Takashi Iizuka
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Sonic Team head on where the franchise will be in another 35 years — 'Iizuka-san does not think he's…
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka expressed pride in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise's current strong position and the team's dedication to creating new experiences. While he doesn't expect to be alive for the franchise's 70th anniversary, he anticipates playing future games developed by the talented Sonic Team.
SEGA will host an official session at Cannes Lions for Sonic’s 35th anniversary
SEGA will host a special session at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026 to discuss the evolution of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise as part of its 35th anniversary campaign. The session will feature Shuji Utsumi and Takashi Iizuka.
Sonic The Hedgehog 35th anniversary interview - the persistence of an icon
Sega's Takashi Iizuka and Ivo Gerscovich discuss the enduring appeal of Sonic The Hedgehog on its 35th anniversary. They highlight the character's core identity of freedom and speed, the importance of balancing legacy with innovation, and the franchise's expansion into various media like movies, comics, and audio dramas. The interview also touches on future game development, potential spin-offs for supporting characters, and the strategy behind successful brand collaborations.
'It would be a lie to say there's no pressure taking on this great IP from this massive corporation' — Pico Park president says working with a huge company like Sega for its Sonic crossover was 'a little risky'
Pico Park president Shintarou Shimazu discussed the challenges and risks involved in collaborating with Sega for the upcoming Sonic Pico Park crossover. He highlighted the pressure of working with a major IP and a large corporation, but also noted that the shared childhood experiences with Sonic and the guidance from Sega's Takashi Iizuka made the development process smoother.
10 years ago, Sega said "we're done with Sonic," and it was up to Takashi Iizuka to save the series:…
Sega's Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka revealed that the company was once prepared to abandon the Sonic franchise entirely. He was tasked 10 years ago with revitalizing the series during a period of significant decline, marked by poorly received titles like Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. Iizuka credits the dedicated fanbase and successful media like the Sonic Boom cartoon and movies for helping to restore the character's reputation.
'You don't need to be super hardcore to be good at this one' — Pico Park president on bringing Sonic to a whole new audience with upcoming crossover game
Sonic Pico Park, an upcoming crossover game combining Pico Park's puzzle mechanics with Sonic the Hedgehog's platforming, aims to attract a wider audience, including non-gamers. Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka and Pico Park president Shintarou Shimazu discussed the collaboration, emphasizing the game's accessibility and potential to appeal to fans who experience Sonic through other media like movies and shows. The game is designed for up to eight players and is expected to release later this year.
'I've been making Sonic games and been with Sonic longer than I've been with my own children' — Sonic Team head looks back on the franchise for its 35th anniversary
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka reflects on his long career with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise as it celebrates its 35th anniversary. He expresses pride in the series' broad appeal across generations and his commitment to continuing its development, acknowledging the pressure to meet fan expectations.
Sonic Team head talks about how SEGA was once ready to stop making Sonic games
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka revealed that SEGA considered discontinuing Sonic games during a period of downturns, even after the Sonic Boom series. He stated that the company was ready to stop making Sonic games at one point, and he was tasked with revitalizing the franchise. Iizuka credits fan support for the series' current success and the continued investment in new titles.
Sonic Team boss says SEGA tasked him with bringing Sonic back from the dead
Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka revealed that SEGA once considered abandoning the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise due to its perceived decline. Iizuka was tasked with finding a way to revive the series, indicating a significant effort to bring the franchise back to prominence.
Sonic Team boss says AAA studios can learn a lot from indies
SEGA has announced Sonic Pico Park, a new indie-style Sonic game developed by Tecopark, inspired by their game Pico Park. Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka stated that AAA studios can learn valuable lessons from independent developers, particularly regarding the challenges of large budgets in game development.
Sonic producer says AAA studios need to learn from indie developers
Sonic the Hedgehog producer Takashi Iizuka believes AAA studios can learn from the agility and creativity of indie developers. He notes that the high cost and long development times for major titles force publishers like Sega to focus on massive sales, contrasting with the faster iteration cycles of smaller studios. Iizuka suggests that the industry is seeing a shift where unique experiences, regardless of budget, are increasingly embraced by players.
Sonic Team lead would love to "magically" remake every Sonic game but says it would take as much time "as…
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka expressed a desire to remake every classic Sonic game for modern platforms but stated that the resources required would be better allocated to developing new titles. He noted that remaking older games to the standard of new releases would demand similar time, money, and effort. While many older Sonic titles are not readily available on current consoles like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, some are accessible on PC, and fan communities have created updated versions.
Sonic lead says AAA developers have much to learn from indie studios
Takashi Iizuka, producer for Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, believes that AAA developers can learn valuable lessons from the operational and economic models of indie studios. He highlighted how indie developers can quickly iterate on ideas and bring them to market, contrasting this with the significant time and financial investment required for large-scale AAA titles. Iizuka also drew parallels between the games industry and the film industry, noting how smaller creative projects can achieve significant success.
Sega explains why Sonic classic games aren’t coming back anytime soon
Sega's Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka explained that re-releasing classic Sonic games is complex due to modern player expectations for improved visuals and controls. This complexity leads Sega to prioritize new game development over extensive remasters. Despite this, the franchise is experiencing a strong period with successful movies and games.
Sonic lead says AAA studios can learn from indies in the same way the movie industry should take notes from Backrooms…
Takashi Iizuka, producer for Sonic the Hedgehog, believes that major AAA studios can learn valuable lessons from indie developers, drawing a parallel to how the film industry could benefit from studying the success of smaller, independent productions. He highlights the speed and agility of indie development as a key area where larger companies could improve, citing the upcoming Sonic Pico Park as an example of AAA collaboration with indie teams.
Sonic Team head wants all Sonic games on modern platforms, would “magically do it” if possible
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka expressed a desire to make all past Sonic games playable on modern platforms, but acknowledged the significant resources required, comparing the cost to developing a new title. He indicated that the focus remains on creating new experiences rather than remaking old ones, though SEGA has released remasters like Sonic Generations recently. The possibility of a third year of DLC for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is also dependent on the game's continued success and fan demand.
Sonic Team head says he wants every Sonic game playable on modern hardware
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka expressed a desire to make every Sonic game playable on modern hardware, addressing fan requests for better backward compatibility. This initiative aims to preserve the franchise's legacy and make its extensive library accessible to new and returning players.
Sonic Team head confirms possibility of a 3rd year of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds content
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka has indicated that Sonic Racing CrossWorlds could receive a third year of content if sales remain strong and demand is present. The game is currently available on Nintendo Switch.