The future for Sonic the Hedgehog is probably free-to-play

As Sega releases footage of its previously teased Sonic Runners, we take a look at the winding road that has brought the blue speedster to this point

Watching the career of Sonic the Hedgehog is like following a once beloved actor on a nightmarish hellbound career trajectory, from Oscar success, through supporting roles in increasingly dire movies, to a life spent attending fan conventions in small cold towns, grimly signing photos for a dwindling crowd of nostalgic weirdos. I'm speaking as a Sonic fan here.

Yes, I'm one of those weirdos. I'm cool with that - or at least I was until I played last year's Sonic Boom, the gaming equivalent of your favourite actor suddenly turning up in a British movie farce that also stars Kelly Brook and Christopher Biggins. Sonic Boom is so bad, I almost cried with frustration and horror during the E3 demo. The Sega staff member exhibiting the game looked actively concerned as, directly in front of him, a middle-aged journalist slumped forward head-in-hands, dry-sobbing like a child.

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