<s>
is	O
a	O
2022	O
platform	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
explores	O
the	O
Starfall	O
Islands	O
to	O
collect	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
,	O
after	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
friends	O
are	O
separated	O
when	O
falling	O
through	O
a	O
wormhole	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frontiers	O
integrates	O
traditional	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
elements	O
—	O
such	O
as	O
platforming	O
,	O
rings	O
,	O
and	O
grind	O
rails	O
—	O
into	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
first	O
open	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
exploring	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
complete	O
challenges	O
,	O
fight	O
robotic	O
enemies	O
,	O
and	O
access	O
"	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
"	O
levels	O
inspired	O
by	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
(	O
2017	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
exploring	O
approaches	O
for	O
its	O
next	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Takashi	O
Iizuka	O
,	O
head	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
,	O
wanted	O
Frontiers	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
model	O
for	O
future	O
titles	O
,	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
had	O
done	O
in	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
settled	O
on	O
an	O
open-ended	O
design	O
,	O
and	O
focused	O
on	O
adapting	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
abilities	O
to	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
on	O
November	O
8	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
is	O
a	O
3D	O
platformer	O
and	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
explores	O
the	O
Starfall	O
Islands	O
(	O
which	O
consist	O
of	O
various	O
biomes	O
including	O
flowery	O
fields	O
,	O
forests	O
,	O
ancient	O
ruins	O
,	O
and	O
deserts	O
)	O
to	O
collect	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
and	O
investigate	O
the	O
islands	O
 '	O
relationship	O
to	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
retains	O
his	O
abilities	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
games	O
:	O
he	O
runs	O
at	O
high	O
speeds	O
,	O
collects	O
rings	O
,	O
grinds	O
on	O
rails	O
,	O
and	O
homes	O
in	O
on	O
enemies	O
to	O
attack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Cyloop	O
can	O
perform	O
different	O
tasks	O
by	O
drawing	O
certain	O
shapes	O
—	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
drawing	O
an	O
infinity	O
symbol	O
or	O
an	O
8	O
will	O
allow	O
Sonic	B-Application
to	O
boost	O
indefinitely	O
for	O
a	O
short	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
also	O
gains	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
temporarily	O
boost	O
indefinitely	O
upon	O
collecting	O
the	O
maximum	O
number	O
of	O
rings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
customize	O
the	O
controls	O
and	O
adjust	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
speed	O
,	O
turning	O
,	O
acceleration	O
and	O
sensitivity	O
,	O
among	O
other	O
things	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
they	O
progress	O
,	O
they	O
can	O
also	O
upgrade	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
speed	O
,	O
attack	O
,	O
defense	O
and	O
ring	O
capacity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Starfall	O
Islands	O
act	O
as	O
the	O
series	O
's	O
first	O
open	O
world	O
,	O
which	O
writers	O
compared	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Breath	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
world	O
retains	O
traditional	O
Sonic	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
springs	O
,	O
boost	O
pads	O
,	O
and	O
grind	O
rails	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
objectives	O
is	O
to	O
rescue	O
three	O
of	O
his	O
friends	O
—	O
Miles	O
"	O
Tails	O
"	O
Prower	O
,	O
Amy	O
Rose	O
,	O
and	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
—	O
who	O
are	O
trapped	O
in	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tails	O
and	O
Amy	O
initially	O
accompany	O
Sonic	B-Application
in	O
his	O
investigation	O
,	O
while	O
Knuckles	O
was	O
transported	O
there	O
earlier	O
from	O
the	O
ruins	O
above	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Collectibles	O
include	O
Kocos	O
,	O
which	O
upgrade	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
moveset	O
,	O
and	O
Memory	O
Tokens	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
used	O
to	O
trigger	O
cutscenes	O
and	O
conversations	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
friends	O
when	O
they	O
receive	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
either	O
progress	O
the	O
story	O
's	O
plot	O
(	O
occasionally	O
via	O
minigames	O
)	O
or	O
expand	O
their	O
relationships	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
by	O
requesting	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
complete	O
side	O
quests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
friends	O
project	O
themselves	O
as	O
holograms	O
in	O
the	O
real	O
world	O
while	O
trapped	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
and	O
advise	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
battles	O
robots	O
throughout	O
the	O
islands	O
,	O
all	O
in	O
various	O
forms	O
;	O
Sonic	B-Application
can	O
dodge	O
and	O
parry	O
attacks	O
and	O
use	O
the	O
Cyloop	O
to	O
make	O
enemies	O
easier	O
to	O
strike	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Big	O
the	O
Cat	O
makes	O
an	O
appearance	O
as	O
a	O
host	O
for	O
a	O
fishing	O
minigame	O
which	O
is	O
included	O
in	O
set	O
areas	O
of	O
the	O
maps	O
,	O
where	O
Sonic	B-Application
can	O
exchange	O
purple	O
coins	O
found	O
in	O
the	O
overworld	O
to	O
catch	O
fish	O
and	O
other	O
objects	O
that	O
net	O
him	O
fishing	O
tokens	O
based	O
on	O
catch	O
quality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Collecting	O
all	O
seven	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
transform	O
into	O
Super	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
which	O
is	O
required	O
to	O
battle	O
and	O
defeat	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
major	O
bosses	O
,	O
the	O
Titans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
he	O
uploads	O
his	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
unit	O
,	O
Sage	O
,	O
into	O
a	O
portal	O
,	O
several	O
robotic	O
defense	O
units	O
are	O
summoned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
and	O
Amy	O
investigate	O
activity	O
that	O
has	O
drawn	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
the	O
islands	O
,	O
but	O
their	O
plane	O
is	O
sucked	O
into	O
a	O
wormhole	O
to	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
escapes	O
to	O
the	O
islands	O
in	O
the	O
real	O
world	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
disembodied	O
voice	O
tasks	O
him	O
with	O
finding	O
the	O
emeralds	O
and	O
destroying	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
robotic	O
Titans	O
to	O
remove	O
the	O
boundary	O
between	O
the	O
real	O
and	O
digital	O
worlds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Believing	O
this	O
will	O
save	O
his	O
friends	O
–	O
including	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
been	O
transported	O
there	O
while	O
exploring	O
the	O
ruins	O
above	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
–	O
Sonic	B-Application
releases	O
their	O
digital	O
forms	O
from	O
cages	O
created	O
by	O
Sage	O
,	O
who	O
works	O
to	O
free	O
Eggman	O
from	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
;	O
destroying	O
the	O
cages	O
causes	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
body	O
to	O
become	O
increasingly	O
corrupted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sage	O
cautions	O
Sonic	B-Application
to	O
leave	O
,	O
influencing	O
the	O
islands	O
 '	O
mechanical	O
guardians	O
and	O
Titans	O
to	O
attack	O
him	O
,	O
but	O
grows	O
to	O
sympathize	O
with	O
him	O
while	O
observing	O
his	O
interactions	O
with	O
his	O
friends	O
,	O
and	O
forms	O
a	O
mutual	O
bond	O
with	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
friends	O
learn	O
about	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
the	O
Ancients	O
,	O
who	O
are	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
extraterrestrial	O
race	O
whose	O
planet	O
was	O
destroyed	O
by	O
The	O
End	O
,	O
an	O
all-powerful	O
entity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ancients	O
built	O
the	O
Titans	O
to	O
seal	O
it	O
within	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
,	O
with	O
their	O
essences	O
remaining	O
within	O
their	O
accessories	O
,	O
the	O
Koco	O
,	O
which	O
become	O
inert	O
once	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
friends	O
help	O
them	O
fulfill	O
their	O
final	O
desires	O
in	O
life	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
destroying	O
three	O
of	O
the	O
Titans	O
and	O
disabling	O
the	O
towers	O
that	O
maintain	O
the	O
spatial	O
boundary	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
succumbs	O
to	O
his	O
corruption	O
and	O
is	O
trapped	O
between	O
dimensions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
along	O
with	O
his	O
friends	O
and	O
Eggman	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
guide	O
reveals	O
itself	O
to	O
be	O
The	O
End	O
,	O
which	O
attacks	O
Earth	O
using	O
the	O
last	O
Titan	O
,	O
Supreme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
friends	O
purge	O
the	O
corruption	O
from	O
him	O
by	O
sacrificing	O
their	O
physical	O
forms	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
reluctant	O
Eggman	O
and	O
Sage	O
help	O
him	O
collect	O
the	O
scattered	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
uses	O
to	O
defeat	O
Supreme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
The	O
End	O
flees	O
into	O
space	O
,	O
Sage	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
the	O
Titan	O
and	O
assists	O
Sonic	B-Application
in	O
confronting	O
The	O
End	O
's	O
true	O
form	O
,	O
sacrificing	O
herself	O
to	O
destroy	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
friends	O
are	O
restored	O
and	O
leave	O
the	O
islands	O
with	O
him	O
,	O
now	O
wishing	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
difference	O
in	O
their	O
lives	O
after	O
their	O
new	O
experience	O
,	O
while	O
Eggman	O
remains	O
behind	O
and	O
revives	O
Sage	O
using	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
(	O
2017	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
exploring	O
approaches	O
for	O
its	O
next	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
celebrating	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
upcoming	O
30th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
sought	O
to	O
define	O
what	O
a	O
modern	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
should	O
be	O
and	O
solidify	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
direction	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
decade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
felt	O
the	O
series	O
needed	O
to	O
take	O
an	O
innovative	O
direction	O
that	O
would	O
lay	O
the	O
foundation	O
for	O
future	O
games	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
how	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
set	O
templates	O
used	O
by	O
later	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Forces	O
received	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
short	O
length	O
and	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
so	O
its	O
director	O
,	O
Morio	O
Kishimoto	O
,	O
concluded	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
method	O
of	O
designing	O
levels	O
originating	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
would	O
no	O
longer	O
satisfy	O
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
ultimately	O
determined	O
that	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
traditional	O
linear	O
design	O
contained	O
"	O
little	O
room	O
for	O
evolution	O
"	O
and	O
felt	O
it	O
could	O
not	O
progress	O
in	O
this	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
particular	O
,	O
Takashi	O
Iizuka	O
,	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
and	O
the	O
producer	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
felt	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
were	O
not	O
giving	O
players	O
enough	O
freedom	O
and	O
constrained	O
them	O
to	O
linear	O
paths	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
to	O
make	O
an	O
open-world	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
came	O
from	O
Kishimoto	O
,	O
who	O
enjoyed	O
watching	O
the	O
evolution	O
of	O
the	O
platform	O
genre	O
's	O
world	O
map	O
concept	O
since	O
it	O
was	O
popularized	O
by	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
in	O
1988	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
featured	O
world	O
maps	O
,	O
but	O
Kishimoto	O
felt	O
his	O
idea	O
evolved	O
the	O
concept	O
by	O
combining	O
it	O
with	O
the	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kishimoto	O
returned	O
to	O
direct	O
Frontiers	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
Generations	B-Application
(	O
2011	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Forces	O
art	O
director	O
Sachiko	O
Kawamura	O
produced	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frontiers	O
development	O
lasted	O
five	O
years	O
,	O
longer	O
than	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
 '	O
development	O
cycles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
attributed	O
the	O
length	O
partly	O
to	O
Frontiers	O
not	O
building	O
on	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
holding	O
external	O
playtesting	O
during	O
Frontiers	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
began	O
during	O
production	O
,	O
requiring	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
shift	O
to	O
remote	O
work	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
its	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
designers	O
focused	O
on	O
transitioning	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
speed	O
and	O
abilities	O
to	O
an	O
open-world	O
design	O
while	O
remaining	O
true	O
to	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
opted	O
for	O
a	O
mysterious	O
tone	O
to	O
reflect	O
Sonic	B-Application
exploring	O
an	O
unfamiliar	O
landscape	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
essence	O
as	O
a	O
3D	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
separated	O
Frontiers	O
from	O
adventure	O
and	O
role-playing	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kishimoto	O
prefers	O
to	O
describe	O
Frontiers	O
as	O
"	O
open	O
zone	O
"	O
to	O
"	O
open	O
world	O
"	O
as	O
it	O
refers	O
specifically	O
to	O
a	O
freely	O
explorable	O
field	O
in	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
as	O
to	O
a	O
broader	O
term	O
that	O
can	O
apply	O
to	O
any	O
type	O
of	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
designing	O
Frontiers	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
drew	O
upon	O
their	O
experiences	O
developing	O
the	O
hub	O
worlds	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
and	O
repeatedly	O
tested	O
how	O
fast	O
Sonic	B-Application
could	O
race	O
through	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
to	O
determine	O
how	O
large	O
it	O
needed	O
to	O
be	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
chose	O
not	O
to	O
raise	O
the	O
difficulty	O
level	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
progresses	O
since	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
would	O
provide	O
plenty	O
of	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
decided	O
to	O
prioritize	O
combat	O
to	O
a	O
greater	O
extent	O
,	O
but	O
despite	O
the	O
shift	O
to	O
open-world	O
design	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
determined	O
that	O
Frontiers	O
did	O
not	O
feel	O
like	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
without	O
platforming	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
presented	O
the	O
challenge	O
of	O
balancing	O
platforming	O
with	O
exploration	O
;	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
solution	O
was	O
to	O
have	O
the	O
world	O
open	O
up	O
as	O
a	O
reward	O
for	O
completing	O
challenges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2020	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
feature	O
film	O
influenced	O
the	O
development	O
;	O
Kishimoto	O
requested	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
incorporate	O
Easter	O
eggs	O
referencing	O
it	O
and	O
based	O
the	O
combat	O
on	O
the	O
film	O
's	O
depiction	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Cyber	O
Space	O
levels	O
,	O
Kishimoto	O
wanted	O
Sonic	B-Application
to	O
"	O
once	O
again	O
...	O
stand	O
amongst	O
the	O
other	O
'	O
stage-clear	O
'	O
action	B-Application
games	I-Application
"	O
that	O
he	O
enjoyed	O
,	O
like	O
the	O
Sega	O
Genesis-era	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
and	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Kirby	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ian	O
Flynn	O
,	O
who	O
wrote	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
comics	O
published	O
by	O
Archie	O
Comics	O
and	O
IDW	O
Publishing	O
and	O
episodes	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	O
TV	O
series	O
,	O
wrote	O
the	O
script	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
felt	O
Flynn	O
understood	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
cast	O
and	O
would	O
bring	O
"	O
a	O
great	O
improvement	O
to	O
the	O
characters	O
 '	O
emotions	O
and	O
dialogue	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
story	O
differs	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
in	O
that	O
it	O
is	O
less	O
humorous	O
and	O
does	O
not	O
make	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
goal	O
obvious	O
,	O
instead	O
challenging	O
them	O
to	O
figure	O
out	O
how	O
to	O
solve	O
problems	O
themselves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Flynn	O
had	O
pitched	O
his	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
stories	O
himself	O
,	O
Sega	O
dictated	O
Frontiers	O
premise	O
and	O
which	O
characters	O
Flynn	O
was	O
allowed	O
to	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flynn	O
considered	O
it	O
"	O
a	O
dream	O
come	O
true	O
"	O
to	O
write	O
a	O
major	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
was	O
able	O
to	O
present	O
ideas	O
for	O
using	O
more	O
characters	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
debuted	O
in	O
the	O
top	O
10	O
for	O
the	O
US	O
Spotify	B-Application
chart	O
a	O
week	O
after	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
planned	O
to	O
release	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
in	O
2021	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
franchise	O
's	O
30th	O
anniversary	O
but	O
delayed	O
it	O
by	O
one	O
year	O
for	O
quality	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frontiers	O
finished	O
development	O
on	O
October	O
22	O
,	O
2022	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
8	O
,	O
2022	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
unveiled	O
a	O
teaser	O
trailer	O
,	O
featuring	O
Sonic	B-Application
running	O
through	O
a	O
forest	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
a	O
30th-anniversary	O
livestream	O
on	O
May	O
27	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
title	O
was	O
not	O
announced	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
trailer	O
metadata	O
and	O
a	O
Sega	O
press	O
release	O
included	O
the	O
title	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rangers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
later	O
said	O
that	O
he	O
felt	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
teased	O
prematurely	O
,	O
but	O
believed	O
it	O
necessary	O
given	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
series	O
's	O
30th	O
anniversary	O
and	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
had	O
not	O
announced	O
a	O
game	O
since	O
Forces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
trademarked	O
the	O
name	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
in	O
November	O
2021	O
and	O
announced	O
it	O
the	O
following	O
month	O
at	O
the	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2021	O
in	O
December	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
offered	O
DLC	B-Protocol
in	O
collaboration	O
with	O
VTuber	O
Inugami	O
Korone	O
,	O
available	O
by	O
pre-ordering	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
information	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
prelude	O
to	O
Frontiers	O
was	O
sold	O
as	O
pre-release	O
promotional	O
material	O
,	O
titled	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
Prologue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
included	O
an	O
eight-page	O
comic	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
Prologue	O
:	O
Convergence	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2022	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
accompanying	O
animated	O
short	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
Prologue	O
:	O
Divergence	O
,	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
1	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
comic	O
was	O
drawn	O
by	O
Evan	O
Stanley	O
,	O
an	O
artist	O
and	O
writer	O
on	O
IDW	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
comic	O
series	O
,	O
while	O
animation	O
was	O
directed	O
by	O
Tyson	O
Hesse	O
;	O
both	O
were	O
written	O
by	O
Flynn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
sold	O
in	O
physical	O
and	O
digital	O
versions	O
,	O
offering	O
in-game	O
items	O
as	O
pre-order	O
bonuses	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
Digital	O
Deluxe	O
edition	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
additional	O
items	O
,	O
a	O
digital	O
artbook	O
and	O
a	O
mini	O
digital	O
soundtrack	O
covering	O
Kronos	O
Island	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Signing	O
up	O
for	O
the	O
official	O
newsletter	O
before	O
January	O
31	O
,	O
2023	O
,	O
gave	O
players	O
a	O
free	O
DLC	B-Protocol
code	O
to	O
unlock	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
Soap	O
shoes	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frontiers	O
received	O
a	O
free	O
DLC	B-Protocol
pack	O
on	O
November	O
14	O
,	O
2022	O
,	O
that	O
included	O
additional	O
cosmetics	O
inspired	O
by	O
Capcom	O
's	O
Monster	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
series	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
cooking	O
minigame	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
retailers	O
sold	O
copies	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
before	O
the	O
street	O
date	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
was	O
uploaded	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
fans	O
demanded	O
the	O
game	O
be	O
delayed	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
hashtag	O
#DelaySonicFrontiers	O
briefly	O
trended	O
on	O
Twitter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
said	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
expected	O
early	O
reactions	O
to	O
be	O
polarized	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
felt	O
the	O
early	O
footage	O
would	O
not	O
give	O
fans	O
a	O
good	O
idea	O
of	O
what	O
to	O
expect	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregate	I-Application
website	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
and	O
Windows	O
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
other	O
console	O
versions	O
received	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
reviews	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Destructoid	O
praised	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
control	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
over	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
go	O
anywhere	O
they	O
can	O
see	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
praised	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
controls	O
"	O
remarkably	O
well	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
open	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Video	O
Games	O
Chronicles	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
the	O
most	O
"	O
visually	O
and	O
aurally	O
impressive	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
to	O
date	O
,	O
and	O
Shacknews	O
described	O
the	O
visuals	O
of	O
Frontiers	O
as	O
"	O
stunning	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
and	O
VentureBeat	O
pointed	O
out	O
issues	O
with	O
technical	O
limitations	O
causing	O
large	O
objects	O
to	O
pop	B-General_Concept
into	I-General_Concept
view	I-General_Concept
,	O
disrupting	O
immersion	O
and	O
diminishing	O
the	O
overall	O
polish	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
described	O
the	O
music	O
as	O
calming	O
and	O
solemn	O
,	O
comparing	O
it	O
to	O
Breath	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
was	O
well	O
received	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Washington	O
Post	O
wrote	O
that	O
many	O
enjoyed	O
its	O
controls	O
,	O
emphasis	O
on	O
freedom	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
references	O
to	O
prior	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
and	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
set	O
the	O
record	O
for	O
the	O
largest	O
number	O
of	O
concurrent	O
players	O
for	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
on	O
Steam	O
,	O
surpassing	O
the	O
record	O
held	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
was	O
the	O
fourth	O
best-selling	O
retail	O
game	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
with	O
26,067	O
physical	O
copies	O
being	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
version	O
was	O
the	O
seventh	O
best-selling	O
retail	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
country	O
throughout	O
the	O
same	O
week	O
,	O
selling	O
11,111	O
physical	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
sold	O
9,098	O
physical	O
copies	O
and	O
was	O
the	O
eighth	O
best-selling	O
retail	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
week	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
totaling	O
46,276	O
copies	O
and	O
outselling	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
Ragnarök	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
was	O
the	O
fourth	O
best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
November	O
overall	O
.	O
</s>
