SEGA Delays Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I

Anticipated downloadable Sonic title delayed by publisher.

SEGA has delayed Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I, according to a blog post on the official SEGA Europe blog. "Ensuring overall quality" has been cited as the main reason for the delay.

With this dedication to quality and the Sonic experience in mind, SEGA has decided to extend the development of the game, and will now release Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I in the latter half of 2010. The additional time will allow the Development Team to focus on ensuring overall high-quality throughout the game by continuing to tune, balance, and maintain the kind of polish that an important title like this demands, and ultimately providing fans with an unrivalled classic Sonic feel.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is the sequel to Sonic 3, the game attempts to return to the franchise roots by reintroducing 2D side scrolling gameplay. The title is being co-developed by Dimps and Sonic Team.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I will release in late 2010 on the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare, and iTunes App Store. Previously the title was to release sometime in Summer of 2010.