Sega recently filed new trademarks for a number of its franchises including one for a game called Sonic Frontiers, which may well be the name for Sonic’s mysterious 2022 entry.
As reported by Gematsu, the video games publisher filed a number of new trademarks last month, including a move to secure a trademark in both Japanese and English for a new game called Sonic Frontiers – a move that has prompted speculation around its still-unnamed upcoming Sonic project.
While the publisher hasn’t stated the purpose of the trademark, it is possible that it could be the name of the new Sonic Team game currently in development by the studio. The game was initially teased back in May during a short trailer that showed Sonic running through a forest-like setting and confirmed a 2022 release date.
Despite announcing the project a number of months ago, the game is still yet to receive an official title. At the time of the teaser’s release, a range of trailer files and a hastily altered press release seemed to suggest that the game might take the name Sonic Rangers, though this was never confirmed by Sega or the Sonic Team at the time.
Rumours have centred around the idea that the new Sonic game could take an open world approach, something that the name Frontiers would tally with, although it must be stressed that this amounts to speculation at this point.
Aside from the game’s initial teaser, little else has been shown off by the developer that could point fans in the direction of a potential title for the game. Whether Sonic 2022 takes the name Sonic Rangers, Sonic Frontiers, or something completely different, it seems that Sega and the Sonic Team have big plans for the game.
Speaking in an interview with Sonic Stadium earlier this year, Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka said, “Sonic Adventure laid the foundation for 20 years of Sonic titles after its release, so in the same way, I really hope that this new title releasing in 2022 lays the foundation for the following future Sonic titles — that is the idea behind the challenge for the team.”
For more from the world of Sonic and friends, make sure to check out this piece discussing how Idris Elba’s says that he won’t make Knuckles the Echidna ‘sexy’ following his confirmation of the role in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie sequel.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.