In Oct 2024 I took part in this online focus test over zoom where we were shown AI generated concepts for games (it ended up being Sonic games) and asked to give our thoughts on which ones seemed most appealing.
>Concept A was a mobile card game called Sonic Blitz, sounded lame as fuck but looks like this one is actually in production
>Concept B was a fighting game called Sonic Smackdown, seemed interesting but it's not a very creative name since there's apparently a fangame called that
>Concept C was a sequel to Sonic Frontiers
I have no idea when or if these games will release. Whole focus test thing was organized by this girl who I swear to god seemed like she was only in her early 20's. We had to have our cameras on but could only communicate via chatbox. I took a few photos from under my desk, posting them here cause fuck it.

>Unreal 5
hahahaha
it's gonna run even worse than Frontier

>>713304149 (OP)
>image 2/4

>>713304259
the new sonic racing game is on unreal engine 5. also its confirmed the sega AAAA super game will also be on it.

>>713304149 (OP)
>>713304310
>image 3/4

>>713304149 (OP)
Hi Sabrina.

>>713304310
>UE5
>performance
SEGA, I...

>>713304332
that isn't an open world game with "reactive AI"

>>713304392
>Knuckles & Knuckles

>>713304149 (OP)
>>713304310
>>713304392
>image 4/4
>>713304406
oh shit I probably should have censored that. Sabrina was the chick who was running this, she was screensharing these slides to us

>>713304513
UE5 is mostly UE4 just with raytracing support. Even then devs can backport the RT to UE4 like Wuthering Waves and Star Wars did.

>>713304612
this is SEGA we are talking about anon

>>713304610
You definitely should. I can't imagine it hard for them to find out who / likely the only Sabrina is.

>>713304610
>>713304702
that Sabrina chick is probably long gone at Sega. the average American/European employee lasts like 2-3 years there before they job hob to somewhere better. game dev pay sucks and black companies suck even harder.

>>713304392
>first full-on 3D fighting game starring Sonic
nigga
Unless they mean "full-on 3D" like Budokai which would be cool as fuck.

>>713304775
This could still hurt future aspects.

>>713304332
>also its confirmed the sega AAAA super game will also be on it.
Wasn't that game Hyenas? Which got cancelled?

>Sega confirmed to be secretly using AI slop for concept stuff behind the scenes
artistsisters....

>>713305109
The Super Game is a Sega of Japan project. Its being worked on by Studio 3&Sapporo aka the Phantasy Star crew.

Hyenas was Sega of Europe.

>>713305069
whos gonna snitch?

>>713304702
>>713304775
>>713305069
I doubt that she actually works for SEGA. Larger companies usually outsource their focus testing to external firms like The Value Engineers

>>713305238
this isnt concept art of a game in production. its a "what if". its like how hyenas has a internal "hype trailer" that was just random fucking movie clips

>>713304310
This sounds fucking amazing, yes please.

>>713304310
I roll my eyes at the AI shit. Why not just bring back fucking Metal Sonic? They obviously want to for Sonic 4 movie.

The UE5 implication is huge because it means that they would be dropping current Hedgehog Engine. They went through a lot of effort to make it for Frontiers.

The truth is that sonic being fast never worked properly because the player isn't fast enough to react to obstacles.

>>713304310
>rich dialogue filled with callbacks and references to Sonic's past adventures
Please God no.

>>713304392
This would be pretty cool.

>>713304259
Is Epic paying developers to switch to UE? Many devs who had custom engines that were good enough suddenly dropped them in favor of UE5

>>713304310
>blistering 60fps
That's the bare minimum lmfao.

>>713306090
HE is just a lighting engine isn't it?

>>713304149 (OP)
Why wait until now to post these? I call bullshit.

>>713307860
its a game engine. sakura wars ps4 game uses it too.

>>713308207
No, that anon is right. It's not a game engine, it's a suite of rendering tools and compilation flags that help with lighting, brush glow, and LOD at high speed.

>>713304392
>>713304310
>>713304149 (OP)
>AI generated art

>>713304149 (OP)
>AIslop
Why are indians so prone to making stuff up?

>>713304149 (OP)
>>713304392
>copy mobile card games
>copy Smash
>copy BOTW
>other: copy Mario Kart
>AI shit, two Knuckles, couldn't be bothered to change it and have a different character
Holy fuck how is this studio and franchise alive

>>713304149 (OP)
Okay what is with every game doing the suddenly you're in a different environment gimmick

Still no chao garden

>>713304990
It's more likely a full on bullshit leak.
>Leak came with the stipulation that it's "AI Generated concepts" which isn't how Sonic Team works at all
>Description could just be slightly tidied up AI slop
>Mobile game concept even though Sonic Team doesn't AT ALL work on shit like this
>Gigantic fucking red flag that THIS ISN'T IN FUCKING JAPANESE

>>713304392
Sonic Battle & Knuckles

>>713307639
Probably.
It also doesn't make sense at all since Sonic Team still uses Hedgehog Engine.

>>713304310
>callbacks and references
Alright, someone kill Ian Flynn. Tired of this Family Guy writing.

>>713308806
have you never heard of focus tests before

>>713310371
I do, but the only shit they've actually called people for is a new SEGA Account thing because people fucking hate Epic and their online services shit.

>>713307639
Yes. They also get a massive discount on licensing fees if they shill the fact that they're using Unreal. Also bonus payout if you're stupid enough to make your game free on epic store.

>>713304149 (OP)
>>713304310
>>713304392
>>713304610
i'm mentally retarded and believe this is real

Sounds fake as fuck.