To mark the release of Sonic 3, Paramount has pulled out all the stops to promote the film. In addition to the traditional trailers and posters, the production company has sent a number of media an exclusive Mega Drive cartridge of Sonic 3.

But this is no mere collector's item! Presented in a Sega Genesis box faithful to the original packaging, featuring Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Eggman and Shadow, this cartridge is fully functional on a real Mega Drive.

**The lucky recipients were able to discover ‘the game’.
After an introduction with the Paramount and SEGA logos, the main menu offers three options:

• Character selection**: each choice is accompanied by a specific line of dialogue.
• Movie posters**: with four posters recreated in 16-bit style.
• Mini-game**: a chase in which Sonic tries to escape from Shadow on a motorbike.

In a nod to fans, Paramount has even included an easter egg: during the mini-game, if you enter the cheat code already known from Sonic 3 (up, up, down, down, up, up, up, up), a bonus is unlocked, revealing the date of a new trailer to be broadcast on 25 November.

A favourable context for the Sonic franchise

The films Sonic and Sonic 2, released in 2020 and 2022 respectively, were well received by audiences and critics alike. Sonic 3* is scheduled for release on 25 December 2024.

This success contrasts with the memory of the first trailer for the first film, which sparked off a storm of controversy because of Sonic's design, which was deemed... surprising. Following feedback from fans, the studio reworked the character to offer a Sonic more faithful to the iconic blue hedgehog, well beyond the world of video games.

In video games, the franchise was also in the news with the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations on 25 October. Available on all platforms, the game received good reviews from the specialist press, confirming the popularity of the Sonic universe.