Announced last May, Sonic Rumble is finally launching this November. From the team at Rovio, the original creators of the Angry Birds franchise, Sonic Rumble is a 32-person mobile royale. Over the last few months, Sonic Rumble has evolved as the developers have rolled out several player-focused updates aimed at refining the core game. Early testers have been providing feedback to help deliver major improvements in three key areas.
The first was a focus on building a deeper, more dynamic core. Sonic Rumble has added several features to boost competitive play, such as iconic skills to obstruct opponents and a Crew function that lets players team up with friends in limited-time events for extra rewards. The game has also benefited from new stages and game modes for extra variety.
The second key area was refining and streamlining the journey, revamping the first-time user experience and onboarding so new players can get into the action more quickly. Much of the UI has been drastically improved with a single hub where players can find all mission- and achievement-related tasks. Those who have played other modern mobile games know this is a blessing, since sometimes you spend more time searching for what you need than playing.
Finally, Sonic Rumble focused on improving progression and rewards. The overall cosmetic and character progression systems have been simplified so that every unlock feels meaningful and impactful. The team also reviewed the game’s rewards and shop systems, ensuring they’re clear, generous, and exciting for all players. Tweaks include expanding the score ranks and simplifying certain achievements.
While some gamers will bemoan the idea of Sonic and crew being in a mobile game, a recent study shows that mobile is still the favorite platform for gaming worldwide. Given how popular the iconic hedgehog has become with the recent Sonic the Hedgehog movies, it’s no surprise that SEGA wants a piece of that mobile pie. It also needs to justify acquiring Rovio for around $1 billion.
