Update (3/20/2023 at 10:01 pm PT):Sega has reached out to PSLS, stating that the Sights, Sounds, and Speed update for Sonic Frontiers will release on Wednesday, March 22, at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. We have clarified the date in the original article as well.
A PlayStation blog post by Sonic Team also verifies that the DLC will include Photo Mode, a Jukebox, and two new challenge modes: a time-attack Cyber Space Challenge with seven stages, and a timed Battle Mode where Sonic will face multiple rounds of enemies, Guardians, and Titans. Last but not least, PS Plus Premium subscribers can play the Sonic Frontiers Game Trial at no additional cost on March 22.
The original article follows below with various clarifications.
Sonic Frontiers is finally getting its first DLC expansion called the “Sights, Sounds, and Speed Update” according to emails that Sega has sent out to fans. While the email says that it will arrive on Thursday, March 23, it will actually be available a day earlier on March 22 at 5 pm / 8 pm PT. (It will technically be out at 1 am CET on Thursday, which is where the confusion might have come from.) This DLC is the first of three content updates for the game. While the email is vague about what will be included in this free update, a previously revealed roadmap details what it will likely be adding.
Sights, Sounds, and Speed update likely adding Juke Box and Photo Mode
As far as the “newly added features and modes” for Sonic Frontiers mentioned in the email, this will likely be Juke Box, Photo Mode, and a new Challenge mode. (This has since been verified.) This is based off another tweet on November 2022 from the official Sonic the Hedgehog account that outlines the three free upcoming updates coming in the 2023 content roadmap.
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It’s unclear what this new Challenge mode will be, though many fans want a Boss Rush mode of some kind. We won’t have to wait long, though, to see what Sega has in store here. (See update above for what these new Challenge modes will be.)
As for the next two updates, Sega plans on having the second expansion add Open Zone challenges and a new Koco, while it celebrates Sonic’s birthday with some special in-game event. This likely means that this second update is slated around June 23.
After that, the third free update will feature new playable characters and a new story. There’s no release date for it yet, but given the timing of the first two updates, it will unofficially expected to arrive sometime in Fall 2023.
