Sonic Superstars, the new 2D Sonic platformer from Sega coming out later this year, looks a lot like a fresh take on the famous blue blur. It ditches pixel art for a cartoony new visual style that ...

Sonic the Hedgehog Boss Says Pixel Art Won’t be “Viable” in the Future Takashi Iizuki doesn’t see a future for games that look like Sonic Mania.

Sonic Superstars is an exciting return to the Blue Blur's 2D origins, but its new art style exists because its developers don't think the classic pixel art approach will be "viable" in future.

The classic Sonic the Hedgehog series began as a 2D side-scroller with pixel art, and while it has seen updates to its gameplay and design, it will always have a connection to the older aesthetic.

" [W]e look at the pixel art — it's great — but when we think about 10-20 years in the future, we don't think it's going to be a viable art style or presentation for our players," Iizuka said ...

"We look at the pixel art - it's great - but when we think about 10-20 years in the future, we don't think it's going to be a viable art style or presentation for our players," said Iizuka.