Sega, BioWare Partner For DS Sonic RPG

Sega and BioWare (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect) have announced a new partnership to create a Nintendo DS RPG based on Sega's flagship character Sonic the Hedgehog, due to be released in 2008. Little more information has yet been announced, including a final title for the game, but BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka has said the developer is "committed to delivering a truly amazing story-driven experience within the Sonic universe, focusing on capturing the character's broad appeal and placing him in a completely original adventure." Sega says the game and BioWare partnership reinforces its "increased emphasis on Western content development for Western audiences," following partnerships with Bizarre Creations, Gas Powered Games, Monolith Productions, Obsidian Entertainment, Planet Moon Studios, Pseudo Interactive and Silicon Knights, and the acquisition of The Creative Assembly, Secret Level and Sports Interactive. Said Sega of America president and COO Simon Jeffery, "BioWare is one of the hottest names in RPG development in the world. Everyone at Sega has huge confidence that Sonic is in the safest of hands, and that BioWare can create the ultimate handheld RPG experience for gamers of all ages."