Sega announces 32-player mobile game Sonic Rumble

Sega has officially announced Sonic Rumble, a mobile game previously leaked as Sonic Toys Party.

The iOS and Android title, which is “developed and managed by SEGA in collaboration with Rovio”, will be released this winter.

According to Sega, Sonic Rumble “invites players to enter a twisted toy world created by the notorious Dr Eggman”.

Players take control of toy versions of Sonic characters, in a series of battle royale challenges for up to 32 players, in which the aim is to “collect the most rings and prove themselves to be the fastest in the toybox”.

Unlocked characters can be customised, ensuring that multiple clones of the same character will have some degree of individuality.

Players can now apply to take part in a closed beta for the game, which will take place later this month. The registration deadline is May 19, and the closed beta will take place between May 24-26.

A longer trailer for the game was leaked back in March, under the name Sonic Toys Party.

Playable characters seen in the leaked trailer included Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Amy, Eggman, Metal Sonic and Rouge. Some players can also be seen with cosmetic items, such as top hats, masks and Chao companions.

According to the leaker, the game will be a “pillar mobile title” that Sega will be using to experiment with mobile online games, and collaborations are planned with Sega and other third party IPs such as Persona and Saint Seiya.

In December, a new Sonic mobile game called Sonic Dream Team was released exclusively on Apple Arcade. Rather than an endless runner like most other Sonic mobile games, Sonic Dream Team is a full 3D platformer.

Given that Sonic Rumble’s closed beta will be available on both iOS and Android platforms, it appears no such exclusivity deal is in place.