whitehead Naoto Ohshima Arzest Penny’s Big Breakaway Nintendo Switch